The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-10-17
Mail, in Advance
sunerst,t,on Among Farmers.

1t would seem that II any man snouio
have q correct understanding OF the
workings of nature and be able to read
all Der varied handwritings, that man
should be the farmer, whose occupation
leads him to constant intercourse and
communion with her at all seasons OF
the year. And this is true when he
goes out free from prejudice and with
an intelligent purpose to read and un-
deratand her teachings. But, unfortu-
uately, such cases are comparatively so
rare az to give countenance to the
charge that farmers, as a class, are an
ignorant and superstitious set OF
people. A large proportion OF
farmers believe that the
neon rules and controls this
lower world. They worship it as a
kind Of 8 deity that persides
over the vegetable world. They labor
under the impression that the moon is
constantly changing" and producing
corresponding changes in the vegetable
and animal Kingdoms. They not only
hold these notions theoretically but
they ere influenced by them in the
practical operations of their business.
One man will plant potatoes, beets,
carrots and other root-producing plants
only when the moon in waning or
gong down" that the vigor of the
plant may 60 down to form roots; corn.
cabbage, and other top-growing crops
must be planted when the moon is in
creasing, 80 the growth may be upward
the fence must be built when the moon
is increasing, so it will not settle into
the ground; the house must be
shingled in the dark of the moon, 30
the shingles will not curl up; hogs
must be butchered in the increase Of
the moon, so the meat may increase in
the process Of cooking; and 10 an hum
dred other equally absurd forms does
this superstition manifest itself. AS
above stated, such persons believe the
moon really undergoes frequent changes.
But this is not the case; the moon
does not change at all. Its apparent
Changes are produced by change in
the relative position Of ourselves to 1t
and 10 the sun, which change is pro-
duc5d by the diurnal revolution OF the
earth and the fact that the revolution Of
the moon around the earth does not
exactly coincide with the daily revolu-
ton OF the earth itself. All the change
there is about it csnsists in the fact that
this week we stand where we see the
side that is turned toward the sun,
next week We have moved over so
We zee part OF the light side and part OF
the dark side, the next week the whole
OF the dark side is turned to wards US.
How absurd to suppose that the mere
change Of relation between us and the
moon shorld produce such changes in
the material world as are mentioned
above! Observation as well as reason
teaches that no such influence is exert
ed by the moon. Ont OF more than one
thousand recorded observations Of the
moons change, considerable less than
ore half were followed Immediately by
any change in the weather. In care
iul observation OF twenty years | have
found all the moon signs governing the
weather have failed ottener than they
have been fulfilled. What reliance
can be placed in q sign that fails twice
out Of every three times that it occurs ?
Does it not fail to be a sign at all eI-
cept to the superstitious Many peo-
pic, otherwise sufficiently devout, and
having strong faith in an oyer-ruling
Providence, become practical atheists
on Friday. They seem to think that
on that day Of the week the Great
Ruler let's 20 the reins OF the Universe
and permits the forces of nature to run
riot without any control or hlnderence.
Hence Their fear to enter upon any new
job OF work on Friday, lest they have
bad luck. Perhaps o majority OF the
farmers OF the country believe that
wheat will turn to cheat" (chess)
While such absurd and nonsensical no.
G'a- exist and prevail among farmers,
il is not strange that we are, ss class,
branded with ignorance and supersti-
ton. it ia the work OF the agricultural
press to dispel this darkness and shed
tor;h the igl Of true science.