September i, 1891.] 
THP TRDPJDAL AQRIOULTUmST. 
ai3 
and not merely locally) is going beyond the 
olijeot of this paper, viz., the moon's influence on 
local weather. More to the point (but atill quite 
outside any “injlHcnee" exerted by the moon on 
the weather), ia the belief that when the old moon 
is very visible in the new moon’s arms bad 
weather may be looked for. The visibility (at time 
of new moons) of that part of tbe moon’s face 
unilluminatod by the sun is caused by its being 
illuminated by the earth, i.e., by refleoted sunshine 
from the earth. Vast masses of clouds to the west, 
hanging on the earth’s surface, rclleot more sun- 
light on to the moon than the earth’s unclouded 
surface would do, hence the inference that to the west 
of us are huge rain clouds. 
Finally, ho throws a sop to those who will have 
some sort of theory left them. “ A moon’s quarter,” 
he says, “ is roughly equivalent to a week, and So- 
nnd-So once told me that ho had very frequently 
noticed a tendency in the weather to change and 
repeat itself every seven days. A similar seven- 
day periodicity has been observed in tbe United 
States. Tbe meteorological conditions of a large 
Continent, it must be remembered, are simpler 
than those of our little islands, and hence it is 
possible that a cycle almost completely masked here, 
might disclose itself there I” Bathe is careful to 
add ; “ It ia not to be supposed that I am contending 
for a cycle due to the moon, only that there seems 
to bo some evidence of the exiateneo of a seven- 
day weather period which may sometimes happen 
to be coincident with the lunar phases.” Well, 
on this I have to remark, that some sort of weather 
must be co-incident with tho lunar phases; and 
as regards a moon’s quarter being roughly equi- 
valent to a weak,” so is a week roughly equivalent 
to a moon’s quarter ; and in a very short time 
(for observations) they both get too much mixed, — 
any given phase of the moon being absolutely 
non-synohronoue with any day, except once in 
nineteen years as discovered by Meton, hence called 
the “ Metonic cycle.” One more quotation from 
J. W. Oliver, and then we will leave him : “ The 
moon exerts no influence upon our atmosphere strong 
enough, by comparison with tbe other influences 
at work, to produce a marked correspondence 
between the lunar and atmospheric phenomena. 
Of that wo are certain. Let us therefore belabour 
tbe false doctrine upon which these notions are 
founded with all our might.” (J. W. 0.) 
I will conclude with a few arguments which from 
time to time have suggested themselves to me. (1.) U 
the earth rolled in her orbit on an axis horizontial to 
tho sun, we might possibly expect that some 
perceptible influence over tho ” weather ” of a cli- 
mate so monotonous would bo exercised by the moon. 
But the earth's seasons, the polar ice, and the 
heat of tho tropics ate caused by tho inclination 
of tbe earth’s axis to the plane of her revolution 
round the sun, and tho phenomena resulting from 
this are so varied and potent as to obliterate all 
traces of the moon’s more feeble influenoe in any 
locality, (r.) In obedience to the snn'i action upon 
oceans, and seas, and deserts, and mountain-ranges, 
ond rivers, and swamps, tornados, cyclones and 
storms are constantly tearing hero and there through 
our atmosphere, destroying all approach to equili- 
brium over immense surfaces, so that anything like 
regularity or constancy of more weather conditions 
are rendered impossible; aud no amount of reliable 
obsorvationa have been made to fix reourrencos in the 
least degree. (3.) In spite of the moon’s attraction, 
pulling in any directions she may, the tropical 
atmospheric currents change from north-east to 
south-west in obedience to the “siw's” north and 
south declination, and these ohanges—tbe most 
constant and recurring ol any— are more os less 
accompanied by storms and rain, and cloud, as hot 
deserts, ooean-ourronts, the polar snows, the surface 
of the ocean itself, and the highest mountain-ranges 
(So., have been exposed to, — or hidden by cloud-banks 
from-tbe sun’s action upon them. And as these 
occur over all the earth’s surface, all parts are 
constantly subject to difl'erent degrees of exposure, 
resulting in chaos as regards “ weather ” in any 
particular place. (4.) The " seasons ” arc necessarily 
constant, as such, from tbe great regularity 
of tbe sun’s annual journey south to north and 
back; but "the inconstant moon, that monthly 
(daily, hourly, every minute) changes in her circled 
orb,” would produce just as inconstant weather. 
It is the revolution of tbe earth on its axis that 
causes tbeconstanoyot the diurnal tides, which other- 
wise, would be lunar — monthly. As it is, the moon 
baa no influence over the ” weather ” of the ocean, 
but only over her mean level. (5.) Yet, if the 
infinitessimal extent to which tbe moon does affect 
the atmosphere, as a whole hemisphere, (and not 
any minute portion over any particular locality) 
could be measured, it would be found, doubtless, 
to be greater than her influenoe over the weather 
of the ocean, that is, its currents, temperature, 
calms and storms. This fact should not be forgotten 
when it is claimed that the moon’s influence over 
the height of the toaters of our globe ia analogous to 
tho influence, it is assumed, she ought to exercise 
over the mere “ weather ” of our atmosphere. There 
is no anahgy over the level of water of one element, 
and the meteorological conditions of another element 
in ten thousand times ten thousand different 
places. (6.) In a scientific paper just to hand I 
find the following paragraph, which, as showing 
how differently the ” moon ” behaves in different 
places, I copy and close with : — ” As an instance 
of tbe comparative uselessness of generalisations 
from records of rainfall, it may be noted that, 
according to an observer atCaversbam, Oxfordshire, 
the rainfall there, during April amounted to -70 in,, 
while in April ISBb it was recorded at l-b7. At 
Sbifnal, Staffordshire, the amounts were reversed, 
for 1-98 fell daring last April, while the rainfall 
of April 1800 was recorded as only 'SS. The records 
bear out what is well known to all close observers 
that rainfall varies considerably within com- 
paratively smallareaa.” {Knglvsh JHeahanic.) So that 
a moon gazer must unlearn his old lore uod study 
new whenever be changes his habitat. And then, if 
be is wise, be will no larger consult the moon, 
but tbe local conditions that surround him. 
[After all is said, some may have lingering doubts 
whether the moon may not have soma influence 
on local conditions. The sunspot cycle theory is 
met by tho same objection of varying weather in 
different parts of the earth, and yet a good many 
scientists, including Blanford, believe to some ex- 
tant in sunspot weather cycles,— En, T, .ff.] 
4 
A NEW WORK ON CACAO: I’ltOl’OSEU 
ANALYSES OF CEYLON TEA BY 
-MR. HUGHES; RAG M-YNL’RE 
FOR TEA. 
London, Aug. idtli 
It may serve a useful purpose just to 
draw the attention of your planters to the 
fact that a new work on cacao, by Mr. J. H. 
Hart, of tho Botanical Gardens, Trinidad, is 
now in the press and will shortly be issued. Mr. 
Hart undertook the work with tha sanction and 
full approval of the Governor of the cacao island; 
and there is every reason to believe that his 
expeiienoe will haye enabled biu to lay some ret 
