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Cows at peaceful rest in the evening indicate rain before
morning.
Lightning in the north is a sign of dry weather. 23
Examples of rules for farming include:
Plant corn when the dogwood is in full bloom.
Plant late cucumbers when the sign is in the twins. 24
6. Oral and Written Tradition.
Appalachian folk magic has been typically considered to be
an oral tradition. It should be noted, however, the importance that
almanacs have played in this tradition. 25 Of particular importance
has been the continued influence of The Farmer’s Almanac with its
astrological advice for planting crops and taking care of animals.
Both family Bibles and recipe books also have been found to be
storehouses for home remedies, folklore, and superstitions. A
number of books are used by folk magic practitioners and have
become associated with the Appalachian folk magical tradition.
Perhaps the most famous book is John Hohman’s Pow-Wows or
Long Lost Friend, which is a collection of folk magic and remedies
associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. Another, wellknown
and often used, book is Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss. This
book is a compilation of inexpensive remedies for prevention and
treatment of disease and sickness, based on natural habits of living,
by using the Bible and nature to return to God’s original plan for
maintaining health. Other lesser known, and less often found,
books include The Black Pullet, The Book of Magical Talismans
by Elbee Wright, The 6 th and 7 th Books of Moses, and The Book of
Secrets of Albertus Magnus. 26
7. Experimental.
Appalachian folk magic is also experimental and adaptable in
that as knowledge and technology changes over time, so does its
practices. Fischer (1989) notes how such things as railroads and
umbrellas became incorporated into Appalachian superstitions and
18