The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-29
IN STORM PERIOD.
8 Cider" Smith Says We Are in
Critical Place.
Doesn't Expect Much Rain I'm
til May z.
THE WEATHER SIGNS.
They Indicate What Conditions
Are to Be.
Corn Crop FOrecasted in Gov
eminent PrOyerb Book.
THE WEATHER SIGNS.

This is a critical period on the weather
calendar. Cider Smith announced
Tuesday afternoon that I'VE are now
between two storm periods, the 23d OF
April and the 1st of May. The precipi-
tation will probably be light until We
come to a more important period from
May to TO- The temperature is too
cool and even for much in the way Of
storms"
According to the weather proverbs. as
compiled for the government by Briga
der and Brevet Major General W. E.
Hazen. while chief signal officer of the
army. the last of each month and thu
beginning Of each month has more OF
less important bearing on the period to
follow. one undisputed proverb is The
month that comes in good will go out
bad" Another is April cold and wei
fills barn and barrel
"A cold and moist April fills the cellar
and fattens the COW, and w hen ApiH
| blows his horn tbs good for both nay
and corn are two proverbs which have
much to do with the months TO follow.
There is hope of this being a good frun
year. in some Localities. as there Is
provsrb which says Lightning in the
! spring indicates a good fruit year
! There has been cOnsidera bic lightning.
| Much depends the amount OF thun-
der in May, the months of September
| and August Will be without it,
This doesn't make much difference tc
! prohibition Kansas. so far as the VINE
is concerned: Rain in the beginning OF
May is said to be injurious to wine.
The Portuguese have contributed the
following May proverb: "A windy May
makes d fair year" The Spanish come
DroVerb: Water in May is bread ali
the year" The '.unspeakable Scots
are responsible for this: Mist in May
and heat in June makes the harvest
right soon"
"A dry May is followed by a wet
June. A normal wet and cool May
brings wet June. An abnormal warm
May brings a wet June Dry May
brings nothing" That is complicated
proverb, but it is guaranteed to be ac,
curate- Frosts may cause a scare. but
'hoar frost on the first Of May indi-
cate good harvest The black thorn
which grows only here and there in
southern Kansas. is responsible for
much. according to this proverb. The
later the black thorn is in bloom after
May the better the rye and hay har-
vest" Alfalfa is such a new product
that so far no proverbs relating to it
have been found Another is. IF May
will be gardener, he viii not fill the
granaries." zs 4 l.s
The corn crop is affected by tbs
month of May Look at your corn in
May. and youn come sorrowing away;
!.
singing another tune The undertaken.
even, watches May for he Droba blt
knows Of the Droverb "A hot MAJ
makes fat church yard" There are so
! many things contingent upon May ana
the following weather Even the bees
have to do their turn, at just the right
time, to make hay. The bee proverb is.
"A swarm of bees in May is worth a
load Of hay; but swarm in June amt
worth a fly"
If you are thinking about changing
your red. white or blue winter under,
+ wear, don't do it now Follow this
proverb, Cast not a clout till May be
out"
The first must be watched for IF il
rains on Philips and Jacobs day (first)
a fertile year may be expected to fol-
low" Therefore President Roosevelt
must be d1scomforted by rain while in
Topeka or the fertile year will be lost.
This will be good news to the owners
of gardens which have been dug and
burrowed by dogs; dogs digging or
making deep holes in the ground are
said to indicate rain thereby So, too
If a dog eats grass rain will follow "
but if he eats sweet peas it only indi-
Gates cussedness on the part of the dog.
Kites have something to do with the
weather. Kites flying unusually high
are said to indicate fair weather. The
length of the string. it seems, has moth
ing to do with the height at which the
kite is flying. If you see a robin perched
on the top most branches of q tree and
. good indication of rain. not in the book
however. is baseball game If a game
is scheduled look out for rain.
If you are not done planting. then
bark We to this: Go plant the bean
when the moon is light, and you will
find that this is right: plant the pota-
toes when the moon is dark, and to this
line you always bark; but if you vary
from this rule you will find you are a
fool: if you always follow this rule to
the end you viii always have money to
spend"
You may doubt some of these and
may read the old Bedfordshire lines, as
follows:
''Wen. Duncombe. how will be the
weather."
''Sir, it looks cloudy altogether,
And coming across our Houghton Green
1 stopped and talked with old Frank
Beane.
While we stood there. sir, old Jan Swain
Went by and said he knowed 'twould
rain;
The next that came was Master Hunt.
And he declared he knew it wouldn't,
And then I met with Frmer Blow,
He plainly said he didn't know,
So. sir. when doctors disagree,
Who's to decide it. you or me?''