6 
STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
whose area is one-tenth of the collecting vessel. Thus a 
rain of one-tenth inch will stand one inch deep in the 
X. 
measuring vessel. By this means a small fall may be 
accurately measured. 
The rain gauge adopted by the U. S. Signal Service 
consists of a circular funnel-shaped collector, eight inches 
in diameter, which discharges into the measuring vessel 
2.58 inches in diameter. This latter has then an area 
one-tenth of that of the collecting vessel. The 
measuring vessel is some over twenty inches in length. 
At the exact height of twenty inches an overflow notch 
is cut, and in order to catch the overflow, if the fall 
should exceed two inches, the whole is placed in a second 
vessel six inches in diameter. 
Gauges like this could be made from tin by a careful 
tinsmith, and painted, and would give satisfactory results. 
They may be purchased for a small sum. 
In placing rain gauges, care needs to betaken that they 
be placed on a level surface, as far as possible from trees 
or buildings, or anything that would interfere with the 
free access of the rain, or cause eddies in the air currents. 
The distance from a tree or other obstruction should be 
twice its height. 
CD 
The gauge should be from six to eighteen inches 
above the ground. 
Rain observations may be taken with very little 
trouble or expense, and this Section invites co-operation 
and correspondence from all who are willing to under¬ 
take them. Stations are desired on the plains and in the 
mountains, especially toward the headwaters of the prin¬ 
cipal streams furnishing water for irrigation. 
Among data which can be furnished without instru¬ 
ments, are the data of first and last frosts, times of plant¬ 
ing, blossoming of the various crops, dates of blossoming 
of common plants, etc. All observations of this 
kind are invited. Such data will be preserved with 
