PLANTING IN THE MOON. 55 



weather is fully believed in probably by the large 

 majority of our population. If the weather is foul 

 no change is anticipated until the moon quarters. 

 The new moon is particularly efficacious in bring- 

 ing changes. This luminary also foreshadows the 

 character of the weather by the angle at which its 

 horns make their appearence with reference to the 

 horizon. If the crescent holds water like a bowl, 

 then look out for dry times. But if the crescent 

 dips, so as to let the water out, look out for foul 

 weather and floods." 



In New England the character of a " wet moon " 

 is fixed in the mind by the saying that it is so much 

 inclined that one cannot hang a powder horn upon 

 it. In some parts of the South, on the other hand, a 

 wet moon is one which lies upon its back, and is 

 supposed to be full of water, from which the rain is 

 derived by its overflow. 



Regarding the influence of the moon on temper- 

 ature, two opinions are held, which in efPect are di- 

 rectly opposite to each other. It is a common say- 

 ing among the French country pe9ple that " The 

 moon eats up the clouds." 



There is a similar belief among sailors, who feel 

 no danger on a stormy night if the moon is about to 

 rise. This fact of the influence of the moon in dis- 

 persing the clouds must be due, if it be a fact, to 

 the increased temperature caused hj its rays. The 



