Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-03-19
uluence Of the Sun and Moon.

tins question Is concerned, IN brhdt manner
the Noon and Sun may produce an effect
on the weather, nor even whether they DC
active causes in producing such effect at
all. The point, and the only point of i'm
portaace, Is whether, regarded as mero
matter of j1cf, any correspondence between
the changes Of the Moon and those Of the
weather exists And short examination
Of the recorded facts proves that II DOES
NOT" Uardner's Lectures P 4lg- i20t
DR. I.arlner derived the most Of his views
on the Moon theories from the writings u
Arago, distinguished French philosopher
who has taken much pains TO collect, ex-
anime and refute the various popular no.
tons about the influence Of the MoUu on
the weather, vegetation, and the ike. And
the curious reader will End q sueeiDct ac-
count of these popular notions, and of Ar
ago's views in regard to then,in Lardner's
Lccturee.
Another scientific writer, in "7'he lit
tera,y Pecord Il Journal" published a:
Gettysburg, Penna., in lS45, g, says
"That the Moon exercises an important
influence upon our planet Rarib) can not
be denied, but it is equally true that this
iufence has been greatly orsrrated-that
popular superstition has invested this little
globe with powers and properties to which
i, has no claim, and which in many cases
are equally absurd aud ridiculous. That
the phenomena Of tides is caused By its
attraction, Is an established fact; but,
apart from its attraction, we can perceive
10 other physical influence, and all its re-
puted effects, which can not be accounted
from tbs principle (attractiOn) should in
general be regarded as having no founda-
tion in reason or in fact. Amongst these
influences, that which the Moon is sup
posed to exert upon the lreatter is perhaps
the most generally believed. We are not
prepared to deI that some effects may be
due to this cause, but we believe that it is
greatly o7errated, and tha. amongst tho
inuumerable causes Of atmospheric distur-
Dances, that which is due to the Moon
may be altogether overrated. Considered
as question of science, it is certainly diff
fcult to explain how or why the periodical
phases which depend only upon certain
relative positions Of the Sun, Nom, and
Earth, can greatly effect our atmospheric
phenomena as there appears not TO be suf
ficient coHuexion between the effects aud
their reputed cause, '(2 Lit. Record, ? 12S)
In subsequent article upon the same
subject, the writer says: "N0ne Of the
known laws of nature have - &c. been
able to explain why the Moon should iu-
luence the movement Of the sap in plants.
the durability of roof shiDgled in par
ticular phase, the time of telling timber,
and thousand other things which ars
commonly received as facts. Popular
opinion has invested our III Ie satellite
with almost unlimited power, and the mos;
extraordinary and opposite effects arc at
triLutcd to its influence. Ii does not fol
low, however, that that which is generally
believed, must necessarily be true. And
if the foundation on which these opinions
rest, be very slightly examined, it will be
found that tc,c of them are even apparently
sustained by facts
Another opinion is that timber should be
fcil,d only at particular periods of the
Lunar phases, aDl that if this rule be net
attended to, its durability viii be greatly
impaired The difficulty of tracing any
connection between the effect and its sup
posed cause is still greater here, than in
the former case. But
experiment alone can decide it, AMI this
test has been applied. VI. pIhamel Mon
ceau, French Agfieul,uris;, has Prov /
that the qs1Iitics Of timber fsIied at iiid'r-
rit periods Of the Lunar month are ths
s,Hs, and that trees Of the same age, siu-
liar exposure aud growing On the same soil
exhibit No difference in durability (2Iif.
Record ? 27t-I)
pr Larincr informs Us that It Is the
popular opinion in England, France, Ger
many, aud Brazil, that timber cut when
the Moon is full or is on the increase to
wards fplness, will be full Of sap, spousy,
and soon become w5rmy aud Tot, aud 50
be worthless out he thinks it is all
mistake Pliny, noted Roman phlloso-
phcr, informs US that grain INTENDED fr
immediate use should be collected at the
full Of the Mccn, as grain ausments rapid
y in size during the increase of the Noon,
while grain intended for keeping or Pc
scrvation should he collected at the time
If new Noon But Dr liardner aiter re
yieUinc all of these and numerous ether
popular Moon iuHuenco-thcnricz, clo5e-
thus Wn conclusion, then, it appears
that Of all the various Influences popularity
supposed TO he exertcd on the surface OF
the earth (by the Moon) 's'' hare any
- g.. $50 I 4 Y1uar'2