Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11
Moonology.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.

from Kirkville, Mo-, says =
81 find that the inhabitants of Missouri
ascribe to the moon great influence, whereas the
people, in the New England States, as q general
thing, regard it as a mere superstition. For in
stance, throw two pieces of board upon grass
one during the light of the moon, and the other
during its darkness; and at the end of sixweeks
the grass under the one will be dead, while that
under the other will be green Again, build
two parallel pieces of fence during the light
and dark of the moon; and at the end of
year, one will be found to have perceptibly set
tied, whereas the other will have remained as
when it was built. Again, by laying two cour-
ses of shingles during the light and dark of the
moon, the one course will warp, while the
other will remain level. The Missourians say
this is not theory to be supported by argument
but self-evdent fact. request you to solve
the question Does the moon exercise any such
influence upon the earth Q"
Our correspondent is correct in his views re-
garding the proofs for establishing the moons
influence. 1t is not argument but facts by
which such theory can be supported or over
thrown. We can easily conceive how the
moons rays may exercise chemical influence
on those bodies upon which they fall, but why,
after considerable period of time, they should
cause fence to sink thst wasz built during the
light OF the moon, and notaffect another erected
during the dark of the moon, surpasses our COM
prehenson, and we believe that such is not the
case, although it may be belief in Missouri,
and other sections of the country. If it is the
light of the moon which exercises such an in
tuence, of. course both of the fences referred
to should be affected, but in different propor-
tlons. That exposed for one year to the light of
twelve moons should exhibit an effect one-twelfth
greater than the one exposed to that of eleven
moons-no more, and no less and the same re-
suits should be exhibited with the two courses
of shingles.
We believe that the moon does exercise some
influence on vegetation, and other objects, but
at the same time we are positive that many
wrong notions are aaoat regarding the nature
and extent of such influences. Those farmers
which sow theirs seed, plant their potatoes, putup
their fences, and shingle their houses under the
direction of Mrs. Moon, are undoubtedly, deep
ly tinged with supersttious notions. We have
seen it demonstrated In practice that those far
mers who pay no attention to the moons periods
In sowing, planting or reaping, raise as good
crops as those who are strong belieyres in lunar
" in cantraps," or the magic influence of the
moon.
1t is an established fact, we believe, that fresh
meat or fish putrefes much sooner by exposure
to the moon rays than it would if kept under
cover; this is due to the chemical influence of
such light. This opinion, however, is opposed
to that of of-Arago and Drr-Essd1ier in their work
On popularastronony They admit that the
exposed meat putrefcs sooner, but say "it is
owing to its being more cooled by radiation,
hus causing it to imbibe moisture, which is a
source of decomposition to animal bodies.''
The theory of these philosophers is undoubt-
IDLY incorrect, because they have advanced no
proof regarding the exposed meat imbibing
moisture, nor if it did, that this is the cause of
is more rapid decomposition. Their theory is
Ilso based (and they have SO stated it) upon the
Imposition that the moons rays possess no |
hemical influence whatever, whereas we now
,now that Luna can take her own picture on |
he sensitive sheet of the photographer-th
demonstrating the chemical power of her light.
A common and popular opinion-said to be
n old Indian notion-is, that when the crescent
+ the new moon appears in position as if
'owder-horn could be hung upon il, warm wealth
r may be expected to follow. Be this belief
uperstitious notion or not, it has some founda
ion in fact, as has been proven by many obser-
ations, and never more conclusively than du-
ing the past month Of mild weather, when the
i'm disk of the new moon appeared as if repo-
ing on u crescent of silver.
- To find out the number of Cbildrap 4, !,