Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-05-06

law; mspite of this, however, the'infu-
ence of the moon on the weather will be
maintained by many as occasioning rain in
its phases of full and new. Admiral Fitz
Roy said that every weather prophet ap-
peals to the moon. The ancient Egyptians
observed the peculiar effect which the moon
produces on the cat if the eyes of that
animal be observed at new moon, the pupils
will be found to- be extremely small, and
they will be seen to enlarge gradually as
the moon receives additional lig ght from the
sun; and at the time of full moon the pu-
pills are at the largest, and they as gradu-
ally diminish towards the change. The
Shepherd of Baubury, who formed rules to
Judge the changes of weather on his expe-
rience Of forty years observations, simply,
tells us that the appearance Of halos round
the moon is sign of wet; that if she shines
thin and clear, she indicates serenity; but if
she appears red, and her whole illuminated
part visible, anu in state of vibration, she
portends wind. And Virgil says
"If on her cheek you see the nlaiden's blush
The ruddy moon foreshows the wind win rush"
It has also been remarked by the Banbury
Shepherd that q fog in the new moon is a
sign of good weather-in the old sign Of
wet. The dimness of the stars and other
heavenly bodies is one of the surest signs
of very rainy weather. When they look
bigger than usual, are pale and dull, and
without rays, the clouds are eondensing in.
to rain, which will very soon follow. III,
begin to rain an hour or two before sunrise,
it is likely to7rain al day, except the:rain'
bow be seen before it rains.
The Rasn5aso!-I may observe that whe1
the rainbow appears, the spectator has The
sun behind him, and the clouds with the
bow in them before him. We are all toe
we'll acquainted with the colors to need g
description of them here; if the green be
large and bright, it is sign of rain if RED
be the strongest color, there will be vino
and rain together After long drought
the rainbow is a sign of rain. After much
wet the rainbow indicates fair weather.
If the. rainbow breaks up all at once, there
will follow settled westher.'s If the bow be
seen in the morning, rain will follow, be.
cause morning rainbow is always in the
west, and our heavy rains are generally
brought to us by west and southwest winds.
therefore the clouds which present the rain.
bow in the west must be coming up with
the wind; hence the saying
| "a rainbow in the morning, Il
Is the shepherds warming"
If the bow be seen at noon, we may expect
heavy and settled rains; if just at night,
fair weather, because it must then be in the
east, or opposite the sun, consequently the
clouds rejecting the rainbow must have
been driven from west to east, having al
ready passed over us, and therefore depart
ing from US; hence the saying Z
"a rainbow at night,
Is the shepherds delight"
Fzowers-Flowers and plants are good
barometers. The Trefol swells in the stalk
against rain, but the leaves droop and hang
down. If the Siberian Sowthistle shuts at
night, the ensuing day will be fine; if it
opens it will be cloudy and rainy. If the
African Marigold continues shut until sew
en- in the morning, rain is at hand. The
Pimpernel (Anagillis arvenis), which is .
very common flower, and which may be
called the poor mans weather-glass, shuts
itself UP extremely close against rainy
weather. Just before rain flowers smell
stronger and sweeter, simply because the
vapours of the air prevent the scented par
ticles Of their perfume from ascending, as
they would in dry air; and for similar rea-
sons, cesspools, &c., give notice oftheir ex-
istence. ~. ..s</
Biras.-When rain is coming, ducks and
geese preen themselves and make show of
washing. Swallows fly up and down low :;
they fly low because their food is low, for
insects which they feed upon have taken re-
fuge from the colder regions Of the air,
where the change is beginning, in the warm
er air near the earth; crows make gliding
motion in their flight, called playing at
football; !; the song of the robin, perched
early in the morning on the top branch, is
sure sign of fine day ; if cocks crow at
unusual hours, but especially when hen
and her chickens crowd into the house, rain
is at hand ; cocks are priced in Japan for
this reason.
Animals. 1t cannot be doubted that
Nature has given to animals instinct in prog
nosticating change of weather, for when
cattle seek sheltered places instead of
spreading over their usual range, an un-
favorable change is probable, if not certain
rain or stormy weather. If oxen lie on
their right sides, look towards the south,
and lick their hoofs, if COWS look up in the
air and snuff it, and if asses bray violently i;
these are sure signs of rain. At the ap-
proach of rain cats turns their backs to the
fire and rub their ears this is owing to the
incipient humidity getting between the hair,
or the air being surcharged with electricity,
both of which causes produces the sensation
of itching, which the cat experiences in
tensely, its hair being very electrical.-Gar-
dener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gaz-
cite, Oct. 24tA, 1858, London.)
LEAKS OF THE FARM.-To feed cattle at
stacks, because they waste more than they
eat.
To allow cattle, to roam at will all over