Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

MISCELLANY.

FROM THE AMERICAN SENTINEL

Some remarks about the Moon, Weather, &c.

It is generally known, that the Moon appears new or full, by our seeing that part of her which the sun shines upon; and I think that the borrowed light of the sun has no influence on the earth when coming from the moon, either as it regards the weather, or the growth of vegetation, or of peeling of bark or cutting of timber, to make it durable, or any other similar whim.

The sun and moon attract the sea, and cause the tide to ebb and flow; but the shining of the moon makes no difference. When the moon is new or full, we have higher tides, for the sun has nearly an equal effect in both cases.

Clouds running in opposite directions indicate falling weather. It has been said that thunder storms go against the wind, and that other storms do not. But it is a fact, that all long storms progress directly against the wind that blows near the earth. The upper wind carries the main cloud, while the lower wind drives underskirting clouds in quick succession, which help fill up and continue the storm, and when it is ended the wind generally blows the same way near the earth that the main cloud came from.

Northeast storms, as we generally term them, begin at the southwest; and Southeast storms generally begin at the North west, and they travel from 100 to 1000 miles in 24 hours.

A hazy cloud will be seen in the Southwest, 24 hours before a Northeast snow storm. A cloud will be seen in the Northwest from 6 to 18 hours before a southeast storm. And a Southeast wind on our coast will generally produce rain in 15 or 20 hours. When uncommon birds are heard to make a noise and the brute creation, as well as winged fowls, appear to be more active than usual, then look out for rain. I have heard shepherds say that sheep, and especially lambs, are the most active before a rain. When drops of water appear on a white stone, or on a cup of water, or any cold substance, then look out for rain; for these signs show the air to be full of moisture. When no dew is seen on the grass in the morning, then we may suppose the moisture is gathering in clouds for rain.

The falling of snow in a particular time of the moon, is no sign of its durability. But any whim well stuck to, will generally satisfy some persons; for if it turns out otherwise, it is easy to impute it to some unknown cause. One woman told the weather by observing which way the old sow rooted, and which way a cat turned herself to the fire. One woman thought her flat irons did not hold heat well, because they were probably cast in the wrong time of the moon. I have seen publications in favour of cutting timber, at a particular time of the moon, but I am well satisfied that the moon's being either new or old makes no difference in the cutting of timber. But the shining of the moon is of great use to give light to those who happen to be out in moonlight evenings—and as we have the light of the moon about half the evenings in the year, I have thought it might be well to appoint such public meetings as we wish to have in the evening, on moonlight nights; for sometimes accidents happen to those who choose darkness rather than light, even if their deeds are not evil.

I have written down the weather for years past, and then compared my memorandum with the changes of the moon, and did not find them to correspond with the generally received opinion of mankind. Many people suppose that the last Friday in the month is an almanac for the next month; but it does not appear to me very likely that the weather is made to conform to our mode of counting time. Others suppose that the 12 days after Christmas is an almanac for the 12 months of the next year—or that the wind will blow the same way each month as it blew on each of those days :—but they all appear to me alike ridiculous.

OBSERVER.