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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
102
One
reason,
perhaps,
for
the
attention
so
universally
paid
to
the
moon's
changes
in
agricultural
pursuits
is,
writes
Mr.
Farrer,
"that
they
are
far
more
remarkable
than
any
of
the
sun's,
and
more
calculated
to
inspire
dread
by
the
nocturnal
darkness
they
contend
with,
and
hence
are
held
in
popular
fancy
nearly
everywhere,
to
cause,
portend,
or
accord
with
changes
in
the
lot
of
mortals,
and
all
things
terrestrial."[3]
On
this
assumption
may
be
explained
the
idea
that
the,
"moon's
wane
makes
things
on
earth
to
wane;
when
it
is
new
or
full
it
is
everywhere
the
proper
season
for
new
crops
to
be
sown."
In
the
Hervey
Islands
cocoa-nuts
are
generally
planted
in
the
full
of
the
moon,
the
size
of
the
latter
being
regarded
as
symbolical
of
the
ultimate
fulness
of
the
fruit.
In
the
same
way
the
weather
of
certain
seasons
of
the
year
is
supposed
to
influence
the
vegetable
world,
and
in
Rutlandshire
we
are
told
that
"a
green
Christmas
brings
a
heavy
harvest;"
but
a
full
moon
about
Christmas
Day
is
unlucky,
hence
the
adage:
"Light
Christmas,
light
wheatsheaf,
Dark
Christmas,
heavy
wheatsheaf."
If
the
weather
be
clear
on
Candlemas
Day
"corn
and
fruits
will
then
be
dear,"
and
"whoever
doth
plant
or
sow
on
Shrove
Tuesday,
it
will
always
remain
green."
According
to
a
piece
of
weather-lore
in
Sweden,
there
is
a
saying
that
to
strew
ash
branches
in
a
field
on
Ash
Wednesday
is
equivalent
to
three
days'
rain
and
three
days'
sun.
Rain
on
Easter
Day
foretells
a
good
harvest
but
poor
hay
crop,
while
thunder
on
All
Fool's
Day
"brings
good
crops
of
corn
and
hay."
According
to
the
"Shepherd's
Calendar,"
if,
"Midsummer
Day
be
never
so
little
rainy
the
hazel
and
walnut
will
be
scarce;
corn
smitten
in
many
places;
but
apples,
pears,
and
plums
will
not
be
hurt."
And
we
are
further
reminded:--
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