,,the ,,folk-,,lore ,,of ,,plants ,,by ,t4,f4 ,,thiselton-,,dyer #ahhi ,,preface4 ,apart from botanical science1 there is perhaps no subject of inquiry connected with plants of wider interest than that suggested by the study of folk-lore4 ,this field of research has been largely worked of late years1 and has obtained considerable popularity in this country1 and on the ,continent4 ,much has already been written on the folk-lore of plants1 a fact which has induced me to give1 in the present volume1 a brief systematic summary--with a few illustrations in each case--of the many branches into which the subject naturally subdivides itself4 ,it is hoped1 therefore1 that this little work will serve as a useful handbook for those desirous of gaining some information1 in a brief concise form1 of the folk-lore which1 in one form or another1 has clustered round the vegetable kingdom4 ,t4,f4 ,,thiselton-,,dyer4 ,november #ai1 #ahhh4 ,,contents4 ,i4 ,,plant ,,life ,,ii4 ,,primitive ,,and ,,savage ,,notions ,,respecting ,,plants ,,iii4 ,,plant ,,worship ,,iv4 ,,lightning ,,plants ,v4 ,,plants ,,in ,,witchcraft ,,vi4 ,,plants ,,in ,,demonology ,,vii4 ,,plants ,,in ,,fairy-,,lore ,,viii4 ,,love-,,charms ,,ix4 ,,dream-,,plants ,x4 ,,plants ,,and ,,the ,,weather ,,xi4 ,,plant ,,proverbs ,,xii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,their ,,ceremonial ,,use ,,xiii4 ,,plant ,,names ,,xiv4 ,,plant ,,language ,,xv4 ,,fabulous ,,plants ,,xvi4 ,,doctrine ,,of ,,signatures ,,xvii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,the ,,calendar ,,xviii4 ,,children',s ,,rhymes ,,and ,,games ,,xix4 ,,sacred ,,plants ,,xx4 ,,plant ,,superstitions ,,xxi4 ,,plants ,,in ,,folk-,,medicine ,,xxii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,their ,,legendary ,,history ,,xxiii4 ,,mystic ,,plants ,,chapter ,i4 ,,plant ,,life4 ,the fact that plants1 in common with man and the lower animals1 possess the phenomena of life and death1 naturally suggested in primitive times the notion of their having a similar kind of existence4 ,in both cases there is a gradual development which is only reached by certain progressive stages of growth1 a circumstance which was not without its practical lessons to the early naturalist4 ,this similarity1 too1 was held all the more striking when it was observed how the life of plants1 like that of the higher organisms1 was subject to disease1 accident1 and other hostile influences1 and so liable at any moment to be cut off by an untimely end4#a ,on this account a personality was ascribed to the products of the vegetable kingdom1 survivals of which are still of frequent occurrence at the present day4 ,it was partly this conception which invested trees with that mystic or sacred character whereby they were regarded with a superstitious fear which found expression in sundry acts of sacrifice and worship4 ,according to ,mr4 ,tylor1#b there is reason to believe that1 the doctrine of the spirits of plants lay deep in the intellectual history of ,south-east ,asia1 but was in great measure superseded under ,buddhist influence4 ,the ,buddhist books show that in the early days of their religion it was matter of controversy whether trees had souls1 and therefore whether they might lawfully be injured4 ,orthodox ,buddhism decided against the tree souls1 and consequently against the scruple to harm them1 declaring trees to have no mind nor sentient principle1 though admitting that certain dewas or spirits do reside in the body of trees1 and speak from within them4 ,anyhow1 the notion of its being wrong to injure or mutilate a tree for fear of putting it to unnecessary pain was a widespread belief4 ,thus1 the ,ojibways imagined that trees had souls1 and seldom cut them down1 thinking that if they did so they would hear the wailing of the trees when they suffered in this way4#c ,in ,sumatra#d certain trees have special honours paid to them as being the embodiment of the spirits of the woods1 and the ,fijians#e believe that if an animal or a plant die1 its soul immediately goes to ,bolotoo4 ,the ,dayaks of ,borneo#f assert that rice has a living principle or spirit1 and hold feasts to retain its soul lest the crops should decay4 ,and the ,karens affirm1#g too1 that plants as well as men and animals have their la or spirit4 ,the ,iroquois acknowledge the existence of spirits in trees and plants1 and say that the spirit of corn1 the spirit of beans1 and the spirit of squashes are supposed to have the forms of three beautiful maidens4 ,according to a tradition current among the ,miamis1 one year when there was an unusual abundance of corn1 the spirit of the corn was very angry because the children had thrown corn-cobs at each other in play1 pretending to have suffered serious bodily injury in consequence of their sport#h4 ,similarly1 when the wind blows the long grass or waving corn1 the ,german peasant will say1 the ,grass-wolf1 or the ,corn-wolf is abroad4 ,according to ,mr4 ,ralston1 in some places1 the last sheaf of rye is left as a shelter to the ,roggenwolf or ,rye-wolf during the winter's cold1 and in many a summer or autumn festive rite that being is represented by a rustic1 who assumes a wolf-like appearance4 ,the corn spirit was1 however1 often symbolised under a human form4 ,indeed1 under a variety of forms this animistic conception is found among the lower races1 and in certain cases explains the strong prejudice to certain herbs as articles of food4 ,the ,society ,islanders ascribed a varua or surviving soul to plants1 and the negroes of ,congo adored a sacred tree called ,mirrone1 one being generally planted near the house1 as if it were the tutelar god of the dwelling4 ,it is customary1 also1 to place calabashes of palm wine at the feet of these trees1 in case they should be thirsty4 ,in modern folk-lore there are many curious survivals of this tree-soul doctrine4 ,in ,westphalia1#i the peasantry announce formally to the nearest oak any death that may have occurred in the family1 and occasionally this formula is employed--,the master is dead1 the master is dead4 ,even recently1 writes ,sir ,john ,lubbock#aj1 an oak copse at ,loch ,siant1 in the ,isle of ,skye1 was held so sacred that no persons would venture to cut the smallest branch from it4 ,the ,wallachians1 have a superstition that every flower has a soul1 and that the water-lily is the sinless and scentless flower of the lake1 which blossoms at the gates of ,paradise to judge the rest1 and that she will inquire strictly what they have done with their odours4#aa ,it is noteworthy1 also1 that the ,indian belief which describes the holes in trees as doors through which the special spirits of those trees pass1 reappears in the ,german superstition that the holes in the oak are the pathways for elves2#ab and that various diseases may be cured by contact with these holes4 ,hence some trees are regarded with special veneration--particularly the lime and pine#ac--;and persons of a superstitious turn of mind1 may often be seen carrying sickly children to a forest for the purpose of dragging them through such holes4 ,this practice formerly prevailed in our own country1 a well-known illustration of which we may quote from ,white's ,history of ,selborne3 ,in a farmyard near the middle of the village1 he writes1 stands at this day a row of pollard ashes1 which by the seams and long cicatrices down their sides1 manifestly show that in former times they had been cleft asunder4 ,these trees1 when young and flexible1 were severed and held open by wedges1 while ruptured children1 stripped naked1 were pushed through the apertures4#ad ,in ,somersetshire the superstition still lingers on1 and in ,cornwall the ceremony to be of value must be performed before sunrise2 but the practice does not seem to have been confined to any special locality4 ,it should also be added1 as ,mr4 ,conway#ae has pointed out1 that in all ,saxon countries in the ,middle ,ages a hole formed by two branches of a tree growing together was esteemed of highly efficacious value4 ,on the other hand1 we must not confound the spiritual vitality ascribed to trees with the animistic conception of their being inhabited by certain spirits1 although1 as ,mr4 ,tylor#af remarks1 it is difficult at times to distinguish between the two notions4 ,instances of these tree spirits lie thickly scattered throughout the folk-lore of most countries1 survivals of which remain even amongst cultured races4 ,it is interesting1 moreover1 to trace the same idea in ,greek and ,roman mythology4 ,thus ,ovid#ag tells a beautiful story of ,erisicthon's impious attack on the grove of ,ceres1 and it may be remembered how the ,greek dryads and hamadryads had their life linked to a tree1 and1 as this withers and dies1 they themselves fall away and cease to