LUNAR INFLUENCES. 



slightest countenance to such a supposition : but let us inquire as 

 to the fact, whether it be really the case that the quality of timber 

 depends upon the state of the moon at the time it is felled. 



M. Duhamel du Monceau, a celebrated French agriculturist, 

 made direct experiments for the purpose of testing this 

 question ; and clearly and conclusively showed that the quali- 

 ties of timber felled in different parts of the lunar month 

 are the same. M. Duhamel felled a great many trees of the 

 same age, growing from the same soil, and exposed to the same 

 aspect, and never found any difference in the quality of the 

 timber when he compared those which were felled in the decline 

 of the moon with those which were felled during its increase ; 

 in general they have afforded timber of the same quality. He 

 adds, however, that by a circumstance, which was doubtless 

 fortuitous, a slight difference was manifested in favour of timber 

 which had been felled between the new and full moon contrary 

 to popular opinion. 



4. Supposed Lunar Influence on Vegetables. It is a maxim 

 among gardeners, that cabbages and lettuces which are desired 

 to shoot forth early, flowers which are to be double, trees which 

 it is desired should produce early ripe fruit, should severally be 

 sown, planted, and pruned during the decrease of the moon ; 

 and that, on the contrary, trees which are expected to grow with 

 vigour should be sown, planted, grafted, and pruned during the 

 increase of the moon. These opinions are altogether erroneous. 

 The increase or decrease of the moon has no appreciable influence 

 on the phenomena of vegetation ; and the experiments and 

 observations of several French agriculturists, and especially of 

 M. Duhamel du Monceau (already alluded to) have clearly 

 established this. 



Montanari has attempted, like M. Sauer, to assign the physical 

 cause for this imaginary effect. During the day, he says, the 

 solar heat augments the quantity of sap which circulates in 

 plants, by increasing the magnitude of the tubes through which 

 the sap moves ; while the cold of the night produces the 

 opposite effect by contracting these tubes. Now, at the moment 

 of sunset, if the moon be increasing, it will be above the horizon, 

 and the warmth of its light would prolong the circulation of the 

 sap ; but, during its decline, it will not rise for a considerable 

 time after sunset, and the plants will be suddenly exposed to the 

 unmitigated cold of the night, by which a sudden contraction of 

 leaves and tubes will be produced, and the circulation of the 

 sap as suddenly obstructed. 



If we admit the lunar rays to possess any sensible calorific 

 power, this reasoning might be allowed ; but it will have very 

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