Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1894 — How to Make a Rain Gauge. [ARTICLE]

How to Make a Rain Gauge.

Take an ordinary can of tomatoM or peaches, trad you will notice one end la smooth while the other is oorrugated. Be sure the can has no dents, as they will give false results. Open the corrugated end of the can, extract the contents, turn the can upside down on a hot stove, so as to unsolder the rest of that end. Carefully clean out any soldea that might be on the inside of the can. Clean the can out and turn it upeida down. You now have an excellent gauge. The next, question will be lie proper exposure. It should be clear of all modifying Influences, such as trees and and high enough to prevent chickens, etc., interfering. Select a fence poet with a clear “sweep of the sky,” Dttl a lath to the post, allow it to project about four inches above the post, plaoo the gauge noon the poet, and tie to the lath. The lath should not reaoh higher than the gauge, as then it would interfere with the falling rain. If the top of the post ia not already flat and level it should be made so with a saw. Next provide a measuring stick. If red cedar is obtainable it is the best. Walnut will come next. Whatever wood is upd the a tick should be made as thiu anrx narrow as compatible with its usefufaess, so as to cause the leu* displacement of water possible. Graduate they stick in inehes and fractional. If poss/ole the fractions should be in tenths./ All measurements in such » gaung/ are direct and should be recorded as measured.-*-{yens