be2 any injury to bough or twig is felt as a wound1 and a wholesale hewing down puts an end to them at once--a cry of anguish escapes them when the cruel axe comes near4 ,in ,apollonius ,rhodius we find one of these hamadryads imploring a woodman to spare a tree to which her existence is attached3 ,loud through the air resounds the woodman's stroke1 ,when1 lo6 a voice breaks from the groaning oak1 ',spare1 spare my life6 a trembling virgin spare6 ,oh1 listen to the ,hamadryad's prayer6 ,no longer let that fearful axe resound2 ,preserve the tree to which my life is bound4 ,see1 from the bark my blood in torrents flows2 ,i faint1 ,i sink1 ,i perish from your blows4' ,aubrey1 referring to this old superstition1 says3 ,i cannot omit taking notice of the great misfortune in the family of the ,earl of ,winchelsea1 who at ,eastwell1 in ,kent1 felled down a most curious grove of oaks1 near his own noble seat1 and gave the first blow with his own hands4 ,shortly after his countess died in her bed suddenly1 and his eldest son1 the ,lord ,maidstone1 was killed at sea by a cannon bullet4 ,modern ,european folk-lore still provides us with a curious variety of these spirit-haunted trees1 and hence when the alder is hewn1 it bleeds1 weeps1 and begins to speak4#ah ,an old tree in the ,rugaard forest must not be felled for an elf dwells within1 and another1 on the ,heinzenberg1 near ,zell1 uttered a complaint when the woodman cut it down1 for in it was our ,lady1 whose chapel now stands upon the spot4#ai ,an ,austrian ,mrchen tells of a stately fir1 in which there sits a fairy maiden waited on by dwarfs1 rewarding the innocent and plaguing the guilty2 and there is the ,german song of the maiden in the pine1 whose bark the boy splits with a gold and silver horn4 ,stories again are circulated in ,sweden1 among the peasantry1 of persons who by cutting a branch from a habitation tree have been struck with death4 ,such a tree was the klinta tall in ,westmanland1 under which a mermaid was said to dwell4 ,to this tree might occasionally be seen snow-white cattle driven up from the neighbouring lake across the meadows4 ,another ,swedish legend tells us how1 when a man was on the point of cutting down a juniper tree in a wood1 a voice was heard from the ground1 saying1 friend1 hew me not4 ,but he gave another stroke1 when to his horror blood gushed from the root#bj4 ,then there is the ,danish tradition#ba relating to the lonely thorn1 occasionally seen in a field1 but which never grows larger4 ,trees of this kind are always bewitched1 and care should be taken not to approach them in the night time1 as there comes a fiery wheel forth from the bush1 which1 if a person cannot escape from1 will destroy him4 ,in modern ,greece certain trees have their stichios1 a being which has been described as a spectre1 a wandering soul1 a vague phantom1 sometimes invisible1 at others assuming the most widely varied forms4 ,it is further added that when a tree is stichimonious it is dangerous for a man1 to sleep beneath its shade1 and the woodcutters employed to cut it down will lie upon the ground and hide themselves1 motionless1 and holding their breath1 at the moment when it is about to fall1 dreading lest the stichio at whose life the blow is aimed with each stroke of the axe1 should avenge itself at the precise moment when it is dislodged4#bb ,turning to primitive ideas on this subject1 ,mr4 ,schoolcraft mentions an ,indian tradition of a hollow tree1 from the recesses of which there issued on a calm day a sound like the voice of a spirit4 ,hence it was considered to be the residence of some powerful spirit1 and was accordingly deemed sacred4 ,among rude tribes trees of this kind are held sacred1 it being forbidden to cut them4 ,some of the ,siamese in the same way offer cakes and rice to the trees before felling them1 and the ,talein of ,burmah will pray to the spirit of the tree before they begin to cut the tree down#bc4 ,likewise in the ,australian bush demons whistle in the branches1 and in a variety of other eccentric ways make their presence manifest--reminding us of ,ariel's imprisonment3#bd ,into a cloven pine2 within which rift ,imprison'd1 thou didst painfully remain1 ,a dozen years2 444 444 ,where thou didst vent thy groans1 ,as fast as mill-wheels strike4 ,similarly ,miss ,emerson1 in her ,indian ,myths 7#ahhd1 p4 #acd71 quotes the story of ,the ,two ,branches3 ,one day there was a great noise in a tree under which ,manabozho was taking a nap4 ,it grew louder1 and1 at length exasperated1 he leaped into the tree1 caught the two branches whose war was the occasion of the din1 and pulled them asunder4 ,but with a spring on either hand1 the two branches caught and pinioned ,manabozho between them4 ,three days the god remained imprisoned1 during which his outcries and lamentations were the subject of derision from every quarter--from the birds of the air1 and from the animals of the woods and plains4 ,to complete his sad case1 the wolves ate the breakfast he had left beneath the tree4 ,at length a good bear came to his rescue and released him1 when the god disclosed his divine intuitions1 for he returned home1 and without delay beat his two wives4 ,furthermore1 we are told of the ,west ,indian tribes1 how1 if any person going through a wood perceived a motion in the trees which he regarded as supernatural1 frightened at the prodigy1 he would address himself to that tree which shook the most4 ,but such trees1 however1 did not condescend to converse1 but ordered him to go to a boie1 or priest1 who would order him to sacrifice to their new deity4#be ,from the same source we also learn#bf how among savage tribes those plants that produce great terrors1 excitement1 or a lethargic state1 are supposed to contain a supernatural being4 ,hence in ,peru1 tobacco is known as the sacred herb1 and from its invigorating effect superstitious veneration is paid to the weed4 ,many other plants have similar respect shown to them1 and are used as talismans4 ,poisonous plants1 again1 from their deadly properties1 have been held in the same repute2#bg and it is a very common practice among ,american ,indians to hang a small bag containing poisonous herbs around the neck of a child1 as a talisman against diseases or attacks from wild beasts4 ,it is commonly supposed that a child so protected is proof against every hurtful influence1 from the fact of its being under the protection of the special spirits associated with the plant it wears4 ,again1 closely allied to beliefs of this kind is the notion of plants as the habitation of the departing soul1 founded on the old doctrine of transmigration4 ,hence1 referring to bygone times1 we are told by ,empedocles that there are two destinies for the souls of highest virtue --to pass either into trees or into the bodies of lions4#bh ,amongst the numerous illustrations of this mythological conception may be noticed the story told by ,ovid1#bi who relates how ,baucis and ,philemon were rewarded in this manner for their charity to ,zeus1 who came a poor wanderer to their home4 ,it appears that they not only lived to an extreme old age1 but at the last were transformed into trees4 ,ovid1 also1 tells how the gods listened to the prayer of penitent ,myrrha1 and eventually turned her into a tree4 ,although1 as ,mr4 ,keary remarks1 she has lost understanding with her former shape1 she still weeps1 and the drops which fall from her bark 7i4e41 the myrrh7 preserve the story of their mistress1 so that she will be forgotten in no age to come4 ,the sisters of ,phathon1 bewailing his death on the shores of ,eridanus1 were changed into poplars4 ,we may1 too1 compare the story of ,daphne and ,syrinx1 who1 when they could no longer elude the pursuit of ,apollo and ,pan1 change themselves into a laurel and a reed4 ,in modern times1 ,tasso and ,spenser have given us graphic pictures based on this primitive phase of belief2 and it may be remembered how ,dante passed through that leafless wood1 in the bark of every tree of which was imprisoned a suicide4 ,in ,german folk-lore#cj the soul is supposed to take the form of a flower1 as a lily or white rose2 and according to a popular belief1 one of these flowers appears on the chairs of those about to die4 ,in the same way1 from the grave of one unjustly executed white lilies are said to spring as a token of the person's innocence2 and from that of a maiden1 three lilies which no one save her lover must gather4 ,the sex1 moreover1 it may be noted1 is kept up even in this species of metempsychosis#ca4 ,thus1 in a ,servian folk-song1 there grows out of the youth's body a green fir1 out of the maiden's a red rose1 which entwine together4 ,amongst further instances quoted by ,grimm1 we are told how1 a child carries home a bud