90 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



a part in the wonderful works of nature. I trust that 

 time will teach mankind that it is utterly inconsistent 

 with reason to believe that the moon can creep into the 

 dinner pot to shrink or swell the meat, or that the rails 

 of a fence which are laid up in the old of the moon will 

 sink into the earth any quicker than those laid in the new- 

 ness of her majesty's monthly appearance. 



As for "experience," I have had my share of it in a 

 somewhat checkered life, among a vast number of my 

 fellow men, and have surely tried to profit by my own 

 and their experience in the matter of "the signs" and in- 

 fluences of the moon upon animal and vegetable life ; and 

 I must honestly say that I never have seen one iota of 

 evidence in favor of their theory. And if Jupiter in his 

 haste to "rise and snuff the moon" some dark night, 

 should snuff her ladyship out, I should not apprehend the 

 least effect whatever upon "seed time and harvest." 



Now as it is a pity to send you any blank paper, and as 

 I have yet my lamp trimmed and burning, will you allow 

 me to comment a little upon some other articles? Per- 

 haps I may be able to shed as much influence as the moon 

 does. And first — 



Comments upon "Comments." I will bet a dozen apples 

 of that interesting variety known as "five to the pint" 

 that the "seedling orchardist" spoken of by Mr. Hardup,^ 

 is a firm believer in lunar influences. 



"Grapes." Here I must differ. "Every person who is 

 desirous of growing the grape, if he chooses can" not 

 grow them: for the reason that a clay soil with a hard, 

 cold, wet subsoil, will not grow the vines to any degree 

 of perfection. 



"Shooting Hogs" is the only effectual remedy that can 

 ever be applied to that system of piracy which fills our 

 streets and commons with hordes of robbers which steal, 

 ruin, and destroy the property and peace of every com- 

 munity where permitted. I will go 40 miles to visit a 

 man who keeps a rifle to extirpate the evil. 



* A pseudonym used by a reviewer of the Prairie Farmer. 



