PLANTING BY THE MOON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 14

PLANTING BY THE MOON

Scientific Approach To The Subject in recent weeks several advocates of tlie "Moon theory” have given their views. Today, we publish the opinion of a Palmerston North correspondent who represents the scientific school of thought. "I was interested in your article on the influence of the moon on germination and yield and so 1 decided to work out an experiment to test the theory. The formula had to be such that it would narrow the results down to the influence of the moon.” writes Helianthus Annus, "Well, here it is: Wheal or maize could be used for the experiment and grown in a pure water culture to eliminate soil influence, using 1000 e.e. water, 1 grm. calcium nitrate, 0.25. grm. magnesium sulphate, 0.25 grm. acid potassium phosphate, 0.25 grm. potassium nitrate, and a trace of ferric chloride. Plants will grow and set seed copiously in this medium. Temperature and air circulation would require to be regulated and the plants should receive the same amount of sunshine during growth. With a , small number of plants it would be necessary to provide against disease and other factors. The seed would have to be tested each time it was put down in order to cheek up any deterioration in the seed. At least fifty tests per day would be necessary over a fairly long period. Records would require to be kept on germination, yield, protein and vitamins value. Any ordinary test in soil would just be a hit and miss experiment. If at the end of the experiments it was established that different phases of the moon influenced germination, growth and yield, then a science would be established. Some time ago I put down a simple experiment in soil using kowhal seed. 100 seeds were sown just before tin l full moon and 100 just after the last quarter. The seed was not pretroated. One hundred seeds were sown at an unfavourable period of the moon and were pretreated by soaking them in very hot water. One hundred seeds were sown at an unfavourable period of the moon, but chipped with a pair of pliers. The pretreated seed germinated and grew to about nine inches high before one of tlie seeds germinated from the favourable moon phase trial. Most of the seeds not pretreaied did not germinate.

Man’s ingenuity, plus good seed, cultivation, irrigation and a little fertilizer has more influence on plant growth than the different phases of the moon. “Did not Pliny in 470 U.C., when experimenting by sprinkling with pure amurca of olives to prevent plant blight express some doubt in flu. 1 influence of the moon, and later in 350 B.C. Aristotle said something on the same lines when discussing the rust in wheat? It takes a long while for superstition to die out and modern science to sinkin and so no doubt the moonshine idea will remain with us so long as plants grow.

“A line of seed recently tested for germination resulted in a 99.8 per cent, test under unfavourable moon conditions, so perhaps if it is persevered with under favourable moon conditions a Dionne strain may be developed with a 500 per cent, germination. It may be worth while taking this up with the Government, Seed Testing Statioh as probably they do not take into consideration the moon factor when testing seed.