"Educated" people say that planting by the signs is an old wive's tale, but if you have ever planted a garden, you had better dig out that old Farmers Almanac. My mother planted green beans once and she said they had the biggest blooms, but not one bean. Her father told her she planted by the sign of the flowers and not by the sign of the vegetables. She was a believer from then on, always planted by the signs, and always had the best garden. Ruby -----Original Message----- From: Pat Oneal <peon@icx.net> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, February 26, 1999 11:53 PM Subject: Remedies vs. astrological signs >For those of you who plant small vegetable gardens, this might be of >interest: > >Signs were used for home remedies as well as planting crops. >The family farm was one of bounty. My grandfather provided produce for the >wholesale market in Middlesboro, KY, in the early 1900s. Legend has it that >a local tongue-wagger remarked that he would "miss the day of resurrection >because he'd be off and gone to the market in Middlesboro." > Crops were planted according to the astrological signs. According to Mama, >in early spring a layer of manure was spread over the potato bed and a layer >of rich dirt was spread over the manure. The time to plant potatoes was >half way between the old and new moon. If they were planted at the >beginning of the new moon, farmers discovered the potatoes would grow to the >surface of the ground and sunburn. If planted during the old moon, they >burrowed deep in the ground, making it difficult to dig them when harvesting >the crop. Sweet corn was planted when the signs were in the arms and during >the new moon. Signs had to be in the head when planting cabbage, and >cucumbers were planted when the signs were in the arms and feet, otherwise >called the Twins. My grandmother planted her bed of beets when the signs >were in the heart, thus, producing the best beets in the valley. Pap >planted sugarcane in white sandy loam during the full of the moon, and he >was credited with producing top quality molasses from the cane. (There's >More!) This aught to tell the younger readers that there was a time when >the Moon was used for something besides romancing and for astronauts to land >on! >Although I am involved in genealogy, these stories certainly have been >enlightening to me in that I am learning how our ancestors had to use their >ingenuity to survive. Pat > > > > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== >#2 A large database of SURNAMES and the researcher's email address can be found at >http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/quarrybank/194/swabc.htm >You may have your SURNAMES included by posting them and your address to the >LIST and NOT to the sysop/owner.