452 
THP TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. . [January i, 1892. 
(filled with a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen 
whioh would produoe terrifio ' air- quakes 'at in- 
tervals of one to two hours during the day or during 
the continuance of the operation." 
Some di£Soulty was experienced with the 'Jiitea 
their wires being often broken by the strong wind 
whioh prevailed, and consequently the dynamite 
explosions at high altitudes seem to have been a 
failure, but the rest of the project was executed 
with results which are best described in General 
Diyrenforth'a own words:— "The first operation 
was made on August 9. At this time the balloon 
apparatus had not been set up, and only the first 
line of ground explosions was brought into action. 
The ground batteries were operated for about an 
hour, beginning at 5 p.m., August 9, and reopened 
again for a shorter time at about 7 p.m. The 
weather was clear on the 9th, and the barometer 
Btood at its nominal height at 7 p.m. At noon 
of the 10th clouds began to gather directly over 
the ranch, and during the afternoon and the evening 
a very heavy rain fell — nearly two inches — trans- 
forming the road ways into rushing torrents, and 
every hollow into a small lake." The next oper- 
ation was performed on August 18, the ground 
batteries being kept in action for twelve hours, 
and the balloon explosions being also brought into 
play. The meteorological instruments gave no 
indioation of approaching bad weather, but " late 
in the afternoon heavy clouds gathered and formed, 
and rain fell in torrents for 2J hours over the 
entire southern and eastern portion of Andrews 
County and most of Midland Couofcy and the 
oountiea to the south and west of it." 
The third and final operation was begun at 11 a.m. 
on August 25. At 3-30 the barometric pressure 
Was slightly below the normal, but the atmosphere 
was very dry. The wind blew from the south- 
east (the usual direction) at a velocity of 18-8 
miles per hour, and the sky was clear, except for 
a few very light scattered cumulus clouds, esti- 
mated to be at a height of more than two and a 
half miles. Seven balloons were exploded, and 
the ground batteries seem to have been in action 
for twelve hours. " At 11 p.m. the firing ceased, 
and our weary party immediately retired for the 
night. At 3 a.m., however, the heavy rolling of 
thunder disturbed the sleepers, and, looking out to 
the west and north, heavy banks of cloud were 
seen advancing, almost constantly lighted by most 
brilliant lightning. An hour later the rain began 
to fall in torrents on the ranch, and did not 
oease till 8 a.m. The northern portions of this 
country received the most thorough watering they 
have had for the past three years, and the re- 
ports from incoming cowboys indicate that the 
storm extended over many hundreds of square 
miles. Besides these three heavy storms, which 
OOQured after the principal operations," continues 
General Dyrenforth, "not less than, nine showers 
of much less importance occurred during the six- 
teen days of our experiments — a most extraordinary 
occurence in this locality, and especially at this 
season of the year. That these results were not 
produced at an excessive expense of material may 
be seen from the fact that in the entire series of 
experiments only two tons of iron, one ton of 
sulphuric acid, a quarter of a ton of chlorate of 
potash and manganese dioxide, and one ton of 
raok-a-rock powder and other exploRives were con- 
sumed, none of which are expensive materials." 
In the opinion of General Dyrenforth, these 
experiments clearly demouHlrate, first ''that the 
concussions from explosions exert a marked and 
practical effect upon the atmospheric conditions 
in producing rainfall, probably by disturbing the 
OPP^I oarienta;" and secondly, '< that when the 
atmosphere is in a ' threatening ' condition — which 
is frequently the case in most arid regions without 
any rain resulting — rain can be caused to fall 
almost immediately by jarring together the par- 
ticles of moisture which hang in suspension in the 
air. This result was repeatedly eflected during 
our operations, the drops sometimes commencing 
to fall withia twelve seconds from the moment of 
the initial explosion." — Public Opinion, 
INDIAN TEA DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION. 
Regula-tion or Supplies. 
The following correspondence relating to tliia im- 
portant subject — to which we are asked to give 
publicity — speaks tor itself. We hope the brokers, 
whose responsibility iu this matter is very great, will 
give due weight to the evident desire both of im- 
porters and dealers, and not print teas for sale until 
they are quite ready to be sampled : — 
Indian Tea Distriots Associatioo, 
Nov. 4th, 1891. 
W. G-. Price, Eiq-, Secretary, 
Tea Brokers' Association of Loudon, 
118, Danater House, E. G. 
Dear Sir, — My committee had under their oonsidera- 
tion yesterday the complaiats of the trade with regard 
to the short time allowed for sampling and tasting 
teas offered for sale, and they desired me to 
call your attention to the remarks of the Produce 
Markets' Review of the 31st ult. oj the subject. 
Smce then I have received a letter from the chairman 
of the Wholesale Tea Deilera' AssooiatioQ, a copy of 
which I enclose, and will thank yoa to take an early 
opportuoity to lay the same before the Broiers' Asao- 
ciatiou, as it rests with them in a great measure to 
meat the reasonable requirements of the trade. 
I shall be glad to learn for the in formation ot my 
committee, v?hat steps are. taken in the matter, — Yours 
faithfully, Ernest Tye, Secrelary. 
Produce Markets' Review, Oct. 31, 1891. 
" If the importers coacinae to force their teas 
on the market in oppositioa to a decliniug enquiry, 
which is sure to take place shortly, as the retailer 
will to a great extent, be absorbed in atteadiog to 
other goods, they must ba prepared for a further de- 
cliae in the comparatively moderate prices now ruling 
No effort appears to have been made to give a reason 
able time to sample the teas previous to the day of 
sale, la several oases this week catalogues have been 
issued only a day or two prior to the sales being held, 
consequently the teas were not ready for sampling 
when applied for, which necessitates a second applica- 
tion, and precludes the trade giving the attention to 
the teas they otherwise would do if a reasonable time 
were allowed for sampling and valuing." 
London Wholesale Tea Dealers' Association, 
4, Fenohnroh Street, B.O., Nov. 3rd, 1891, 
Ernest Tye, Esq., Secretary Indian Tea Districts 
Association, 
Dear Sir, — I am directed by my committee to draw 
your attention to the inconvenience caused by the 
short time which is frequently allowed for sampling 
tea. In some cases the samples can only be obtained 
the day before a public sale, and often on the day 
of sale, and as there are many breaks it is often im- 
possible to carefully taste the samples. As this system 
is opposed to the interests of the importer as well as 
the buyer, I trust your committee will take the sub. 
ject into their favourable consideration, and arrange 
the public sales so that reasonable tima may be .al- 
lowed for drawing andj tasting all samples. — Yours 
faithfully,9 (Signed), Francis Peek, Chairman. 
— //. and C. Mail, Nov. 6th, 
THE COAL INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA. 
[The following report came to us, marked, in 
a copy of the Ncwcasllc Daily Chronicle, and so 
we insert it ; but our readers will agree with us that 
Mr. Eekhout of Java would have done well to bav* 