which the angel had given him in the wood1 when the rose blooms the child is dead4 ,the ,lay of ,eunzifal makes a blackthorn shoot out of the bodies of slain heathens1 a white flower by the heads of fallen ,christians4 ,it is to this notion that ,shakespeare alludes in ,hamlet1 where ,laertes wishes that violets may spring from the grave of ,ophelia 7v4 ,i73 ,lay her in the earth1 ,and from her fair and unpolluted flesh ,may violets spring4 ,a passage which is almost identical to one in the ,satires of ,persius 7i4 #ci73 ,e tumulo fortunataque favilla1 ,nascentur violae2 ,and an idea1 too1 which ,tennyson seems to have borrowed3 ,and from his ashes may be made1 ,the violet of his native land4 ,again1 in the well-known story of ,tristram and ,ysonde1 a further reference occurs3 ,from his grave there grew an eglantine which twined about the statue1 a marvel for all men to see2 and though three times they cut it down1 it grew again1 and ever wound its arms about the image of the fair ,ysonde#cb4 ,in the ,scottish ballad of ,fair ,margaret and ,sweet ,william1 it is related-- ,out of her breast there sprang a rose1 ,and out of his a briar2 ,they grew till they grew unto the church top1 ,and there they tied in a true lovers' knot4 ,the same idea has prevailed to a large extent among savage races4 ,thus1 some of the ,north-,western ,indians believed that those who died a natural death would be compelled to dwell among the branches of tall trees4 ,the ,brazilians have a mythological character called ,mani--a child who died and was buried in the house of her mother4 ,soon a plant sprang out of the grave1 which grew1 flourished1 and bore fruit4 ,this plant1 says ,mr4 ,dorman1#cc was the ,mandioca1 named from ,mani1 and ,oca1 house4 ,by the ,mexicans marigolds are known as death-flowers1 from a legend that they sprang up on the ground stained by1 the life-blood of those who fell victims to the love of gold and cruelty of the early ,spanish settlers in ,america4 ,among the ,virginian tribes1 too1 red clover was supposed to have sprung from and to be coloured by the blood of the red men slain in battle1 with which may be compared the well-known legend connected with the lily of the valley formerly current in ,st4 ,leonard's ,forest1 ,sussex4 ,it is reported to have sprung from the blood of ,st4 ,leonard1 who once encountered a mighty worm1 or fire-drake1 in the forest1 engaging with it for three successive days4 ,eventually the saint came off victorious1 but not without being seriously wounded2 and wherever his blood was shed there sprang up lilies of the valley in profusion4 ,after the battle of ,towton a certain kind of wild rose is reported to have sprung up in the field where the ,yorkists and ,lancastrians fell1 only there to be found3 ,there still wild roses growing1 ,frail tokens of the fray2 ,and the hedgerow green bears witness ,of ,towton field that day4#cc ,in fact1 there are numerous legends of this kind2 and it may be remembered how ,defoe1 in his ,tour through ,great ,britain1 speaks of a certain camp called ,barrow ,hill1 adding1 they say this was a ,danish camp1 and everything hereabout is attributed to the ,danes1 because of the neighbouring ,daventry1 which they suppose to be built by them4 ,the road hereabouts too1 being overgrown with ,dane-weed1 they fancy it sprung from the blood of ,danes slain in battle1 and that if cut upon a certain day in the year1 it bleeds4#cd ,similarly1 the red poppies which followed the ploughing of the field of ,waterloo after the ,duke of ,wellington's victory were said to have sprung from the blood of the troops who fell during the engagement2#ce and the fruit of the mulberry1 which was originally white1 tradition tells us became empurpled through human blood1 a notion which in ,germany explains the colour of the heather4 ,once more1 the mandrake1 according to a superstition current in ,france and ,germany1 sprang up where the presence of a criminal had polluted the ground1 and hence the old belief that it was generally found near a gallows4 ,in ,iceland it is commonly said that when innocent persons are put to death the sorb or mountain ash will spring up over their graves4 ,similar traditions cluster round numerous other plants1 which1 apart from being a revival of a very early primitive belief1 form one of the prettiest chapters of our legendary tales4 ,although found under a variety of forms1 and in some cases sadly corrupted from the dress they originally wore1 yet in their main features they have not lost their individuality1 but still retain their distinctive character4 ,in connection with the myths of plant life may be noticed that curious species of exotic plants1 commonly known as sensitive plants1 and which have generally attracted considerable interest from their irritability when touched4 ,shelley has immortalised this curious freak of plant life in his charming poem1 wherein he relates how1 ,the sensitive plant was the earliest1 ,up-gathered into the bosom of rest2 ,a sweet child weary of its delight1 ,the feeblest and yet the favourite1 ,cradled within the embrace of night4 ,who can wonder1 on gazing at one of these wonderful plants1 that primitive and uncultured tribes should have regarded such mysterious and inexplicable movements as indications of a distinct personal life4 ,hence1 as ,darwin in his ,movements of ,plants remarks3 why a touch1 slight pressure1 or any other irritant1 such as electricity1 heat1 or the absorption of animal matter1 should modify the turgescence of the affected cells in such a manner as to cause movement1 we do not know4 ,but a touch acts in this manner so often1 and on such widely distinct plants1 that the tendency seems to be a very general one2 and1 if beneficial1 it might be increased to any extent4 ,if1 therefore1 one of the most eminent of recent scientific botanists confessed his inability to explain this strange peculiarity1 we may excuse the savage if he regard it as another proof of a distinct personality in plant life4 ,thus1 some years ago1 a correspondent of the ,botanical ,register1 describing the toad orchis 7,megaclinium bufo71 amusingly spoke as follows of its eccentric movements3 ,let the reader imagine a green snake to be pressed flat like a dried flower1 and then to have a road of toads1 or some such speckled reptiles1 drawn up along the middle in single file1 their backs set up1 their forelegs sprawling right and left1 and their mouths wide open1 with a large purple tongue wagging about convulsively1 and a pretty considerable approach will be gained to an idea of this plant1 which1 if ,pythagoras had but known of it1 would have rendered all arguments about the transmigration of souls superfluous4 ,but1 apart from the vein of jocularity running through these remarks1 such striking vegetable phenomena are scientifically as great a puzzle to the botanist as their movements are to the savage1 the latter regarding them as the outward visible expression of a real inward personal existence4 ,but1 to quote another kind of sympathy between human beings and certain plants1 the ,cingalese have a notion that the cocoa-nut plant withers away when beyond the reach of a human voice1 and that the vervain and borage will only thrive near man's dwellings4 ,once more1 the ,south ,sea ,islanders affirm that the scent is the spirit of a flower1 and that the dead may be sustained by their fragrance1 they cover their newly-made graves with many a sweet smelling blossom4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 #ahgc1 i4 #dgd-e2 also ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions1 #ahha1 p4 #bid4 #b4 ,primitive ,culture1 i4 #dgf-g4 #c4 ,jones's ,ojibways1 p4 #ajd4 #d4 ,marsden's ,history of ,sumatra1 p4 #cja4 #e4 ,mariner's ,tonga ,islands1 ii4 #acg4 #f4 ,st4 ,john1 ,far ,east1 i4 #ahg4 #g4 ,see ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 i4 #dge4 #h4 ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bid2 also ,schoolcraft's ,indian ,tribes4 #i4 ,see ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #fa4 #aj4 ,origin of ,civilisation1 #ahgj1 p4 #aib4 ,see ,leslie ,forbes' ,early ,races of ,scotland1 i4 #aga4 #aa4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore1 ,legends1 and ,lyrics1 p4 #dfc4 #ab4 ,conway's ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 ,blackwood's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #eid4 #ac4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 i4 #bab4 #ad4 ,see ,black's ,folk-,medicine4 #ae4 ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 p4 #eid4 #af4 ,primitive ,culture1 ii4 #bae4 #ag4 ,metam41 viii4 #gdb-hci2 also ,grimm's ,teut4 ,myth41 #ahhc1 ii4 #iec-d #ah4 ,grimm's ,teut4 ,myth41 ii4 #fec4 #ai4 ,quoted in ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 