The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1929-03-28
MOON DOES NOT AID FARM
Err NOR AFFECT WEATHER

Err NOK AFFECT WEATHER.
Curiously persistent are the var
ious superstitions relating to the
effect of the moon on the weather
or on the farm crops. One of the
most unreasonable of these beliefs
says the Weather Bureau of the u
S. Department of Agriculture, il
that if the horns of the new cres
cent moon tips downward, it is &
"wet" moon, portending rain.
AS matter of fact, on any Civ.
en- date the position of the cres.
cent moon is always the same in
places having the same latitude, 50
the same kind of weather would
necessarily prevail, were this sign
of any value, throughout a belt
of latitude extending around the
globe. Again, near the equator, in
part of the world, notorious for
its heavy rainfall, the young moon
is generally in an almost horizon
tai position, or, according to the
proverb, it is almost a "dry" moon.
If the moon could be viewed from
the north or south pole, on the
other hand, its position would be,
Tor the superstitious, indicative of
1--WE" weather, but these regions
are characterized by so little rain
fall and somewhat they rank
among the arid parts of the globe.
Other superstitions. relating to
the moon are those which offer
guidance in farm practice, such as
sowing or reaping, breeding or
butchering, Singing, or shearing,
or any other farm activity sup
posed to be affected by the 'dark"
or the eight" of the moon. The
scientist points out that the chief
things affecting the growth of
crops at any stage are: Temporal
ture of soil and air; composition
of adjacent atmosphere; kind and
intensity of light; presence or alb
sence and severity of plant dis
ease; mechanical condition of the
soil, loose or compact; fertility of
the soil and quantity of other veg
citation or weeds present. The moon
has nothing to do with any of
these conditions affecting crops. 1t
has no influence on weather or soil.
Even the light of the full moon is
not intense enough to have any eff
feet on plant growth or plant dis
eases. The chief good accomplished
by these beliefs, as embodied in
rural lore, is through the systema-
tizing of farm work, fixing time
for various activities, and the
force impaired to the frequently
necessary Injunction, "Do it now"
There probably is no section of
the country into which one might
go but what he will find persons
who would stake consideration up
on the effect of the moon upon the
growth of crops. 1t is probable
that this will continue to a less
and less degree. There are those,
ilOWcvcI, VIII dIe opcu uilIiucu vi
the subject, but who have, however,
been more or less influenced by the
statements of those who are so
sure that various phases of the
moon have very marked affect
upon crop growth, who will well
come such information as given in
the above article from the u. S. D.
A. clip sheet.
Definite experimental work has
been conducted along this line and
the County Agent has recollections
of having read in the last five or
six years, a number of articles
more or less in line with the above
article. At the same time, however,
we have also talked with few
farmers who are very sure that
unless their crops were planted in
the full of the moon that there
would be poor yields. There are
others, however, who feel that un-
less the crop is planted in the dark
of the moon that the same thing
would result and this is the hum
orous thing about the whole situa-
ton.