58 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1896. 



Another proverb is to the effect that if on 'Candlemas day the 

 ground-hog comes out there will be snow or rain, and, conversely, if 

 he stays in his hole, it will be fair. This gives rise to the expression 

 of the ground-hog beiug afraid of his shadow. 



Squirrels storing away nuts in large quantities is said to indicate 

 the approach of a hard winter. An authority who has made investi- 

 gations for a period of twenty years declares there is nothing in it. 

 Squirrels store up an abundance when there is an abundance and it is 

 readily accessible. The saying, "Everything is lovely when the 

 goose hangs high," has reference to the weather. Hangs is a perver- 

 sion of hawks, and this from honks, meaning that when the wild 

 goose makes his cries high in the air the weather is invariably clear. 



There is no relation between the weather and the phases of the 

 moon, in spite of the popular superstition. Some farmers have held 

 to the belief that in certain phases of the moon the lower rail of a 

 fence being laid will sink into the ground, while in others it will 

 remain on top. Some authorities say that when the horn of the moon 

 dips down it will shed water, while others say it is a sign of good 

 weather. The only effect of the moon is its influence on the tides. 



A great deal of importance is attached to lunar halos, the rings 

 surrounding the moon, the saying being that the number of days inter- 

 veniug before a storm depends upon the number of stars within the 

 ring. There is something in the rings about the moon and sun as 

 they indicate an atmospheric disturbance which often results in a 

 storm. There is no importance attached to an equinoctial storm. 

 There is no relation between the weather and the equinox. 



Spots on the sun are found to grow and diminish. This coincides 

 with the variation of the magnetic needle, showing there is an inti- 

 mate relation between them. These spots are not weather phenomena. 

 A great deal of undue importance was formerly attached to these 

 cycles, some declaring that they corresponded with large yields of 

 wheat in India, with the appearance of certain diseases, and the 

 prevalence of marriages. 



Deforestation does not affect the quantity of rainfall, but has much 

 to do with the distribution. The soil is held together by the roots 

 and this holds the water, which makes the supply of moisture more 

 regular. When the trees do not exist the water runs off more 

 readily. 



It is said there has been great changes of climate within a few 

 years. Many think the winters are milder than formerly. This idea 

 is erroneous. The winters remain substantially as they were, but we 



