"In the wane of the moon,
A cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon."
And
"New moon's mist
Never dies of thirst."
But Virgil is more specific—
"Ipsa dies alios alio dedit ordine Luna
Felices operum; quintam fuge….
Septuma post decumam felix et ponere vitem,
Et prensos domitare boves."
And in these warnings he only imitates Hesiod—
[Greek: Pempias de hexaleasthai, hepei chalepai te chai ainai.]
And
[Greek: Maenos de isamenou trischaidecha taen haleasthai,
Spezmatos azxasthai phuta de henthzepsasthai arisa.]
But the vague prognostics of old times are not sufficient for the guidance of the skilful and provident farmer of our day. The barometer, the thermometer, and even the hygrometer, should be his companions and guides, or occasional counsellors. To the description and useful indications of these instruments, therefore, a sufficient space is devoted in the book before us. We do not know any other source from which the practical farmer can draw so much meteorological matter specially adapted to his own walk of life, as from this chapter upon the weather.