The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-22
Influence Of the Moon.

| Many people religiously believe the
moon has an effect direct upon growing
crops, and that this influence actually
controls the product. The theory is
every vegetable that bears above ground
should be planted in the light of the
moon, and those that bear under the
ground must be planted in the dark oi
the moon.
We met recently a very intelligent
gentleman from Virginia, who said he
had been reared in Dutch settlement,
that adhered righteously to this doctrine ;
he said they even cut timber for planks
in the light of the moon, and for fence
posts in the dark of the moon. He, him
self, had tried two experiments on this
subject. He nailed two planks, lone
from timber cut in the light of the moon,
and the other from timber cut in the dark
of the moon,) on his fence, and the one
cut in the light of the moon lasted lon
ger time than the other. The reverse
was the result of similar experiment with
fence posts.
He also took two planks from the same
stock, and laid one upon grass plot in
the dark of the moon, and in certain
time the grass was dead, and the surface
of the ground under the plank covered
with worms and bugs. The other plank
was laid in another part upon the same
grass plot in the light of the moon, and
at the proper time turned over for exam
ination, when the grass was alive, but
bleached, and no bug or worm to be
found.
If this sort of judicial astrology is a
humbug, does science tell US the where.
fore of these results?
The Memphis Southern Farmer has no
faith in these old sayings, and says:
'For ages there has been a popular be.
lief, especially among agriculturists in
the more unintelligent portions of the
country, that certain kinds of seed should
be planted in the light, and other kinds
in the dark of the moon. This rule was
almost universal generation ago. Even
surgical operations were performed on
live stock only as certain signs of the
zodiac indicated the least danger. These
ancient opinions are now gradually Civ
ing way before superior intelligence
There is no evidence that the germina-
ton Of seeds is influenced by the moon
in any manner whatever. The supposed
influence of the moon on the growth of
vegetation is doubtless remnant of the
old system of astrology and has nothing
to uphold it but unreasoning credulity.
Those who pay no attention to the moon,
but great deal to planting, under the
proper preparation Of the soil, and its
cultivation afterward, generally succeed.
The spectroscope has demonstrated that
the moon is dead planet. It's surface
has been torn by volcanic action, so that
caverns exist ten thousand feet deep
Vast mountain ranges lift themselves up,
as we'll as solitary peaks, from fifteen
thousand feet to three miles in height.
There is no water on the moon-no life,
animal; or vegetable. There is no light
there except that of the sun, which re-
Aected on the earth possesses no appre-
ciable degree of heat. Hence thorough
preparation of the soil, sound seed, pro.
pitious weather, and skillful planting and
culture, are worth infinitely more than
all the possible Influences that the moon
can exert. In the work Of the farm,
then, let planting in the moon be hence
forth entirely abandoned"