Chap. 70.] REMEDIES AGAINST NOXIOUS INFLUENCES. 101 



will be always productive of its own peculiar effects, the full 

 moon, I mean, or else the moon's conjunction. And here it 

 suggests itself how greatly we ought to admire the bounteous 

 provisions made for us by Nature ; for, in the first place, these 

 calamitous results cannot by any possibility befall us every year, 

 in consequence of the fixed revolutions of the stars ; nor indeed, 

 when they do happen, beyond a few nights in the year, and it 

 may be easily known beforehand which nights those are likely 

 to be. In order, too, that we might not have to apprehend these 

 injuries to vegetation in all the months, Nature has so ordained 

 that the times of the moon's conjunction in summer, and of the 

 full moon in winter, with the exception of two days only at 

 those respective periods, are well ascertained, and that there is 

 no danger to be apprehended on any but the nights of summer, 

 and those nights the shortest of all ; in the day-time, on the 

 other hand, there is nothing to fear. And then, besides, these 

 phenomena may be so easily understood, that the ant even, 

 that most diminutive of insects, takes its rest during the moon's 

 conjunction, but toils on, and that during the night as well, when 

 the moon is at the full; the bird, too, called the "parra" 7 ' 

 disappears upon the day on which Sirius rises, and never re- 

 appears until that star has set; while the witwall, 80 on the 

 other hand, makes its appearance on the day of the summer 

 solstice. The moon, however, is productive of no noxious 

 effects at either of these periods, except when the nights are 

 clear, and every movement of the air is lulled ; for so long as 

 clouds prevail, or the wind is blowing, the night dews never 

 fall. And then, besides, there are certain remedies to counter- 

 act these noxious influences. 



CHAP. 70. REMEDIES AGAINST THESE NOXIODS INFLUENCES. 



"When you have reason to fear these influences, make bon- 

 fires in the fields and vineyards of cuttings or heaps of chaff, or 

 else of the weeds that have been rooted up ; the smoke 81 will 

 act as a good preservative. The smoke, too, of burning chaff 

 will be an effectual protection against the effects of fogs, when 

 likely to be injurious. Some persons recommend that three 



79 See B. x. c. 45, and c. 50. The popinjay, lapwing, and tit-mouse 

 have been suggested. 



80 Virio. See B. x. c. 45. 



bl Columella, De Arborib. c. 13, gives similar advice. 



