Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-07


on their branches differently; but there
are none 10 the European aphorisms,
The directions of Pliny are still more
specific: he prescribes the time of the full
moon for sowing beans. and that Of the
new moon for lentis. Truly" says NJ.
Arago, 1--WE have need OF robust faith TO
admit without, proof that the moon, at the
distance Of 240, 900 miles. shall 10 one po-
slion act advantsgeousy upon the vege.
taiion of beans, and that 10 the opposite
position, and at the same distance, she
shall be propitious to leniils."
Supposed Lunar Influence on Grain.
| Pliny states that il we would collect
grain for the purpose of immediate sale,
we should do so at the full of the moon;
because, during the moon's increase the
grain augments remarkably in magnitude:
but il we would collect the grain to pre-.
serve it, we should choose The new moon,
or the decline ofthe moon.
I So far as it is consistent with observa.
ton tbatmore rain falls during the increase
of the moon than during the decline, there
may be some reason for this maxim; but
p!iny, or those from whom we receive
the maxim, can barely have credit for
grounds so rational: besides which, the
difference in the quantity Of rain which
falls during the two periods is too insight
icant 10 produce the effects here adverted
to.
Supposed Lunar Influence on Wine-mak-
| ing.
| 1t isa maxim OF wine-growers, that
VINE which has been made in two moons
is never of good quality, and cannot be
clear. Toaldo, the celebrated Italian
meteorologsi, whose mind appears 10 have
been p.edisposed for the reception of lu.
mar prejudice, attempts to justify this max.
| i'm. "rhe vinous fermentation, he says,
"can Only be carried on in two moons
when il begins Immediately before the
new moon; aud, consequently, that this
being time when the enlightened side of
the moon is turned for the most part from
the earth, our atmosphere is derived Of
the heat of the lunar rays; that therefore
the temperature OF the air is lowered, and
the fermentation is less active.
To this we need only answer. that the
moons rays do not effect the temperature
of the air to the extent of one thousandtH
part of degree of the thermometer, and
that the difference of temperatures oil any
two neighboring places in which the pro-
cess of making the wine of the same soil
and vintage might be conducted, mus. be
thousand times greater at any given mo.
ment Of time, and yet no one ever ina
gines that such circumstance can affect
the quality Of the wine.
1t maxim of Italian wine merchants,
that wine ough. never to be transferred
from one vessel to another in the month
Of January or March, unless in the decline
of the moon, under penalty Of seeing il
spoiled.
Toaldo has not favored us with any
physical reason for this maxim; but it is
remarkable that Piny, on the authority
Of Hyglnus, recommends precisely the op-
posite course. We may presume that
from such contrary rules, it may reason.
ably be inferred that the moon has no in
iiuence whatever in this case.
Among the maxims OF Pllny we find
that grapes should be dried by night at
new moon, and by day at full moon.
When the moon is new it is below the
horizon during the night, and above it
during the day; and when it is full it is
above the horizon during the night, and
below il during the day. The maxim of
Pliny, therefore, is equivalent to a condi.
ton requiring that the grapes should be
dried when the moon IS below the horizon
Ii is evident that the absence of the moon
is not required in this case in consequence
of any effect which her light might pro.
duce if she were present for when the
moon is new she affords no light, even
when in the armament, he illuminated
side being turned from the earth. the
maxim be founded upon any reason, i,
must, therefore, either be on some infiu-
ence which the moon is supposed to pro.
duce when preseni, indenendent Of her
light (the absence OF which influence is
desired) or it may be that she may be
supposed to transmit some effect through
the solid mass OF the earth when on the
other side Of it which she is incapable Of
producing without its Intervention. The
maxim is probably as absurd and ground
less as the other effects imputed to the
moon.
Supposed Lunar Influence on the Com
plexion.
Ii is a PREVALENT popular notion in some
parts Of Europe, that the moons light is
attended with the effect oil darkenng the
complexion.
That light has an effect upon the color
of material substances is fact we'll known
in physics and in the arts. The process
of bleaching by exposure to the sun is an
obvious example of this class OF facts. -
Vegetables and flowers which grow in a
situation excluded from the light OF the
sun are different in color from those which
have been exposed to its influence. The
most striking instance, however, of the of.
feet OF certain rays Of solar light in black !
ening light colored substance, is afford
ed by chloride Of silver, which is a white
substance, but which Immediately becomes
black when acted upon by the rays near
the red extremity of the spectrum. This
substance, however, highly susceptible as
il is Of having its color affected by light,