ii4 #bba4 #bj4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 ii4 #gb1 #gc4 #ba4 ,ibid41 p4 #bai4 #bb4 ,superstitions of ,modern ,greece1 by ,m4 ,le ,baron d',estournelles1 in ,nineteenth1 ,century1 ,april #ahhb1 pp4 #cid1 #cie4 #bc4 ,see ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bhh4 #bd4 ,the ,tempest1 act i4 sc4 #b4 #be4 ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bhh4 #bf4 ,ibid41 p4 #bie4 #bg4 ,see chapter on ,demonology4 #bh4 ,see ,keary's ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 #ahhb1 pp4 #ff-g4 #bi4 ,metam41 viii4 #gad3-- ,frondere ,philemona ,baucis1 ,baucida conspexit senior frondere ,philemon4 444 ',valeque1 ,o conjux6' dixere simul1 simul abdita texit ,ora frutex4 #cj4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 i4 #bij1 iii4 #bga4 #ca4 ,grimm's ,teut4 ,mythology1 ii4 #hbg4 #cb4 ,cox and ,jones' ,popular ,romances of the ,middle ,ages1 #ahhj1 p4 #aci #cc4 ,smith's ,brazil1 p4 #ehf2 ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bic4 #cd4 ,see ,folkard's ,plant-lore1 ,legends1 and ,lyrics1 p4 #ebd4 #ce4 ,see the ,gardeners' ,chronicle1 #ahge1 p4 #cae4 #cf4 ,according to another legend1 forget-me-nots sprang up4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,primitive ,,and ,,savage ,,notions ,,respecting ,,plants ,the descent of the human race from a tree--however whimsical such a notion may seem--was a belief once received as sober fact1 and even now-a-days can be traced amongst the traditions of many races4#a ,this primitive idea of man's creation probably originated in the myth of ,yggdrasil1 the ,tree of the ,universe1#b around which so much legendary lore has clustered1 and for a full explanation of which an immense amount of learning has been expended1 although the student of mythology has never yet been able to arrive at any definite solution on this deeply intricate subject4 ,without entering into the many theories proposed in connection with this mythical tree1 it no doubt represented the life-giving forces of nature4 ,it is generally supposed to have been an ash tree1 but1 as ,mr4 ,conway#c points out1 there is reason to think that through the confluence of traditions other sacred trees blended with it4 ,thus1 while the ash bears no fruit1 the ,eddas describe the stars as the fruit of ,yggdrasil4 ,mr4 ,thorpe1#d again1 considers it identical with the ,robur ,jovis1 or sacred oak of ,geismar1 destroyed by ,boniface1 and the ,irminsul of the ,saxons1 the ,columna ,universalis1 the terrestrial tree of offerings1 an emblem of the whole world4 ,at any rate the tree of the world1 and the greatest of all trees1 has long been identified in the northern mythology as the ash tree1#e a fact which accounts for the weird character assigned to it amongst all the ,teutonic and ,scandinavian nations1 frequent illustrations of which will occur in the present volume4 ,referring to the descent of man from the tree1 we may quote the ,edda1 according to which all mankind are descended from the ash and the elm4 ,the story runs that as ,odhinn and his two brothers were journeying over the earth they discovered these two stocks void of future1 and breathed into them the power of life#f3 ,spirit they owned not1 ,sense they had not1 ,blood nor vigour1 ,nor colour fair4 ,spirit gave ,odhinn1 ,thought gave ,hoenir1 ,blood gave ,lodr ,and colour fair4 ,this notion of tree-descent appears to have been popularly believed in olden days in ,italy and ,greece1 illustrations of which occur in the literature of that period4 ,thus ,virgil writes in the ,a,eneid#g3 ,these woods were first the seat of sylvan powers1 ,of nymphs and fauns1 and savage men who took ,their birth from trunks of trees and stubborn oak4 ,romulus and ,remus had been found under the famous ,ficus ,ruminalis1 which seems to suggest a connection with a tree parentage4 ,it is true1 as ,mr4 ,keary remarks1#h that1 in the legend which we have received it is in this instance only a case of finding2 but if we could go back to an earlier tradition1 we should probably see that the relation between the mythical times and the tree had been more intimate4 ,juvenal1 it may be remembered1 gives a further allusion to tree descent in his sixth satire#i3 ,for when the world was new1 the race that broke ,unfathered1 from the soil or opening oak1 ,lived most unlike the men of later times4 ,in ,greece the oak as well as the ash was accounted a tree whence men had sprung2 hence in the ,odyssey1 the disguised hero is asked to state his pedigree1 since he must necessarily have one2 for1 says the interrogator1 belike you are not come of the oak told of in old times1 nor of the rock4#aj ,hesiod tells us how ,jove made the third or brazen race out of ash trees1 and ,hesychius speaks of the fruit of the ash the race of men4 ,phoroneus1 again1 according to the ,grecian legend1 was born of the ash1 and we know1 too1 how among the ,greeks certain families kept up the idea of a tree parentage2 the ,pelopidae having been said to be descended from the plane4 ,among the ,persians the ,achaemenidae had the same tradition respecting the origin of their house4#aa ,from the numerous instances illustrative of tree-descent1 it is evident1 as ,mr4 ,keary points out1 that1 there was once a fuller meaning than metaphor in the language which spoke of the roots and branches of a family1 or in such expressions as the pathetic ,ah1 woe1 beloved shoot6 of ,euripides4#ab ,furthermore1 as he adds1 ,even when the literal notion of the descent from a tree had been lost sight of1 the close connection between the prosperity of the tribe and the life of its fetish was often strictly held4 ,the village tree of the ,german races was originally a tribal tree1 with whose existence the life of the village was involved2 and when we read of ,christian saints and confessors1 that they made a point of cutting down these half idols1 we cannot wonder at the rage they called forth1 nor that they often paid the penalty of their courage4 ,similarly we can understand the veneration bestowed on the forest tree from associations of this kind4 ,consequently1 as it has been remarked1#ac ,at a time when rude beginnings were all that were of the builder's art1 the human mind must have been roused to a higher devotion by the sight of lofty trees under an open sky1 than it could feel inside the stunted structures reared by unskilled hands4 ,when long afterwards the architecture peculiar to the ,teutonic reached its perfection1 did it not in its boldest creations still aim at reproducing the soaring trees of the forest8 ,would not the abortion of miserably carved or chiselled images lag far behind the form of the god which the youthful imagination of antiquity pictured to itself throned on the bowery summit of a sacred tree4 ,it has been asked whether the idea of the ,yggdrasil and the tree-descent may not be connected with the tree of life of ,genesis4 ,without1 however1 entering into a discussion on this complex point1 it is worthy of note that in several of the primitive mythologies we find distinct counterparts of the biblical account of the tree of life2 and it seems quite possible that these corrupt forms of the ,mosaic history of creation may1 in a measure1 have suggested the conception of the world tree1 and the descent of mankind from a tree4 ,on this subject the late ,mr4 ,r4,j4 ,king#ad has given us the following interesting remarks in his paper on ,sacred ,trees and ,flowers3 ,how far the religious systems of the great nations of antiquity were affected by the record of the creation and fall preserved in the opening chapters of ,genesis1 it is not1 perhaps1 possible to determine4 ,there are certain points of resemblance which are at least remarkable1 but which we may assign1 if we please1 either to independent tradition1 or to a natural development of the earliest or primeval period4 ,the trees of life and of knowledge are at once suggested by the mysterious sacred tree which appears in the most ancient sculptures and paintings of ,egypt and ,assyria1 and in those of the remoter ,east4 ,in the symbolism of these nations the sacred tree sometimes figures as a type of the universe1 and represents the whole system of created things1 but more frequently as a tree of life1 by whose fruit the votaries of the gods 7and in some cases the gods themselves7 are nourished with divine strength1 and are prepared for the joys of immortality4 ,the most ancient types of this mystical tree of life are the date palm1 the fig1 and the pine or cedar4 ,by way of illustration1 it may be noted that the ancient ,egyptians had their legend of the ,tree of ,life4 ,it is mentioned in their sacred books that ,osiris ordered the names of souls to be written on this tree of life1 the fruit of which made those