182 



THE AOBIGU LTU EAL JOURNAL. 



experiments in this direction was con- 

 ducted in the dry inland region of the 

 United States some years ago, but with- 

 out useful result, beyond proving that 

 rain making is not as yet to be a com- 

 mercial process. Mr. E. Morey, writing 

 to the "Colonist"' on the "problem of 

 future of our Western country," makes 

 some interesting and valuable observa- 

 tions on the subject of rainfall. The im- 

 portance of the matter makes it unneces- 

 sary to offer any excuse for reproducing 

 his letter almost in full. Mr. Morey, 

 who, it may be observed in passing, be- 

 lieves of the Western country that 

 "drought is its normal condition, and 

 rain a fortuitous event," says: — 



The Press of late has given promin- 

 ence to the question of rainfall as it 

 affects the Western area of our State ; 

 and the many authentic reports of the 

 desert condition to which vast areas are 

 reduced by continued drought is full 

 justification for the Press to place before 

 its readers the reports or views of those 

 who have practical knowledge of the 

 Western interior. For it may be that 

 by further ventilation of this most im- 

 portant matter a means may, some da)', 

 be found to modify its climate ; that is, 

 under certain atmospheric conditions, 

 generally marked in character, during 

 drought. The writer, after a silence of 

 thirty-four years, is induced to take pen 

 in hand again since reading a long and 

 earnest letter in the "Courier" of the 

 26th January, signed "D. MacGregor, 

 Durham Downs." 



Having knowledge of the desert con- 

 ditions of the interior of Australia for 

 more than fifty years, I am of opinion 

 that no State laws, however liberal, can 

 save venturesome holders of that great 

 area of country from recurring loss or 

 ruin. And I am of opinion that the 

 State should take action and learn, if 

 possible, whether, during drought, and 

 under certain conditions of the atmos- 

 phere commonly arising during drought, 

 it may be practicable to cause the clouds 

 to condense and drop their moisture. This 

 is a question again attracting the atten- 

 tion of scientists, and experiments are 

 going on, though Professor Boys and 

 Lord Kelvin consider nothing will 

 come of the present experiments. But 



it does not follow that it is absolutely im- 

 practicable to compel masses of cloud 

 charged with moisture to dry their fat- 

 ness. That cloudland may be brought 

 under control we have proof from Mr. 

 Wragge's recent interesting letters, for 

 in Styria and other countries it is now 

 found practicable to bombard the clouds 

 — under certain conditions — to prevent 

 the formation of hail, and thus save great 

 annual losses to vignerons. Doubtless 

 this knowledge will be availed of in 

 Australia, where vineyards are estab- 

 lished, but the problem with us is not to 

 disperse rainclouds, but to compel them 

 to give off their moisture. The problem 

 is this : During great droughts heavy 

 masses of clouds roll up from the south- 

 west, and sometimes for days together ; 

 they rise Avail like and of inky blackness, 

 and gradually occupy half the horizon 

 and rise to the zenith. The air is close, 

 and so still that not a leaf stirs, nor does 

 a bird venture on the wing. An ominous 

 calm reigns, causing the inexperienced 

 to believe that a great storm is imminent, 

 and that the parched and gaping earth is 

 about to be revived. Soon, alas ! a famt 

 puff of air comes from the south-west 

 ■ horizon, where a growing light shows in 

 the sombre cloud masses, and within an 

 hour a strong wind rages, driving the 

 clouds on either side and dispersing them. 

 The night will be cool, cloudless, and so 

 clear that the stars shine as in winter 

 time. I have known this tantalising 

 phenomena recur for ten successive days, 

 and give not one drop of moisture. Now, 

 are these vast cloud masses charged with 

 moisture ? If so, why do not they con- 

 dense and discharge it ? During a good 

 season a little cloud "no bigger than a 

 man's hand" soon gathers to itself much 

 more, and rain falls, even in our Western 

 regions. What is lacking, during 

 drought, in such cloud masses as I have 

 described? And is it possible for man to 

 supply that want ? or to set up such 

 mechanical or other conditions as will 

 bring fruition to our longings. Mr. 

 Wragge must be aware of our <le])lorable 

 state out West, a condition of aft'airs so 

 widespread and disastrous as to be of 

 national concern : rnd it may be he has oi' 

 will direct the attention of European 

 I scientists to the problem. Should he not 



