1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



495 



erable to do in the varied phenomena of the 

 weather, and perhaps in the fluctuations of tem- 

 perature. Whatever influence the moon does ex- 

 ert is so modified by more powerful, and conse- 

 quently disturbing causes, that it is rendered so 

 complex and obscure that its effects have escaped 

 the observation of meteorologists hitherto, or at 

 least have resulted in the deduclion of no fixed 

 principles ; and, indeed, the whole science of the 

 weather is so complicated that a great length of 

 time must elapse before the establishment of 

 many of its principles. 



I noticed, in looking over my record of the 

 weather, that the extremes of heat and cold, save 

 in a very fete instances, did not occur either when 

 the moon was high or low, at full moon or new 

 moon, but during the intervals between ; also 

 that the early frosts in the autumn, or late frosts 

 in the spring, did not often occur when the moon 

 was high, but as often when it was low, and as 

 often at new moon as at full moon. 



As the sidereal month, (the time occupied by 

 the moon in one revolution al)out the earth — 

 about 27 days and 74 hours.) is shorter than the 

 Bvnodical or lunar month, (the lime that passes 

 between two consecutive new or full moons — 

 about 29 days and 12:] hours,) the time of the 

 full moon seldom occurs in conjunction with the 

 time of the moon's passing nearest the zenith, 

 nor new moon when the moon is furthest south 

 of the ecliptic. I append a statement or table 

 showing an average of the mean temperatures of 

 three days of nt-w and full moon for three years, 

 embracing seventy-four observations, as follows : 



TABLE 



Of the Mean of all Obs. on the Mean Temp, of Thkee 

 Days at each 



New Moon. Full Moon. 



For the year ending Aug., 1857 45.91° 44 02' 



'• " " 18oS 47.86° 4>i.C9' 



" » " 1853 46.81° 47 19° 



For three years end. Aug., 1859 43.86° 46.57° 



Which gives 2.90 in favor of the prevalent idea 

 that it is colder at full moon than at new moon. 



While I am sorry, Mr. Editor, to trespass so 

 much upon your patience and the columns of the 

 Farmer, (if you should choose to publish the ar- 

 ticle,) I would be glad to have these things sat- 

 isfactorily ascertained, and some of these whims, 

 if they be such, exploded ; and probably a series 

 of observations covering ten years or more — the 

 longer the time the better — would do something 

 towards it ; and if any of your correspondents 

 or readers have thermometrical tables covering 

 that time, with a little trouble it may be ascer- 

 tained. I have given a few results, which a long- 

 er period of observations might probably modi- 

 fy. J. A. A. 



Springfield, Mass., Aug., 1859. 



TO MAKE STORE VINEGAR. 



To make good vinegar, take forty gallons of 

 rain water, one gallon of molasses, and four 

 pounds of acetic acid. It will l)e iit for use in a 

 few days. Acetic acid costs twenty-five cents per 

 pound. This is the recipe by which most of the 

 cider vinegar is made, which is sold in the stores. 



Remarks. — Try this in a small way until you 

 have tested the value of the mixture. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 TOADS AND THEIR SKINS. 



Mr. Editor : — In a short article in the Far- 

 mer about toads, it says : "he rolls up his old 

 coat in a pile, and swallows it." 



Now, as I have seen him take off his coat and 

 pants, and a friend has seen another do the same 

 thiiig in precisely the same way, it may be inter- 

 esting to others to know the process. 



About the middle of July, I found a toad on a 

 hill of mtlons, and not wanting him to leave, 1 

 hoed around him ; he appeared sluggish, and not 

 inclined to move Presently, I observed him 

 pressing his elbows hard against his sides, and 

 rubbing downwards. He appeared so singular, 

 that I watched to see what he was up to. After 

 a few smart rubs, his skin began to burst open, 

 straight along his bark. Now, said I, old fellow, 

 you have done it; but he appeared to lie uncon- 

 cerned, and kept on rubbing until he had 

 worked down all his skin into folds on his sides 

 and hips ; then grasping one hind leg with both 

 his hands, he hauled off one leg of his pants the 

 same as any body would, then stripped the other 

 hind leg in the same way ! He then took th' 

 cast off cuticle forward, between his fore legs, in- 

 to his mouth and swallowed it ; then, by rising 

 and lowering his head, swallowing as his head 

 came down, he striptoff the skin underneath un- 

 til it came to his fore legs, and then, grasping 

 one of these with the opposite hand, by consider- 

 ble pulling stript oft' the skin ; changing hands, 

 he stiiptthe other, and by a slight motion of the 

 head, and all the while swallowing, he drew it 

 from the throat and swallowed the whole. The 

 operation seemed to be an agreeable one, and 

 occupied but a short time. Caleb Bates. 



Kingston, Mass., Sept., 1859. 



For the New England Farmer . 

 DRAINAGE. 



From inquiries that I have made, I find the cost 

 of laying a tile drain to be hereabouts from fifty* 

 cents to one dollar per rod, the drain being laid 

 to the average depth of three feet, and well se- 

 cured from starting at the joints. Unless this is 

 done, the whole purpose of the drain will be de- 

 feated. Care should he taken not to move with 

 loaded teams on the surface of the field, so as to 

 jar the tile from their place ; in this respect, 

 drains made of stone are less liable to disturb- 

 ance, than those made of earthen tile. The gen- 

 eral belief is, that the water enters through the 

 pores of the pipes, whether more from above 

 than below I am not advised. Of this I am cer- 

 tain, wherever tile operate well, and do what is 

 expected of them in conducting the water — the 

 soil becomes much lighter, more free to break in 

 pieces, and in all respects better fitted for cul- 

 ture. I cannot doubt that the crops on many 

 of our fields, now cultivated with vegetables — 

 such as onions, carrots, cabbages, beets, &c. — 

 would be doubled by the application of tile 

 drains, at an expense not exceeding fifty dollars 

 ])er acre. I know of no mode of improving their 

 interests, more worthy the attention of the far- 

 mers of New England, than this of draining.. 



Sept., 1859. *. 



