HAIL-FIGHTING BOMB NEEDED.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 71, 13 March 1914, Page 7

HAIL-FIGHTING BOMB NEEDED.

TO EXPLODE AT 5000 FEET,

The Horticultural and Viticultural Society ot die Department of .fuy de Dome, in Centra. France, announced last year a uotuu-ihrowing competition, with speciai yrixes tor bombs that wouk ourst at a oAoeeumg ioOi> metres (about ouw' itet). juis was not tor sport, but to get a bomb tnat wcula really prevent nail from forming auo failing ui destroy tJie ripeuung grapes and -oilier fruit.

Jhe competition was started because a careful test of the auu-hait bombs suppaed by tlie Uovernment nad proved ttiiao these never attained the specified height. Many bomb-makers entered cue competition, but only one bomb burst at the required height. M. Augot,' director ot tu« Ceiurai iietedro'Ogical Bureau of France, in his annual report now says a perfected aeria. bomb tnat can be relied*upon to go up 6UOO feet before bursting is an urgent need.

ihe Department of Puy de Dome suiters more damage from summer thunderstorms than any other department of h ranee, its officials have been testing device called an "eiectrio Niagara, which its inventor asserts has a powerful effect in preventing ihail. In Uie Department ot Vienne is one of these apparatus with a tall pylon armed with 98 iron spikes almost equidistant. Ihe discharge,!, from this, it was found, prevented lightning but had no eltect upon hail.

-Ihe rea-scu why it is desired to bombard hailstorms 13 that it is assumed eiectricity causes the moisture to congeal and that explosions prevent it.— 'science Smnigs.'