PLANTS USEFUL AND POISONOUS. 113 



does not last so long, and becomes liable to the attacks of insects 

 and the dry rot Whenever, on the contrary, it is felled during 

 the wane, and especially from the last quarter to two or three days 

 before the new moon, it preserves all its best qualities in durable 

 perfection. 



This opinion respecting the influence of the moon at stated 

 periods on the quality of felled timbers, has already been the 

 subject of much and varied discussion, but cannot hitherto be 

 considered as fully determined, particularly as regards our 

 climate, where so few, or no scientific experiments have yet been 

 made. It may, however, be mentioned, that this view of the 

 question of lunar control over vegetation is, in a great measure, 

 supported by the celebrated French astronomer Arago ; and I 

 must candidly acknowledge that I feel inclined to lean towards 

 the popular opinion, and to admit the reality of that influence 

 within certain limits. Where hard wood is concerned, it is only 

 by many years of observation, and renewed comparative experi- 

 ments, that it would be possible to arrive at any safe conclusions 

 on the subject ; but in the case of soft woods, as the bamboo, for 

 instance, or the timite and carat, that influence becomes per- 

 ceptible. Bamboo, cut in proper season, and under favourable 

 lunar conditions, lasts for several months, and is scarcely touched 

 by insects ; but whenever cut during the crescent of the moon, it 

 soon crumbles into dust under their attacks : the same remark is 

 applicable to the timite and carat. 



The following considerations may supply, at least, a plausible 

 explanation of the above-mentioned phenomena. When a tree is 

 felled during the active circulation of the sap, it becomes more 

 liable to rot : this is a general and unexceptionable fact, being 

 founded on actual experience. Now, the question is this : Is not 

 the quantity of the sap greater during the increase of the moon, 

 and particularly at the full, when the quantity of light is greater 

 throughout the twenty- four hours, than at any other period? 

 This could be ascertained by experiments. And should the sup- 

 position prove correct, the influence of the lunar phases would no 

 longer meet with opposition or ridicule from the incredulous, and 

 the fact once ascertained would be the means of establishing some 

 beneficial principles and rules of guidance in the felling of trees, 

 and concerning other agricultural operations. I may conclude 

 this subject by remarking, that whatever may be the diversity of 



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