Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-10-08
WEATHER WISE.
THE INFLCENCE OF THE MOON
UPON THE EARTH-hlGNSO
APPROACHINGC CHANGES.

Both ancients and moderns have been
much addicted to looking into futurity,
and predicting what the weather would
be the next day or week, and some have
even gone SO far as TO profess to be able
TO tell with certainty the changes for
every day in a year. Indeed, NO far
was this Carried, even few years ago.
that an almanac that did not contain
forecast ofthe weather for each day Of
IeVery month in the year would have
been likely to remain unsold.
Ihe phases of the moon are a favo-
rlte means for foreteling the weather,
and 1t has been proved that in many in.
stances they were correct. ToaldO. an
eminent Italian astronomer, prepared
table after forty years observation that
ne considered intallible, as showing
what the weather would b. according
TO the time when The moon changed but
experience has proved b.yo Il doubt
that even this is mere probabilities, and
| Useless tor any practical purpose.
Ihe new moon OF the lst oftns month
is far to the south, and at its full, on
the morning of the 10Th, passes near
Venus and Mercury. Those who have
watched its different phases say that
this portends warm weather, while a
new moon far to the north is sure to be
followed by cold weather. This is
founded on the theory that the moon
not only exercises an influence on the
tides, but also on the winds.
The advocates of this theory contend
that the influence of the moon on the
wind is such that it will draw ths
warm breezes from the south, or cold
winds from the north, according to its
location. Others say that where the
crescent OF the new moon is on its back,
dry weather is sure to follow, and vice
versa.
Let these things be as they may, it is
certain that the aspect of the heavens
are worthy of consideration in foretelI-
ing changes ofthe weather. The clouds
have been classified in three great di-
visions; l, The cumulus, having q
'Welllng, roundish appearance some
what like wool. 2, The stratus, which
$ quite fiat, and sometimes divided in
o oblong divisions with sharp edges.
, The nimbus or rain cloud The first
Wo divisions are also sub-divded into
he clrrho-cumulus, which appears
Ike chain Of small wooly looking
louds, and the cirrho stratus, which
xtends like long streaks across the
ky.
A gradual accumulation of dark
louds is generally considered pretty
Ire indication of rain, but though q
asual observer would think the nim-
us Is more like the cumulus than the
ratus, the latter more certainly de-
otes the approach of rain, though at
)me hours distant. For instance, if
ratlS Of dark color extending length
Use, somewhat like fishes, with very
tile motion, are seen in the evening.
ley are pretty sure harbingers of rain,
hlle on the contrary cumulus, though
lther dense and opaque, If sailing
ong with the wind emit very little
loisture.
A rosy sky at sunset, whether clear
r cloudy, indicates fair weather, but
Indian red tint at sunset, fore
ladows rain. A red sky in the morn
lg is generally followed with bad
Gather or high winds, while a gray
~ in the morning is considered a har-
niger of clear day.
Soft looking or delicate clouds fore
II fine weather, with moderate or
sht breezes, and dark, gloomy looking
y indicates high winds. Streaks and
isps of clouds show rain and wind,
I'd the appearance of halo around
e moon is almost invariably followed
thin twelve or eighteen hours by
in, These signs, although generally
nsidered correct, cannot always be
pended upon, and it is always best in
e business of life not to place too
uch dependence on probabilities
Some weather wise persons taketha
servations of many years, and the diff.
rent seasons, from which to predict
e average temperature, moisture, and
10 the prevailing winds of each month.
lis sometimes is of ofimportance in CIV
z the general character of the climate
d its peculiarities, but even in this
nnection it will be well to remem ber
g words of Paley, that "the seasons
e mixture OF regularity and chance.
ley are regular enough to authorize
pectation, while their irregularity in
ces on the part of the cultivator of
3 soil necessity for activity, vigil
ice and precaution.'