who ate it become as gods4#ae ,among the most ancient traditions of the ,hindoos is that of the tree of life--called ,soma in ,sanskrit--the juice of which imparted immortality2 this marvellous tree being guarded by spirits4 ,coming down to later times1 ,virgil speaks of a sacred tree in a manner which ,grimm#af considers highly suggestive of the ,yggdrasil3 ,jove's own tree1 ,high as his topmost boughs to heaven ascend1 ,so low his roots to hell's dominions tend4 ,as already mentioned1 numerous legendary stories have become interwoven with the myth of the ,yggdrasil1 the following sacred one combining the idea of tree-descent4 ,according to a trouvere of the thirteenth century1#ag ,the tree of life was1 a thousand years after the sin of the first man1 transplanted from the ,garden of ,eden to the ,garden of ,abraham1 and an angel came from heaven to tell the patriarch that upon this tree should hang the freedom of mankind4 ,but first from the same tree of life ,jesus should be born1 and in the following wise4 ,first was to be born a knight1 ,fanouel1 who1 through the scent merely of the flower of that living tree1 should be engendered in the womb of a virgin2 and this knight again1 without knowing woman1 should give birth to ,st4 ,anne1 the mother of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,both these wonders fell out as they were foretold4 ,a virgin bore ,fanouel by smelling the tree2 and ,fanouel having once come unawares to that tree of life1 and cut a fruit from it1 wiped his knife against his thigh1 in which he inflicted a slight wound1 and thus let in some of the juice4 ,presently his thigh began to swell1 and eventually ,st4 ,anne was born therefrom4 ,but turning to survivals of this form of animism among uncultured tribes1 we may quote the ,damaras1 a ,south ,african race1 with whom a tree is supposed to be the universal progenitor1 two of which divide the honour4#ah ,according to their creed1 ,in the beginning of things there was a tree1 and out of this tree came ,damaras1 bushmen1 oxen1 and zebras4 ,the ,damaras lit a fire which frightened away the bushmen and the oxen1 but the zebras remained4 ,hence it is that bushmen and wild beasts live together in all sorts of inaccessible places1 while the ,damaras and oxen possess the land4 ,the tree gave birth to everything else that lives4 ,the natives of the ,philippines1 writes ,mr4 ,marsden in his ,history of ,sumatra1 have a curious tradition of tree-descent1 and in accordance with their belief1 ,the world at first consisted only of sky and water1 and between these two a glede2 which1 weary with flying about1 and finding no place to rest1 set the water at variance with the sky1 which1 in order to keep it in bounds1 and that it should not get uppermost1 loaded the water with a number of islands1 in which the glede might settle and leave them at peace4 ,mankind1 they said1 sprang out of a large cane with two joints1 that1 floating about in the water1 was at length thrown by the waves against the feet of the glede as it stood on shore1 which opened it with its bill2 the man came out of one joint1 the woman out of the other4 ,these were soon after married by the consent of their god1 ,bathala ,meycapal1 which caused the first trembling of the earth1#ai and from thence are descended the different nations of the world4 ,several interesting instances are given by ,mr4 ,dorman1 who tells us how the natives about ,saginaw had a tradition of a boy who sprang from a tree within which was buried one of their tribe4 ,the founders of the ,miztec monarchy are said to be descended from two majestic trees that stood in a gorge of the mountain of ,apoala4 ,the ,chiapanecas had a tradition that they sprang from the roots of a silk cotton tree2 while the ,zapotecas attributed their origin to trees1 their cypresses and palms often receiving offerings of incense and other gifts4 ,the ,tamanaquas of ,south ,america have a tradition that the human race sprang from the fruits of the date palm after the ,mexican age of water4#bj ,again1 our ,english nursery fable of the parsley-bed1 in which little strangers are discovered1 is perhaps1 ,a remnant of a fuller tradition1 like that of the woodpecker among the ,romans1 and that of the stork among our ,continental kinsmen4#ba ,both these birds having had a mystic celebrity1 the former as the fire-singing bird and guardian genius of children1 the latter as the baby-bringer4#bb ,in ,saterland it is said infants are fetched out of the cabbage1 and in the ,walloon part of ,belgium they are supposed to make their appearance in the parson's garden4 ,once more1 a hollow tree overhanging a pool is known in many places1 both in ,north and ,south ,germany1 as the first abode of unborn infants1 variations of this primitive belief being found in different localities4 ,similar stories are very numerous1 and under various forms are found in the legendary lore and folk-tales of most countries4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,keary's ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 #ahhb1 pp4 #fb-c4 #b4 ,see ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 #ahhc1 ii4 #gif-hjj2 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bbd2 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 i4 #aed2 ,asgard and the ,gods1 edited by ,w4 ,s4 ,w4 ,anson1 #ahbb1 pp4 #bf1 #bg4 #c4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #eig4 #d4 ,northern ,mythology1 i4 #aed-e4 #e4 ,see ,max ,miller's ,chips from a ,german ,workshop4 #f4 ,see ,keary's ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 p4 #fd4 #g4 ,book viii4 p4 #cad4 #h4 ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 p4 #fc4 #i4 ,gifford4 #aj4 ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 p4 #adc4 #aa4 ,keary's ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 p4 #fc2 ,fiske1 ,myth and ,myth ,makers1 #ahgc1 pp4 #fd-e4 #ab4 ,primitive ,belief1 p4 #fe4 #ac4 ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 i4 #fi4 #ad4 ,quarterly ,review1 #ahfc1 cxiv4 #bad-ae4 #ae4 ,see ,bunsen's ,the ,keys of ,st ,peter1 c41 #ahfg1 p4 #dad4 #af4 ,teutonic ,mythology4 #ag4 ,quoted by ,mr4 ,keary from ,leroux de ,lincy1 ,le ,livre des ,lgendes1 p4 #bd4 #ah4 ,gallon's ,south ,africa1 p4 #ahh4 #ai4 ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bhi4 #bj4 ,folkard's ,plant ,lore1 p4 #caa4 #ba4 ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 p4 #ib4 #bb4 ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 ii4 #fgb-c4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,plant-,,worship4 ,a form of religion which seems to have been widely-distributed amongst most races of mankind at a certain stage of their mental culture is plant-worship4 ,hence it holds a prominent place in the history of primitive belief1 and at the present day prevails largely among rude and uncivilised races1 survivals of which even linger on in our own country4 ,to trace back the history of plant-worship would necessitate an inquiry into the origin and development of the nature-worshipping phase of religious belief4 ,such a subject of research would introduce us to those pre-historic days when human intelligence had succeeded only in selecting for worship the grand and imposing objects of sight and sense4 ,hence1 as ,mr4 ,keary observes1#a ,the gods of the early world are the rock and the mountain1 the tree1 the river1 the sea2 and ,mr4 ,fergusson#b is of opinion that tree-worship1 in association with serpent-worship1 must be reckoned as the primitive faith of mankind4 ,in the previous chapter we have already pointed out how the animistic theory which invested the tree and grove with a conscious personality accounts for much of the worship and homage originally ascribed to them--identified1 too1 as they were later on1 with the habitations of certain spirits4 ,whether viewed1 therefore1 in the light of past or modern inquiry1 we find scattered throughout most countries various phases of plant-worship1 a striking proof of its universality in days gone by4#c ,according to ,mr4 ,fergusson1 tree-worship has sprung from a perception of the beauty and utility of trees4 ,with all their poetry1 he argues1 and all their usefulness1 we can hardly feel astonished that the primitive races of mankind should have considered trees as the choicest gifts of the gods to men1 and should have believed that their spirits still delighted to dwell among their branches1 or spoke oracles through the rustling of their leaves4 ,but ,mr4 ,mc,lennan#d does not consider that this is conclusive1 adding that such a view of the subject1 ,does not at all meet the case of the shrubs1 creepers1 marsh-plants1 and weeds that have been worshipped4 ,he would rather connect it with ,totemism1#e urging that the primitive stages of