Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-07
1NrLuENCE OF THE MOON.


The Sixth Number of the admirable Lectures Of
Dr.. Lardner on "Science and Art" to which we
have so frequently directed the attention of oul
readers, contains Lecture on Lunar Influences
from which we make the following interesting
extract. In addition to the influences treated Of
in this extract, the same Lecture disoourses upon
the supposed influence OF the Moon Births, Men
intend at another time to refer. DR.. lafdneI
speaks thus:
LUNAR INFLUENCES.
On former occasion ! examined the
question respecting the supposed influence
of the moon upon the weather, snd de-
monstralej that so far as actual obserya-
ton has hitherto afforded grounds for rea.
soning, there is no discoverable correspon-
dence between The lunar changes and the
vicissitudes of rain and drouth which can
justify or in any degree coun,enance the
popular belief so generally entertained as
to dependence of change of weather up
on the changes of the moon.
Blu, meteorological phenomena are not
the only effects imputed to our satellite;
that body, like comets, is made RESPONSE
BILE COR vast variety Of nterferences with
organized nature. The circulation Of the
juices of vegetables, the qualities Of grain,
the fate of the vintage, are all laid to its
account; and timber must be felled, the
harvest cut down and gathered in, the
juice of the grape expressed, al times and
under circumstances regulated by the as
poets Of the moon, if excellence be hoped
for in these products of the soil.
According to popular belief, our satel.
| lite also presides over human maladies;
and the phenomena Of the sick chamber
are governed by the lunar phases; nay,
the very marrow of our bones, and the
weight Of our bodies, suffer increase or
diminution by its influence. Nor is its
imputed power confined to physical or or
ganic effects; it VIGOROUSLY governs men
tai arrangement.
II these opinions respecting lunar influ.
ence were limited to particular countries,
they would be less entitled to serious con.
sideration; but il is a curious fact that
many of them prevail and have prevailed
ia quarters of the earth so distant and un.
connected, that 1t is difficult to imagine
the same error to have proceeded from
the same source. AT all events, the ex.
tent of their prevalence alone renders
them fit subject for serious investigation;
and | propose at present. to lay before you
some Of the principal facts and arguments
bearing on these points, for the collection
Of h,ch InIu tndahfad the
industry and research of NJ. Arago.
A large volume would be necessary to
sualyze all the popular opinions which re-
fer to the supposed lunar influences. We
shall con6ne ourselves therefore to the
principal of them, and shortly examine
how far they can be reconclled with the
established principles Of astronomy and
physics.
The Red Moon.
II is believed generally, especially in
the neighborhood Of Paris, that in certain
months of the year, the moon exerts
great influence upon the phenomena of
vegetation. Gardeners give the name of
Red Moon to that moon which is full be-.
tween the middle of April and the close
of May. According to them, the light of
the moon at that season exercises an in.
furious influence upon the young shoots
of plants. They say that when the sky
is clear, the leaves and buds exposed to
the lunar light redden and are killed as
If by frost, at time when the thermom.
eter exposed TO the atmosphere stands at
many degrees above the freezing point.
They say also that if clouded sky inter-
cepts the moons light, it prevents these
injurious consequences to the plants, al
though the circumstances OF temperature
are the Same IN both cases.
Any person who is acquainted with the
beautiful theory of dew, which we owe TO
DIR. Wells, will find no difficulty in ac-
counting for these effects, enormously
imputed to the moon. II the heavens be
clear and unclouded, all substances on the
surface of the earth which are strong and
powerful radiators Of heat, lose tempera-
ture by radiation, while the uncouded
sky returns no heat TO them to restore
what they have lost. Such bodies. there
fore, under these circumstances, become
colder than the surrounding air, and may
even, if they BIO liquid, be frozen. Ice,
in fact, is produced, in warm climates,
by similar means. But if the armament
be enveloped in clouds, the clouds, having
the quality OF radialing heat, will restore
by their radiation, TO substances upon the
surface Of the earth, as much heat as such
substances lose by radiation; the temper.
allure, therefore, of such bodies will be
maintained al point equal to that o. the
air surrounding them.
Now the leaves and flowers Of plants
are strong and powerful radiators of heat;
when the sky is clear they therefore lose
temperature and may be frozen; if, on the
other hand, the sky be clouded, their tenn
perature is maintained for the reasons
above stated.
The moon, therefore, has no connection
whatever with this effact. and II ia certain