372 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Nov., 1902. 
several parallel lower wires connected by droppers: the top bar has a horizontal 
pivot at the fixed end with an overhanging portion and a counterbalancing 
bob; the moving gate-end sets in a V-notch in the post and is locked by a 
detent or latch on the bar; the outermost dropper is a stronger bar and is 
extended above to the tie bar, which has a screw turn-buckle to stretch the 
lower wires between the outer dropper and the butt post, to which they have 
an elastic connection ; the whole of the joints are flexible or pivoted so that as 
the gate rises all the rectangular meshes collapse into parallelograms. The 
balance bob is so arranged that when the gate is “up” the centre of gravity 
of the whole passes over slightly past the main pivot; the lifting ropes are led 
over guide pulleys to convenient posts, and the first traction loosens the detent 
‘or latch ; the impetus of the pull carries the centre of gravity over the centres, 
and leaves the point of attachment (of the rope to the gate) also past the pivot 
line, so that a second pull will return the gate to its “down” or closed 
position. (5 claims.) 
General Notes. 
RAINMAKING BY BALLOONS. 
In Texas last year the United States Agricultural Department instructed 
Mr. Carl E. Myers (the great balloon farmer of the States, who has cornered 
all the silk there suitable for balloon-making) to construct a balloon 12 feet in 
diameter to contain 900 cubie feet of mixed gas for the purpose of trying 
experiments in rain-producing. The balloon, when completed, ascended 1 mile, 
and being filled with oxygen and hydrogen was exploded by electricity, 
producing widespread atmospheric disturbance. A large building was blown to 
the ground by the concussion, and hundreds of fish were killed in the stream 
below by the explosion. Within 5 minutes (although there were only a few 
white clouds in the sky, and there had not been any signs of rain for days) there 
was a heavy continuous fall of rain for nearly one hour. This appeared a 
convincing proof that experiments of this kind conducted rightly will be 
instrumental in producing rainfall. 
IMPROVED JUMBO VERTICAL WINDMILL. 
Mr. H. R. Stephens, who some time ago described a home-made windmill 
which he called the “Jumbo Windmill,’ has made an improvement on the 
original design. ‘The old “ Jumbo” worked on a horizontal bar—that is, the 
shaft turned horizontally—and, while this is convenient for transmitting the 
power from the crank to the pump-rod, it laboured under the disadvantage that 
the windmill could not be turned to suit changes of wind, even to a few 
points of the compass. The vertical “ Jumbo ” (here illustrated), on the other 
hand, is capable of being regulated by a shield which can be moved in any 
direction, and the windmill worked whatever the direction of wind may be, in 
the same way as the ordinary factory mills and air-motors. Say a vertical 
“Jumbo ” of 10 feet diameter is required with six arms, the method of con- 
struction of the wheel would be about similar to that of the horizontal type, and 
the improvement consists in the shield or casing which protects one-half of the 
wheel from the wind, and which may be turned on the mill axle and adjusted 
accordingly. The illustration on opposite page explains the action. 
