El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-17
SuperstitiOns Of The Farmer Vanish
Modern Farmer Forgetting Wftcher1

3 THAT farmer IN this age OF scien1i-
fic Agriculture should plant his
beans in the fun OF the moon. be-
cause be firmly believes that II they
were planted when the moon is dark
the pods would not cling 10 the vines.
seems almost Incredible Yet this
superstition. and a host just a.
ridiculous are still cherished by some
farmers in all parts Of the country.
They are one Of the formidable dIf-
heultIes which the country agents
and other champions OF scientific
farming. regularly have 10 contend
with.
It should be said Immediately tsat
the farmers are really no worse in
this regard than city folks. II
modern science and education mean
anything. they mean the death OF
superstitutiea- They mean that the
individual win look for a rational
cause back OF every effect
Although the farmers are not the
only supersittious class. their
supersuuQus are more serious mat
ter than those Of actors, for example.
because they affect the production Of
food Rural superstitlons govern
such important matters as care OF
sick animals. time TO plant crops. and
how 20 set hens
DiaPeiiing suPerstitions.
tractors. the gasoline engine. and
government bulletins on agriculture
have suppressed 10 a great extent the
progressive farmers romantic ten
OF tradition and early training are
strong, and many farmers cling
tenacsously 10 the old saws"
Proverbs and superstition flourish
~ an rural community where there
are farmers OF the old school whose
fathers and graudfathers firmly be-
leFed the weather prophecies OF the
almanac and told the children that
DiueJays are always scarce on Friday
devil
Many Of the old weather proverbs.
70 be sure, have foundation Of fact
Take the advice, when oak leaves
are rs big as mouses' ears plant your
corn The idea back OF this is that
the oak tree is one OF the last 10 leaf.
and by waiting for the oak leaves.
The farmer avoids planting his corn
too soon
Lightning and Crops.
The belief OF the Pueblo Indians
that for lightning 10 strike in corn
Held means q good crop IS stlll 49,
by many farmers today Il is in
possible to say whether the Pueblos
read any reason into this saying
Most modern farmers merely accept
Il as a superstiuoue belief Yet II mas
an explanation. rather far fetched. in
that lightning accompanies rain. and
naturally helps the crops
Many other proverbs have no effect
aside from their picturesque
qualities. such a one IS the say
ing that the Aumber OF snow falls for
the winter can be told by the day OF
the mouth OF rhe fIrst snow Thus,
70 the first snow o. the season falls
o. Novem Der 10. subtract 10 rom 81;
you find that there VIII be 90 snow
storms In your vicinity. This Is mere I
ehiid's play. according 20 the weather Z
bureau.
Hooking Up the Months.
In the class OF irresponsible weather I
proverbs come those which link sea-
sons-as it rains in March. so Il rains
in June; as July so next January, b
warm October. cold February; warm .
January. cold May. and so on iudefi- 4
nitely. These sayings are so numerous I
nat practically every possible pair OF d
months In the year is connected By a
proyerb. and IN some cases the ideas {