Year: 1874

Our weather bureau has already conferred
vast benefit on mankind, and is destined to
convey still greater. not only by their daily
prognostications of the weather. but by
determining for themselves, and of course
for all else, II system of weather portents
that can he relied upon.


Would it not serve a useful purpose if
some scientific meteorologlst were to gath
er into 4 mass the various weather signs
whether valuable or not-treasured by the
farmers and other common sense people of
the country and then sift them. so that
those of real value may have their proper
influence, and those which are merely fan
ciful may cease to mislead?


\ mention of the false rs well as of the
true may be necessary that those who hold
them may see that they are not unknown
that they received intelligent regard, and
they have had their place assigned them
by the rules of impartial silence.


That there are weather signs in abun-
dance every body knows. That the greater
part of these signs are utterly valueless,
every person of intelligence can testify.
Yet that they do practically influence the
time and mode of the planting of crops,
and of their after culture. will be acknowl-
edged by many who wonld not be suspect
ed of the folly. and who can give no other
reason for it than the force Of habit.


We are going to have Il dry month.
said farmer the other day.


low do you know?' he was asked.


By the Indians 81 on of the new moon,
he replied It's horns hung so slopino
that they could hold no water


His companion laughed. Why, that'>
my Indian 81 on for Il wet moon. The horn;
slope so that they let loose all the water
/ The sign in the one case was no doubt
us prophetic Il. in the her.


/ T Always plant your potatoes in the darl
/ Of the moon, if you wish to have a ful
crop | heard my neighbor say. Blu
never kill your pork nor boil your soap a
such time, unless you are willing to hav,
them shrink to nothing.


What is your authority for this?'
/ Il have always so heard he answered
with some hesitation. and always so pr:,c
ticed Potatoes. you know being roots
naturally love darkness. And soap ant
bacon-I suppose suppose they take
their cue from the state of the moon. Til,
fact is, | only know that this is the oil,
time rulen


Old time it may have been, and therefor,
demanding reverence, but confess it pro
voked a laugh. 1t made me think of a rul'
given me when young by good nature,
old woman, about raising early corn
When you plant these seeds said she
get as low down to the ground as yol
can: sitting fiat on it is is best. Then tn
pods will begin to bear near the ground
But if you st;tntl up to plant, the stalk will
shoot up high and will bear no pod until j
81 the height of your hand Good oil
soul. / took her seed, but not her advice
and raised good early corn nevertheless
I Such are the rules controlling many of tn
d farms, gardens and kitchens of our land
y o. We are to have a frost on the 10Th Q
May said farmer to me on the 9th Q
April. 720in1sw 3 -al aGi svu 2


I was shocked, for he looked wise an
lugubrious, and a frost at that time in ou
latitude would have cost millions of do
lars. asked, How do you knowg
Fa' Because we had fog on the 10Th 4
March = esaodT .a.srye00 ge7 .-s, 7.
Ii He saw me smiling. and added. hav
, heard this rule ever since was a boy, an
lit has never failed vet = hea sea-.