religious evolution go to show that1 ,the ancient nations came1 in pre-historic times1 through the ,totem stage1 having animals1 and plants1 and the heavenly bodies conceived as animals1 for gods before the anthropomorphic gods appeared2 ,while ,mr4 ,herbert ,spencer#f again considers that1 ,plant-worship1 like the worship of idols and animals1 is an aberrant species of ancestor-worship--a species somewhat more disguised externally1 but having the same internal nature4 ,anyhow the subject is one concerning which the comparative mythologist has1 at different times1 drawn opposite theories2 but of this there can be no doubt1 that plant-worship was a primitive faith of mankind1 a fact in connection with which we may quote ,sir ,john ,lubbock's words1#g how1 ,by man in this stage of progress everything was regarded as having life1 and being more or less a deity4 ,indeed1 sacred rivers appear in the very earliest mythologies which have been recovered1 and lingered among the last vestiges of heathenism long after the advent of a purer creed4 ,as1 too1 it has been remarked1#h ,either as direct objects of worship1 or as forming the temple under whose solemn shadow other and remoter deities might be adored1 there is no part of the world in which trees have not been regarded with especial reverence4 ',in such green palaces the first kings reigned2 ,slept in their shade1 and angels entertained4 ,with such old counsellors they did advise1 ,and by frequenting sacred shades grew wise4' ,even ,paradise itself1 says ,evelyn1 was but a kind of 'nemorous temple or sacred grove1' planted by ,god himself1 and given to man tanquam primo sacerdoti2 and he goes on to suggest that the groves which the patriarchs are recorded to have planted in different parts of ,palestine may have been memorials of that first tree-shaded paradise from which ,adam was expelled4 ,briefly noticing the antecedent history of plant-worship1 it would seem to have lain at the foundation of the old ,celtic creed1 although few records on this point have come down to us4#i ,at any rate we have abundant evidence that this form of belief held a prominent place in the religion of these people1 allusions to which are given by many of the early classical writers4 ,thus the very name of ,druidism is a proof of the ,celtic addiction to tree-worship1 and ,de ,brosses1#aj as a further evidence that this was so1 would derive the word kirk1 now softened into church1 from quercus1 an oak2 that species having been peculiarly sacred4 ,similarly1 in reviewing the old ,teutonic beliefs1 we come across the same references to tree-worship1 in many respects displaying little or no distinction from that of the ,celts4 ,in explanation of this circumstance1 ,mr4 ,keary#aa suggests that1 ,the nature of the ,teutonic beliefs would apply1 with only some slight changes1 to the creed of the predecessors of the ,germans in ,northern and ,western ,europe4 ,undoubtedly1 in prehistoric days1 the ,germans and ,celts merged so much one into the other that their histories cannot well be distinguished4 ,mr4 ,fergusson in his elaborate researches has traced many indications of tree-adoration in ,germany1 noticing their continuance in the ,christian period1 as proved by ,grimm1 whose opinion is that1 the festal universal religion of the people had its abode in woods1 while the ,christmas tree of present ,german celebration in all families is almost undoubtedly a remnant of the tree-worship of their ancestors4 ,according to ,mr4 ,fergusson1 one of the last and best-known examples of the veneration of groves and trees by the ,germans after their conversion to ,christianity1 is that of the ,stock am ,eisen in ,vienna1 ,the sacred tree into which every apprentice1 down to recent times1 before setting out on his ,wanderjahre1 drove a nail for luck4 ,it now stands in the centre of that great capital1 the last remaining vestige of the sacred grove1 round which the city has grown up1 and in sight of the proud cathedral1 which has superseded and replaced its more venerable shade4 ,equally undoubted is the evidence of tree-worship in ,greece--particular trees having been sacred to many of the gods4 ,thus we have the oak tree or beech of ,jupiter1 the laurel of ,apollo1 the vine of ,bacchus4 ,the olive is the well-known tree of ,minerva4 ,the myrtle was sacred to ,aphrodite1 and the apple of the ,hesperides belonged to ,juno4#ab ,as a writer too in the ,edinburgh ,review#ac remarks1 ,the oak grove at ,dodona is sufficiently evident to all classic readers to need no detailed mention of its oracles1 or its highly sacred character4 ,the sacrifice of ,agamemnon in ,aulis1 as told in the opening of the ',iliad1' connects the tree and serpent worship together1 and the wood of the sacred plane tree under which the sacrifice was made was preserved in the temple of ,diana as a holy relic so late1 according to ,pausanias1 as the second century of the ,christian era4 ,the same writer further adds that in ,italy traces of tree-worship1 if not so distinct and prominent as in ,greece1 are nevertheless existent4 ,romulus1 for instance1 is described as hanging the arms and weapons of ,acron1 ,king of ,cenina1 upon an oak tree held sacred by the people1 which became the site of the famous temple of ,jupiter4 ,then1 again1 turning to ,bible history1#ad the denunciations of tree-worship are very frequent and minute1 not only in connection with the worship of ,baal1 but as mentioned in #b ,kings ix43 ,and they 7the children of ,israel7 set themselves up images and groves in every high hill1 and under every green tree4 ,these acts1 it has been remarked1 may be attributable more to heretical idolatrous practices into which the ,jews had temporarily fallen in imitation of the heathen around them1 but at the same time they furnish ample proof of the existence of tree and grove worship by the heathen nations of ,syria as one of their most solemn rites4 ,but1 from the period of ,king ,hezekiah down to the ,christian era1 ,mr4 ,fergusson finds no traces of tree-worship in ,judea4 ,in ,assyria tree-worship was a common form of idolatrous veneration1 as proved by ,lord ,aberdeen's black-stone1 and many of the plates in the works of ,layard and ,botta4#ae ,turning to ,india1 tree-worship probably has always belonged to ,aryan ,hinduism1 and as tree-worship did not belong to the aboriginal races of ,india1 and was not adopted from them1 it must have formed part of the pantheistic worship of the ,vedic system which endowed all created things with a spirit and life--a doctrine which modern ,hinduism largely extended#af4 ,thus when food is cooked1 an oblation is made by the ,hindu to trees1 with an appropriate invocation before the food is eaten4 ,the ,bo tree is extensively worshipped in ,india1 and the ,toolsee plant 7,basil7 is held sacred to all gods--no oblation being considered sacred without its leaves4 ,certain of the ,chittagong hill tribes worship the bamboo1#ag and ,sir ,john ,lubbock1 quoting from ,thompson's ,travels in the ,himalaya1 tells us that in the ,simla hills the ,cupressus toridosa is regarded as a sacred tree4 ,further instances might be enumerated1 so general is this form of religious belief4 ,in an interesting and valuable paper by a ,bengal civilian--intimately acquainted with the country and people#ah--the writer says3--,the contrast between the acknowledged hatred of trees as a rule by the ,bygas1#ai and their deep veneration for certain others in particular1 is very curious4 ,i have seen the hillsides swept clear of forests for miles with but here and there a solitary tree left standing4 ,these remain now the objects of the deepest veneration4 ,so far from being injured they are carefully preserved1 and receive offerings of food1 clothes1 and flowers from the passing ,bygas1 who firmly believe that tree to be the home of a spirit4 ,to give another illustration#bj1 it appears that in ,beerbhoom once a year the whole capital repairs to a shrine in the jungle1 and makes simple offerings to a ghost who dwells in the ,bela tree4 ,the shrine consists of three trees--a ,bela tree on the left1 in which the ghost resides1 and which is marked at the foot with blood2 in the middle is a ,kachmula tree1 and on the right a ,saura tree4 ,in spite of the trees being at least seventy years old1 the common people claim the greatest antiquity for the shrine1 and tradition says that the three trees that now mark the spot neither grow thicker nor increase in height1 but remain the same for ever4 ,a few years ago ,dr4 ,george ,birwood contributed to the ,athenaeum some interesting remarks on ,persian flower-worship4 ,speaking of the ,victoria ,gardens at ,bombay1 he says3--,a true ,persian in flowing robe of blue1 and on his head his sheep-skin hat--black1 