Agriculture and Rainfall

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1923, Page 1

Agriculture and Rainfall

MEt HAXfCAL EQCIY A LENT OF HEAT. WELLINGTON, Jan. U). ■'lulluoiice of Agricultural Development on Rainfall” was the subject ol an address delivered by Mr F. T. Quail, of the Commonwealth Meiennuogira. Service. Mr Quail said he has l-.mml

that tin rainfall in certain parts m Soiit h-easte.i u Australia has increased progressively in the cultivated area and its irrigation. The increase bad been

from four to -ix inches every year, an-l hits become more distributed. I lie results appeared real, and went ol great importance as indicating How rainial! in dry districts may he increased. Mr E. O. lleretts, M.Sc., Melbourne and ex-student of Victoria College,

gave an account ol an investigai toil mi the mechanical equivalent id heel, which inquiry has been in progress lor some years by Prolessor Labv and others. The mechanical equivalent, m heat i- the number in units o| work

required In lie performed to produce one unit of boat "hen the work i used, as in the example of friction, in [iniilueti,. beat. The meiliod is a di-i,-ct one. aid is independent o! our knowledge ol iNe eieetrical units. Ihe

heating is produced by means ot I' rtteaull ettiTenis, and is measured by a continuous flow method, with platinum thermometry. No results are yl available, hut il is hoped to serine an aicitraev of 1 in otltlO, which is cotr-id-

craldy lietler than any provn.m men sureiiient bv adireeL method.