The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-02-11
ASTR0-METE0R0L0CY.

as q member of the Dominion Ge0lO-
gical Survey, had largely an outdoor
life, that he turned to good account
in closely observing and faithfully
recording meteorological phenomena.
With the data thus obtained, cover
ing large range of years, he was
able, on the theory of weather cy-
cles, to make weather forecasts that
turned out so accurate as to be
marvel to the people of all North
America. Beginning with the news
papers, Mr.. Vennor ultimately started
an almanac as the vehicle of his
weather lore, which sold in immense
editions in the United States and
Canada. He died in June, 1884,
but for some time before his death
he had a coadjutor in his scientific
labors in the same line, who con-
Quoted sort of astro meteorological
department both in the almanac and
in a monthly weather journal sup
Elementary thereto. Upon this fel-
low-laborer the mantle of the lamented
weather seer fell. The new prophet
is Mr.. Walter II. Smith, who will be
remembered by readers of this paper
as having been in controversy with
Rev. Serene E. Bishop, on the sub
ject of "Ruddy Sunsets" short
while ago. Last year Mr.. Smith
issued the annual under its old name
of "Vennor's Almanac" and with
the prophetic parts as bold and,
events have proved, as accurate as
ever. This year the publication has
come to hand under the new title
Of, "Smith's Planetary Almanac
and Weather Guide, 1885," 1t
contains "a forecast of the weather
for each week, calculated by the
most approved and reliable methods"
and treatise on, "Lunar Influence
on Vegetation, with tables for sowing
according to it in all attitudes;
copious astronomical and meteorolo-
gical notes, etc., etc." Mr.. Smith
is President of the Astro- -Meteorolo-
gical Association, that has branches
throughout the Eastern and Southern
States, and is an enthusiastic star
gazer as well as meteorologist. He
is a writer of very creditable verse,
as well as competent journalist in
general newspaper work, his last
years almanac abounding in we'll
written pieces of poetry. What we
desire to call special attention to, in
this brief review of the Almanac in
question, is the theory of lunar in
fluence on vegetation. The influence
of the moon on plant growth is an
old idea, but in modern times it has
been largely relegated to the tones
of ancient superstition. Mr.. Smith
has, however, after experimenting
at the suggestion of a scientific
friend, brought forth the theory
anew, rehabilitating it with scientific
reason and propagating it over a
wide range through his almanacs and
many American and Canadian papers.
The influence of the sun upon vege.
tation he regards as universally
known fact, but he believes the moor
has her share of sway over vegetable
as we'll as animal life, asking, in last
years Almanac, els it easy for the
moon TO raise the surface of the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, ant
, hard for her to stir the juices of {
, plant?' The theory is in brie
{ something like this: Seeds shoult
{ be sown when the moon is on th'
= increase, and in the zodiacal sign
Taurus, Cancer, Libra and Pisces
Why these signs are better thai
others is owing to the proximity o
v stars in them, as matter attracts il
o regular ratios. The increase rathe
: than the decrease of the moon i
n chosen as the slime to plant" be
e cause in the increasing period tn
i, moon, "by her continuing abov
@ the horizon Immediately after tn
It sun has set, prevents the rapi
n change from heat to cold, and mois
;. to dry, so injurious to young plants
,s retaining the moisture at the SUI
i face" However much or little sens