120 matured /liMraclea, 



any formation of dew. The reason in the for- 

 mer case, as we have explained, is that the 

 radiated heat is held down to the earth in a 

 measure, and in the latter case there is a con- 

 stant change of air; so that in either case no 

 part of it is allowed to cool down sufficiently 

 to precipitate moisture. 



It is a curious fact that often there will be 

 a heavier dew under the blaze of a full moon 

 on a clear night than at any other time. The 

 moon has no screens about it of any kind to 

 obstruct the free radiation of heat. It is sup- 

 posed to be a dead cinder floating in space and 

 not surrounded by an atmosphere, so that the 

 sun's rays have full effect upon it during the 

 time it is exposed to them, and at that time it 

 becomes heated to a temperature of something 

 like 750 degrees Fahrenheit. For half the 

 month, say, the sun is shining continuously 

 upon all or a part of it. In other words, the 

 days and nights of the moon are about two 

 weeks long. The moon does not revolve upon 

 its own axis like the earth, therefore the same 

 side or a portion of it is exposed to the sun 

 for 14 days. During the time that the moon 

 is in the earth's shadow it is supposed to fall 

 to 187 degrees below zero, which is 219 degrees 

 below the freezing point. When the moon is 

 full and is heated up to over 700 degrees there 

 is sufficient heat radiating from it to be felt 

 sensibly upon the face of the earth, and it 



