Signals on Delaware Breakwater.
Courtesy of Geo. S. Bliss, U.S. Weather Bureau, Philadelphia, Pa.
Signal Tower for storm warnings.
Flags used by day, lanterns by night.
Courtesy of U.S. Weather Bureau.
The farmer stared at the Forecaster.
"Why," he said, in astonishment, "I never had any idea that the Weather Forecast was so important. I just thought people read it to know whether it was going to rain, whether they should take an umbrella or not."
"Rain forecasts," the weather expert rejoined, "may be useful for one's personal comfort, but their importance is nation-wide. Until a few years ago, one-eighth of the value of the entire raisin crop was lost every year by occasional showers while the fruit was drying. The Weather Bureau established a special service to take care of this region and for five years there has not been a single non-avoidable loss. Berries are picked before rain. Vegetables which are dug before rain, stand shipment better than those dug afterwards. In the alfalfa region, rain forecasts are all-important, since the hay can be baled in the field when it is dry but not when it is wet.