Show MOON DOES OT AID FARRIER NOR AFFECT THE WEATHER curiously persistent are the various 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 united states department of agriculture Is that it the horns of the new crescent moon tip downward it Is a wet moon portending rain As a matter of tact on any given date the position of the crescent moon is always the same in places having the same latitude so the same kind of weather would necessarily were this sign of any value throughout a belt of latitude extending around the globe again near the equator in a part ol 01 the world notorious for its heavy rainfall the young moon generally in an almost horizontal position or according to the proverb it Is almost always a dry moon it the moon could be viewed from the north or south pole on the other hand its position would be tor the superstitious indicative of wet weather but these regions are characterized by so little rainfall and snow that they rank among the arid parts of the globe other superstitions relating to the moon are those which offer guidance n farm practice such as sowing or reaping breeding or butchering shingling or shearing or any other farm activity supposed to be affected by the dark or the light of the moon the scientist points out that the chief things affecting the growth of crops at any stage are temperature of soil and air composition of adjacent atmosphere kind and intensity of light presence or absence and severity of plant disease mechanical condition of the soil loose or compact fertility of the soil and quantity of other vegetation or weeds present the moon has nothing to do with any of these conditions ar crops it has no influence on weather or soil even the light of the full moon Is not intense enough to have any effect on plant growth or plant diseases the chief good accomplished complis hed by these old beliefs as embodied in rural lore Is through the of farm work fixing a time for various activities and the force imparted to the frequently necessary injunction do it now |