The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-11-25
RULED BY THE MOON
ODD BELIEFS BY DUTCH FARMERS
OF NORTH CAROLINA.

AhCS AAAAA AAO9Ss = As-AAs e~A-A ASe~-~>> 49,
cording to the Tilt of the Moon.
How to Keep a Dog and What One
Must Do to Make a Good Tree Dog.
The Dutch farmers of Rowan county
are among North Cardinals most pros
porous and most interesting people.
They live well, save money and i'm
prove in every way. Thrift is vir-
tue with them. They are great believ-
ers in signs and old sayings. They do
things by the moon.
Before building a worm fence the
Dutch always watch the moon, says
the Charlotte IN. c. Observer. 1t must
be right or the fence will sink into
the ground. The bottom rail must be
put down when the little moon is turn
ed up, SO that it will not sink into the
ground. To prove that this is the right
sort of doctrine let a person make an
experiment with two bricks. Put
down one while the little moon is up
and the other while it is down, and it
will be noticed that the one laid when
the moon was down will go into the
ground and that the other will remain
as left.
If one would cover his house well he
must make the boards when the little
moon is turned down. That is easy.
The boards will keep their shape if
rived then. But, on the other hand,
if made while the little moon is turn
ed up the boards will cup up at the
ends when exposed to the weather.
have seen many a board turn up at
the end, but never knew what did 1t
till now.
The moon must be right when a
Dutchman kills his hogs. If the hogs
are killed when the little moon is on
the decrease the meat will shrink, but
If killed when the little moon is on
the increase it will swell.
To have good turnips one must plant
on Israeps day-that is, in August. II
corn is planted when the little moon
points up the ears will grow too near
the top. The ear gets more nourish-
ment near the ground.
No work is done on Ascension day.
1t is day of rest and pleasure. If the
first visitor to home that day is a
man all the eggs that are setting will
hatch ROSTERS; if a woman, pullets
will prevail. Therefore man is an I'M
welcome guest early in the morning on
Ascension day.
1t is not right to carry out the ashes
between Christmas and New Years
day. That brings bad luck.
If farmer puts out manure or fer
tilizer when the little moon points up
it will stay, but if the little moon
points down it will leach out.
There are a thousand and one of
these signs and sayings If they could
be collected. Many of them are met in
other than Dutch communities.
Lived there country boy in Meek
lenburg who did not know how to
treat his old hound for various short
comings? If when you get new dog
he will not stay with you cut the hair
tip off his tail and bury it under the
front steps, and then he will abide
with you forever. Nobody can take
him from you. If you would have the
dog love you better than he could any
body else wear bit of meat in the
heel of your shoe day and then give
it to the dog to eat. 1t is strange doc
trine, but true, for I have tried it.
Some folks find it better to measure a
dog with stick and bury it under the
steps than to nick the tail. Either way
will do.
1t so happens now and then that a
fine dog refuses to bark at the tree.
That sort of hunting is unsatisfactory,
for most of the hunters time is wasted
in hunting for the silent dog. That de-
feet, however, is easily got rid of. The
hunter goes to the woods and listens
for the squeaking noise that is made
by the rubbing together Of two trees,
gathers the bark from the point of
friction, makes a soup Of it and gives
it to the dog. If anything will help
him after he is grown that will. But
if the puppy is taken in time there will
be no silent dog at the tree. AS soon
as the puppy is large enough to stand
the blow the hunter should burst
green igourd over his head. That will
make tree dogs-barking dogs. But I
cannot refrain from giving word Of
warning here. hit one of my puppies
too hard once and broke his head in
stead of the gourd.
In certain sections of the south there
is a saying that If you will rub a teeth
ing baby's gums with warm rabbit
brains the teeth will come through the
skin without difficulty. 1t was my
good fortune once to see the trick tried.
One day was travelling in the lower
part of Mecklenburg county when 1
saw two small boys running, carrying
something. The youngsters were red
in the face and hot could see that
they were bent ON purpose. The larger
of the two. a red topped boy, was in
the lead. He held in his hand some
thing that he seemed to be jealous Of
and was trying to protect.
'What have you there, boy?" shout