The St. Mary banner., 1908-12-19
WEATHER SIGNS.

uOe ilOln the untrue weather say ih,o'
the United States government ON
Gals have recently made compreheh-
ave investigation of English weather
lore, and have published the traditions
which may be of truthful guidance to
Al American. They have raked over
the whole language and separated me
wheat from the Chaff In addition they
have printed laws which they them
selves have enacted to govern their
predictions The work has been done
snder the supervision OF Edward B.
Garriott, professor OF meteorOiogy,
and Willis L. Moore, chief Of the Unit
ed States weather bureau.
The following proverbs, for example,
are given to show how one may pre-
dict change in weather by the action
Of the atmosphere on various things:
When walls are unusually damp rain
is expected.
Horses sweating in the stable is a
sign of rain
Doors and windows are hard to shut
Ia damp weather.
Flies sting and are more trouble
some than usual when the humidity
increases before rain.
Sailors note the Tightening of the
eordage on ships as sign of coming
rain.
Sensitive plants contract their
leaves and blossoms when the humid
ity increases.
A piece of seaweed hung up will be-
come damp previous to rain.
A lump of hemp acts as good hy-
gr0meter and prognosticates rain when
it is damp.
Tobacco becomes moist preceding
nRin.
When rheumatic people complain of
more than ordinary pains it will prob
ably rain.
When the locks turn damp in the
scalphOuse surely it Will rajn-Ameri-
can Indians.
II corns, wounds and sores itch or
ache more than usual rain is likely to
fall shortly.
When mating on the floor is shrink
ing dry weather may be expected
When mating expands expect wet
weather.
Ropes shorten with an increase of
humidity.
Three foggy or misty mornings in
dicate rain.
Cuarries Of stone and slate indicate
rain by moist exudation from the
stenes.
Salt Increases in weight before rain.
A farmers wife says when her cheese
salt is soft it will rain; when getting
dry fair weather may be expected.
II metal plates and dishes sweat 1t
1s sign Of bad weather.-Plinny.
Three foggy or misty morning in
dicate rein.-Oregon.
A rising fog indicates fair weather:
4 the fog settles down expect rain.
; Fog from seaward. fair weather; fog
fom land. rain.-New England.
Hoarfrost indicates rain.
Heavy frosts bring heavy rain; no
frosts. no rain.-California
4 The larger the halo about the moon
The nearer the rain clouds and the
sooner the rain may be expected.
When the perfume of flowers is un-
usually perceptible rain may be ex-
pected.
When the mountain moss is dry and
brittle expect clear weather.
. 3anhower raising its head indicates
ufn.
Rainbow in morning, shepherds take
warning;
Rainbow 1T night, shepherds delight:
Rainbow 1t night, sailors delight;
Rainbow In morning, sailors warn
F, ing.
: Rainbow in morning shows that
shower is west of us. and that we will
probably get 1t. Rainbow in the even
ng shows that shower is east Of US
and is passing on.
Snakes expose themselves on the ap-
proach Of rain.
In Dry weather, when creeks and
springs that have gone dry, become
nnoist, O., as we say, begin to sweat.
4 indicates approaching rain. Many
springs that have gone dry will give
I good Aow Of water just before rain.
~. e. Walker. Kansas.
Drains, ditches and dunghills are
nore Offensive before rain.
Floors saturated with oil become
very damp Just before rain.
0uitar strings shorten before rain,
Human hair (red) cHrls and kinks
q the approach Of storm, and re-
straightehs after the storm.
Lamp wicks crackle. candles burn
In, SCOT falls down, smoke descends.
walls and peyements are damp. and
'alsagreeable odors arise from bitches
1nd cutters before rain.