276 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
strength and durability of the stone he may have to use for build¬ 
ing purposes, and direct him somewhat in the sinking of wells to 
obtain good and durable water. 
Meteorology does not as yet seem to be susceptible of classifi¬ 
cation among the fixed sciences, whose principles are demon¬ 
strated by mathematical induction, but “Old Probabilities” has 
given it a new interest, and, under his professorship, it is expected 
to become of vast advantage and benefit to the whole world. 
Though imperfect, it is of great antiquity, for it was said eighteen 
hundred years ago, by the very highest authority, but not to the 
most respectable individuals, “ When it is evening, ye say it will 
be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, it will be 
foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering.” 
How it is useful to the farmer, does not need much elucidation. 
In ever so fair a morning, if he could see in the purturbation or 
depression of the column of mercury in his barometer, that a vio¬ 
lent storm was approaching, would he be likely to “drive his 
team afield,’’ with reaper and mower, to prostrate his hay and 
grain and expose them to the hurtful effects of the drenching to 
which they would be exposed? I expect that sometime men 
may be able to predict with approximate certainty how much 
fuel they will need to provide for the consumption of the coming 
winter, and can vary the quantity to suit the exigencies of the 
case, by their foreknowledge and ability to prognosticate. Storms, 
wind, heat and cold are governed, like matter, by natural and im¬ 
mutable laws, and when the series of observations that have been 
recorded by scientific men come to be sufficiently extended to fix 
upon the weather cycle, and we come to understand modifying 
causes, we may not be able, indeed, like Professor Espy, to manu¬ 
facture a storm to order, but can foresee one with tolerable cer¬ 
tainty. I commend the study of this curious and interesting 
subject to the young farmer. The cost of a set of instruments 
for observation would not be great, and he could be his own pro¬ 
fessor, with nature with its sunshine and clouds for his text book, 
yet availing himself of the cotemporary and recorded observa¬ 
tions and experience of others. The time, trouble and expense 
would be trifling, compared with the advantages derived, both in 
pleasure and profit. Besides, he would also be contributing his 
