Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-07-22

Of our old farmers, that the moon
and consultations in tie zodiac
have a great influence upon the veg
citation Of this world. This idea
has been handed down to them by
tradition; nor is the end likely to
be with this generation. Among
those of German descent Is this in
fatuation the most prevalent. Al
though it does not speak well for
their intelligence, yet it shows the
obstinate tenacity with which they
hold to the ignorant creeds and
dark my steries Of by,gone ages
This superstition, or, rather, ran
| pant ignorance, has stood in the
way Of their own prosperity-the
| progress Of agriculture and home
/ improvements and, consequently,
has materially impeded the pro
gress of civilization and refinement
wherever it has been adhered to.
These deluded people believe
that each vegetable grows best when
planted in its appropriate sign
For instance, potatoes should be
planted in the sign of the "scales"
or dion" in order that they may
grow large, always avoiding the
"6sh," for If they are planted in
that sign they will be sure to get
"watery potatoes" Again, clover
seed should be sown in dry sign,
or it will make the horses slobber.
Vinegar should be made in the sign
of the "lion," in the first quarter Of
| the moon, in order that it may grow
strong.
The moon, too, it is said, exerts
a powerful influence on new
roofs and fences. l was even
surprised with a notice in the Rural
that a certain man out West had
succeeded in killing a lot of locust
trees by cutting them down in the
"dark of the moon," just as though
that had done the whole business.
Now, for the benefit Of the mis-
guided, l will endeavor to show
that these signs are generally an TIN.
mitigated hunbug. | will venture
to say that one-half of those who
pay so much attention to them,
know nothing at all about them
outside of Their almanacs. The 20
diac is an imaginary belt beyond
the path of the sun in the heavens.
This belt is sixteen degrees broad,
and, ofcourse, extends clear around
the heavens, or three hundred and
sixty degrees. The distance be-
tween every thirty degrees is call
ed sign. The sun in its apparent
path, seems to travel eastward thro'
all these twelve signs once a year.
The ancients imagined the stars
in each sign to represent some an
imal or object, and gare them
names accordingly. They also pre-
tended to predict future events by
these signs, the science of which
was called astrolgoy. Buthow the
modern ''proPhetS" came to pervert
the original "SoieRGe" In applying |
it to the growth Of plants, is to me
Now the question is, do these
Of the zodiac effect
the growth of plants on the earth =?
For good, healthy growth, plants
require light, heat, air, and the nee
8ssary elements in the soil. Now
5he mean est star in the signs of the |
zodiac has been demonstrated to be ,
more than t,0enty billions Of miles ,
listant from the earth. They, no
loubt, influence the motions of !
he earth to a limited extent, but :
he light and heat received from all a
he stars together is not enough to =
Justify the assertion that they affect !
he growth of vegetation here on +
he earth mGch less, then, would a
he stars Of single constellation :
SO much light and heat /
is to materially influence its growth. /,
The earth must be balanced as it !
Ioats in its orbit around the sun, :
nd since that is a truth, il necessa- /
lily follows that the attraction must :
70 about the same in every part of
IS orbit. OF course account must
e taken of the elliptical shape of
be ealth's orbit, and the place in i
thieh the earth is, whether at its r
or at its aphelion; bit /
bis difference of motion is evident =
Y not occasioned by the fixed stars, =
nd consequently their influence is :
bout the same all the time And \
ince all these are astronomical and =
truths, it follows that h
ne day is as good for planting as a
mother, ifthe soil and season is ia \
orable. Ts a m
Now, let me attack the theory of o.
le moon. It is claimed that if a
oof is put on a building in the dark W
f the moon, the shingles will re- I'll
lain in their places; but if put on o'
lille the moon is increasing they o
ill inevitably ''tum up" likewise 81
it'll ordinary rail fences. The fl
oon, apparently, goes around the "
lrth in about the same time, IN d
hate6er qud,7srtt it is. To be sure rt
appears later every day, but it b
svertheless goes around (ordina- lc
ly speakiug) In little ever twen- ii
-four hours, as regular as the sun.
owj it must be grayitation or at