The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-21
Che Mera1d and Me,vs
SIGNS POINT TO AN OPEN WINTER.
Corn HuskS Thin, Moss IS Even on the
Trees and Quail Shy Of Feathers.
Indianapolis News

win huSho olS ChihS Vho AAOoo 40
about even on all sides Of the trees,
many quail are partially feathered
out and the late summer has been
unusually wet. This is sure sign,
according to the belief of the farmer,
who does not depend upon the
weather bureau, that the coming
winter will be an open one.
Among those who have studied
the signs of coming winter is Mich
olas D. Holman, of this city. Mr..
Holman has lived in Indiana for
sixty- three years. He located in
Grant County when most of the in.
habitants we're Indians. There was
no weather bureau in those days and
the settlers were forced to watch the
signs. He is close observer and he
is satisfied there will be but little OK.
treme cold weather this winter.
81 have never known wet sum.
mer to be followed by a cold winter,'
said he. "Last summer and fall
were unusually wet and I look for
nice weather the greater part Of the
winter. They are always thick the
fall before severe weather. | cannot
explain why this is the case, but it is
true, rs any man who takes the trou.
bio to make an investigation will
discover.
"a few days ago / ran across a
covoy of quail on my farm. They
were only partially feathered out.
Nature looks after her own. Had
revere winter weather been near at
land these young quail would not
have been here. They would have
been hatched out in time to have
beef covered with feathers to pro-
tect them from the cold.
"Go with me into the woods any
day and will show you that the
moss is about even on all sides of the
trees. Just before a severe winter it
is heaviest on the north side. am
also unable to explain this, but this
sign has never failed.
"Another reason l have for be
)ieving this winter will be an open
one is the last two winters have been
severe. Usually the third is q mild
one. The fall of lS45 WAS the damp.
est have over known. In Novem
Der there, WAS a little freeze In Feb
rnary tho weather was as warm AZ il
is in May. Vegetation began to
sprout and the snakes and ground
hogs came from their holes. That
winter we had the greatest epidemic
oftyphoid fever in the history OF
Grant County. | was attacked by |
tho disease on my way to school. 1t
WAS 80 warm threw myself on the |
gronnd. This WAS in February.
Many people in Grant County have
tho typhoid fever now and believe
many more will have it before the |
winter is over.
"rhc ground squirrel Is another
good weather prophet. Let him lay
in " large supply Of nuts aud you
may rest assured the winter will be |
" hard one. Years ago, when these
little animals we're plentiful, they
would come in droves TO our corn
cribs. Many times, when getting up
wood, l have chopped into hollow
logs and found half bushel Of corn,
together with beech and other nuts.
We make but few finds OF that kind |
now. The gronnd squirrels are, few !
and far between, and a gray ~ fox
squirrel is Il novelty 10 many parts OF |
the State.
THE cOoN AS A IRC.seHEF.
"Mc ~,s-peo6e| ridicule the ground
nog theory of cold weather, but
have great deal of faith in the lit
tie animal. The coon is also a good
prophet. Let either animal 90 into
his hole early in the winter and stay
there, then look out for cold weather.
The coon is lively animal, and if
the weather is mild he is likely to be
up and doing
= "When first came to Grant
County. the most successful coon
hunter. was man named Overholtz.
He never went out that he did not
return with game, while many of his
neighbors wonld be unsuccessful af-