56 THE YEAR. 



some important functions in the economy of the world, 

 we cannot have the least doubt. Its influence in ripen- 

 ing grain and fruits, and in the whitening of linen, are 

 matter of common observation by those who do not 

 usually give themselves much trouble about the causes of 

 phenomena. We are not so much acquainted with the 

 whole composition and powers of the sunbeam, as to 

 be able to say distinctly what alterations it receives, upon 

 being reflected from such a body as the moon. We 

 know, however, that the heating power is chiefly in the 

 red rays, or at any rate that, if the heating energy has 

 nothing to do with the colouring, its refrangibility and 

 reflectability are more in accordance with those of the 

 red, than of any other colour in the spectrum. This 

 is unquestionably the cause why the light of the moon 

 has so very little heating effect, compared with the 

 direct light of the sun. But there is a chemical power 

 in the violet, or most refrangible part of the spectrum, 

 and even beyond it, which has peculiar effects ; and it 

 is not a little singular that the discovery of that power, 

 and of the nicest results of chemical experiment, should, 

 in as far as the moon-beams are concerned, justify the 

 application of the epithet " watery," to the luminary, 

 their tendency being to impart hydrogen, or to effect 

 its combination with other substances. There is some- 

 thing very curious in this. The moon-beams fall upon 

 the earth at those times of the day when the herbage is 

 most covered with moisture, and therefore it may be 

 that a considerable portion of the vegetable economy, 

 and among the rest the production of the fine fresh 

 green, may be more dependent upon the influence of 

 the moon than we are now aware of; but the subject 



