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Subject: Re: A need for a big weed kill
From: hank@netcom.com (Hank Roberts)
Organization: ICGNetcom
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 98 21:09:36
Message-ID: <MOD$981120.16143@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$981113.29843@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$981119.20335@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



Albert.Woelfer@t-online.de (Helge Blaue) writes:
....
>to do this on a Capricorn-day while the Moon is on the wane... I don't have
>the slightest idea why, but (sometimes) it works rather well, ...
One possibility: I recall some years ago that the old idea of cultivating and
planting by moonlight was tested, I think in Germany -- turned out that most
seeds already in the soil were too deep to get enough light to trigger
germination, until turned over during cultivation in daylight, or even in the
electric lights of a modern tractor, but even full moonlight was just below
the level needed to release the seed to germinate, so seeds turned up but
then reburied without seeing bright light remained quiescent.

Doesn't say much exactly for either Capricorn or waning, but at least it's in
the same ballpark as far as experience that might have led to the folklore.