glossy1 curled1 the fleece of ,kar-,kal--would saunter in1 and stand and meditate over every flower he saw1 and always as if half in vision4 ,and when the vision was fulfilled1 and the ideal flower he was seeking found1 he would spread his mat and sit before it until the setting of the sun1 and then pray before it1 and fold up his mat again and go home4 ,and the next night1 and night after night1 until that particular flower faded away1 he would return to it1 and bring his friends in ever-increasing troops to it1 and sit and play the guitar or lute before it1 and they would all together pray there1 and after prayer still sit before it sipping sherbet1 and talking the most hilarious and shocking scandal1 late into the moonlight2 and so again and again every evening until the flower died4 ,sometimes1 by way of a grand finale1 the whole company would suddenly rise before the flower and serenade it1 together with an ode from ,hafiz1 and depart4 ,tree-worship too has been more or less prevalent among the ,american ,indians1 abundant illustrations of which have been given by travellers at different periods4 ,in many cases a striking similarity is noticeable1 showing a common origin1 a circumstance which is important to the student of comparative mythology when tracing the distribution of religious beliefs4 ,the ,dacotahs worship the medicine-wood1 so called from a belief that it was a genius which protected or punished them according to their merits or demerits4#ba ,darwin#bb mentions a tree near ,siena de la ,ventana to which the ,indians paid homage as the altar of ,walleechu2 offerings of cigars1 bread1 and meat having been suspended upon it by threads4 ,the tree was surrounded by bleached bones of horses that had been sacrificed4 ,mr4 ,tylor#bc speaks of an ancient cypress existing in ,mexico1 which he thus describes3--,all over its branches were fastened votive offerings of the ,indians1 hundreds of locks of coarse black hair1 teeth1 bits of coloured cloth1 rags1 and morsels of ribbon4 ,the tree was many centuries old1 and had probably had some mysterious influence ascribed to it1 and been decorated with such simple offerings long before the discovery of ,america4 ,once more1 the ,calchaquis of ,brazil#bd have been in the habit of worshipping certain trees which were frequently decorated by the ,indians with feathers2 and ,charlevoix narrates another interesting instance of tree-worship3--,formerly the ,indians in the neighbourhood of ,acadia had in their country1 near the sea-shore1 a tree extremely ancient1 of which they relate many wonders1 and which was always laden with offerings4 ,after the sea had laid open its whole root1 it then supported itself a long time almost in the air against the violence of the winds and waves1 which confirmed those ,indians in the notion that the tree must be the abode of some powerful spirit2 nor was its fall even capable of undeceiving them1 so that as long as the smallest part of its branches appeared above the water1 they paid it the same honours as whilst it stood4 ,in ,north ,america1 according to ,franklin1#be the ,crees used to hang strips of buffalo flesh and pieces of cloth on their sacred tree2 and in ,nicaragua maize and beans were worshipped4 ,by the natives of ,carolina the tea-plant was formerly held in veneration above all other plants1 and indeed similar phases of superstition are very numerous4 ,traces of tree-worship occur in ,africa1 and ,sir ,john ,lubbock#bf mentions the sacred groves of the ,marghi--a dense part of the forest surrounded with a ditch--where in the most luxuriant and widest spreading tree their god1 ,zumbri1 is worshipped4 ,in his valuable work on ,ceylon1 ,sir ,j4 ,emerson ,tennent gives some interesting details about the consecration of trees to different demons to insure their safety1 and of the ceremonies performed by the kattadias or devil-priests4 ,it appears that whenever the assistance of a devil-dancer is required in extreme cases of sickness1 various formalities are observed after the following fashion4 ,an altar is erected1 profusely adorned with garlands and flowers1 within sight of the dying man1 who is ordered to touch and dedicate to the evil spirit the wild flowers1 rice1 and flesh laid upon it4 ,traces of plant-worship are still found in ,europe4 ,before sunrise on ,good ,friday the ,bohemians are in the habit of going into their gardens1 and after falling on their knees before a tree1 to say1 ,i pray1 ,o green tree1 that ,god may make thee good1 a formula which ,mr4 ,ralston#bg considers has probably been altered under the influence of ,christianity from a direct prayer to the tree to a prayer for it4 ,at night they run about the garden exclaiming1 ,bud1 ,o trees1 bud6 or ,i will flog you4 ,on the following day they shake the trees1 and clank their keys1 while the church bells are ringing1 under the impression that the more noise they make the more fruit will they get4 ,traces1 too1 of tree-worship1 adds ,mr4 ,ralston1#bh may be found in the song which the ,russian girls sing as they go out into the woods to fetch the birch tree at ,whitsuntide1 and to gather flowers for wreaths and garlands3 ,rejoice not1 oaks2 ,rejoice not1 green oaks4 ,not to you go the maidens2 ,not to you do they bring pies1 ,cakes1 omelettes4 ,so1 so1 ,semik and ,troitsa ,trinity6 ,rejoice1 birch trees1 rejoice1 green ones6 ,to you go the maidens6 ,to you they bring pies1 ,cakes1 omelettes4 ,the eatables here mentioned probably refer to the sacrifices offered in olden days to the birch--the tree of the spring4 ,with this practice we may compare one long observed in our own country1 and known as wassailing4 ,at certain seasons it has long been customary in ,devonshire for the farmer1 on the eve of ,twelfth-day1 to go into the orchard after supper with a large milk pail of cider with roasted apples pressed into it4 ,out of this each person in the company takes what is called a clome--i4e41 earthenware cup--full of liquor1 and standing under the more fruitful apple trees1 address them in these words3 ,health to thee1 good apple tree1 ,well to bear pocket fulls1 hat fulls1 ,peck fulls1 bushel bag fulls4 ,after the formula has been repeated1 the contents of the cup are thrown at the trees4#bi ,there are numerous allusions to this form of tree-worship in the literature of the past2 and ,tusser1 among his many pieces of advice to the husbandman1 has not omitted to remind him that he should1 ,wassail the trees1 that they may bear ,you many a plum and many a pear2 ,for more or less fruit they will bring1 ,as you do them wassailing4 ,survivals of this kind show how tenaciously old superstitious rites struggle for existence even when they have ceased to be recognised as worthy of belief4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 #ahhb1 p4 #ed4 #b4 ,tree and ,serpent ,worship4 #c4 ,see ,sir ,john ,lubbock's ,origin of ,civilisation1 pp4 #aib-h4 #d4 ,fortnightly ,review1 ,the ,worship of ,animals and ,plants1 #ahgj1 vii4 #bac4 #e4 ,ibid41 #ahfi1 vi4 #djh4 #f4 ,principles of ,sociology1 #ahhe1 i4 p4 #cei4 #g4 ,the ,origin of ,civilisation and ,primitive ,condition of ,man4 #h4 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bab4 #i4 ,keary's ,primitive ,brlief1 pp4 #ccb-c2 ,edinburgh ,review1 cxxx4 #dhh-i4 #aj4 ,du ,culte des ,dieux ,fetiches1 p4 #afi4 #aa4 ,primitive ,belief1 pp4 #ccb-c4 #ab4 ,fergusson's ,tree and ,serpent ,worship1 p4 #af4 #ac4 cxxx4 #dib2 see ,tacitus' ,germania1 ix4 #ad4 ,see ,edinburgh ,review1 cxxx4 #dij-a4 #ae4 ,edinburgh ,review1 cxxx4 #dia4 #af4 ,mr4 ,fergusson's ,tree and ,serpent ,worship4 ,see ,edinburgh ,review1 cxxx4 #dih4 #ag4 ,see ,lewin's ,hill ,tracts of ,chittagong1 p4 #aj4 #ah4 ,cornhill ,magazine1 ,november #ahgb1 p4 #eih4 #ai4 ,an important tribe in ,central ,india4 #bj4 ,see ,sherring's ,sacred ,city of the ,hindus1 #ahfh1 p4 #hi4 #ba4 ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #bia4 #bb4 ,see ,researches in ,geology and ,natural ,history1 p4 #gi4 #bc4 ,anahuac1 #bae1 #bfe4 #bd4 ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstitions4 p4 #bib4 #be4 ,journeys to the ,polar ,sea4 i4 #bba4 #bf4 ,the ,origin of ,civilisation4 #bg4 ,songs of the ,russian ,people4 p4 #bai4 #bh4 ,ibid41 p4 #bch4 #bi4 ,see my ,british ,popular ,customs4 p4 #ba4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,lightning ,,plants4 ,amongst the legends of the ancient world few subjects occupy a more prominent place than lightning1 associated as it is with those myths of the origin of fire which are of such wide distribution4#a ,in examining these survivals of primitive culture we are confronted with some of the most elaborate problems of primeval philosophy1 many of which are not only highly complicated1 but have given rise to various conjectures4 ,thus1 although it is easy to understand the reasons which led our ancestors1 in their childlike ignorance1 to speak of the lightning as a worm1 serpent1 trident1 arrow1 or forked wand1 yet the contrary is the case when we inquire why it was occasionally symbolised as a flower or leaf1 or when1 as ,mr4 ,fiske#b remarks1 we seek to ascertain why certain trees1 such as the ash1 hazel1 white thorn1 and mistletoe1 were supposed to be in a certain sense embodiments of it4 ,indeed1 however satisfactory our explanations may apparently seem1 in many cases they can only be regarded as ingenious theories based on the most probable theories which the science of comparative folk-lore may have suggested4 ,in analysing1 too1 the evidence for determining the possible association of ideas which induced our primitive forefathers to form those mythical conceptions that we find embodied in the folk-tales of most races1 it is necessary to unravel from the relics of the past the one common notion that underlies them4 ,respecting the origin of fire1 for instance1 the leading idea--as handed down to us in myths of this kind--would make us believe that it was originally stolen4 ,stories which point to this conclusion are not limited to any one country1 but are shared by races widely remote from one another4 ,this circumstance is important1 as helping to explain the relation of particular plants to lightning1 and accounts for the superstitious reverence so frequently paid to them by most ,aryan tribes4 ,hence1 the way by which the ,veda argues the existence of the palasa--a mystic tree with the ,hindus--is founded on the following tradition3--,the demons had stolen the heavenly soma1 or drink of the gods1 and cellared it in some mythical rock or cloud4 ,when the thirsty deities were pining for their much-prized liquor1 the falcon undertook to restore it to them1 although he succeeded at the cost of a claw and a plume1 of which he was deprived by the graze of an arrow shot by one of the demons4 ,both fell to the earth and took root2 the claw becoming a species of thorn1 which ,dr4 ,kuhn identifies as the ,mimosa catechu1 and the feather a palasa tree1 which has a red sap and scarlet blossoms4 ,with such a divine origin--for the falcon was nothing less than a lightning god#c--the trees naturally were incorporations1#d not only of the heavenly fire1 but also of the soma1 with which the claw and feather were impregnated4 ,it is not surprising1 therefore1 that extraordinary virtues were ascribed to these lightning plants1 qualities which1 in no small degree1 distinguish their representatives at the present day4 ,thus we are told how in ,india the mimosa is known as the imperial tree on account of its remarkable properties1 being credited as an efficacious charm against all sorts of malignant influences1 such as the evil eye4 ,not unlike in colour to the blossom of the ,indian palasa are the red berries of the rowan or mountain-ash 7,pyrus aucuparia71 a tree which has acquired ,european renown from the ,aryan tradition of its being an embodiment of the lightning from which it was sprung4 ,it has acquired1 therefore1 a mystic character1 evidences of which are numerously represented throughout ,europe1 where its leaves are reverenced as being the most potent talisman against the darker powers4 ,at the present day we still find the ,highland milkmaid carrying with her a rowan-cross against unforeseen danger1 just as in many a ,german village twigs are put over stables to keep out witches4 ,illustrations of this kind support its widespread reputation for supernatural virtues1 besides showing how closely allied is much of the folk-lore of our own with that of continental countries4 ,at the same time1 we feel inclined to agree with ,mr4 ,farrer that the red berries of the mountain-ash probably singled it out from among trees for worship long before our ancestors had arrived at any idea of abstract divinities4 ,the beauty of its berries1 added to their brilliant red colour1 would naturally excite feelings of admiration and awe1 and hence it would in process of time become invested with a sacred significance4 ,it must be remembered1 too1 that all over the world there is a regard for things red1 this colour having been once held sacred to ,thor1 and ,grimm suggests that it was on this account the robin acquired its sacred character4 ,similarly1 the ,highland women tie a piece of red worsted thread round their cows' tails previous to turning them out to grass for the first time in spring1 for1 in accordance with an old adage3 ,rowan-ash1 and red thread1 ,keep the devils from their speed4 ,in the same way the mothers in ,esthonia put some red thread in their babies' cradles as a preservative against danger1 and in ,china something red is tied round children's wrists as a safeguard against evil spirits4 ,by the aid of comparative folk-lore it is interesting1 as in this case1 to trace the same notion in different countries1 although it is by no means possible to account for such undesigned resemblance4 ,the common ash 7,fraxinus excelsior71 too1 is a lightning plant1 and1 according to an old couplet3 ,avoid an ash1 ,it counts the flash4 ,another tree held sacred to ,thor was the hazel 7,corylus avellana71 which1 like the mountain-ash1 was considered an actual embodiment of the lightning4 ,indeed1 so deep was the faith of the people in the relation of this tree to the thunder god1 says ,mr4 ,conway1#e that the ,catholics adopted and sanctioned it by a legend one may hear in ,bavaria1 that on their flight into ,egypt the ,holy ,family took refuge under it from a storm4 ,its supposed immunity from all damage by lightning has long caused special reverence to be attached to it1 and given rise to sundry superstitious usages4 ,thus1 in ,germany1 a twig is cut by the farm-labourer1 in spring1 and on the first thunderstorm a cross is made with it over every heap of grain1 whereby1 it is supposed1 the corn will remain good for many years4 ,occasionally1 too1 one may see hazel twigs placed in the window frames during a heavy shower1 and the ,tyroleans regard it as an excellent lightning conductor4 ,as a promoter of fruitfulness it has long been held in high repute--a character which it probably derived from its mythic associations--and hence the important part it plays in love divinations4 ,according to a ,bohemian belief1 the presence of a large number of hazel-nuts betokens the birth of many illegitimate children2 and in the ,black ,forest it is customary for the leader of a marriage procession to carry a hazel wand4 ,for the same reason1 in many parts of ,germany1 a few nuts are mingled with the seed corn to insure its being prolific4 ,but leaving the hazel with its host of superstitions1 we may notice the white-thorn1 which according to ,aryan tradition was also originally sprung from the lightning4 ,hence it has acquired a wide reverence1 and been invested with supernatural properties4 ,like1 too1 the hazel1 it was associated with marriage rites4 ,thus the ,grecian bride was and is still decked with its blossoms1 whereas its wood formed the torch which lighted the ,roman bridal couple to their nuptial chamber on the wedding day4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 that the white-thorn was considered a sacred tree long before ,christian tradition identified it as forming the ,crown of ,thorns2 a medieval belief which further enhanced the sanctity attached to it4 ,it is not surprising1 therefore1 that the ,irish consider it unlucky to cut down this holy tree1 especially as it is said to be under the protection of the fairies1 who resent any injury done to it4 ,a legend current in county ,donegal1 for instance1 tells us how a fairy had tried to steal one ,joe ,m',donough's baby1 but the poor mother argued that she had never affronted the fairy tribe to her knowledge4 ,the only cause she could assign was that ,joe1 had helped ,mr4 ,todd's gardener to cut down the old hawthorn tree on the lawn2 and there's them that says that's a very bad thing to do2 adding how she fleeched him not to touch it1 but the master he offered him six shillings if he'd help in the job1 for the other men refused4 ,the same belief prevails in ,brittany1 where it is also held unsafe to gather even a leaf from certain old and solitary thorns1 which grow in sheltered hollows of the moorland1 and are the fairies' trysting-places4#f ,then there is the mistletoe1 which1 like the hazel and the white-thorn1 was also supposed to be the embodiment of lightning2 and in consequence of its mythical character held an exalted place in the botanical world4 ,as a lightning-plant1 we seem to have the key to its symbolical nature1 in the circumstance that its branch is forked4 ,on the same principle1 it is worthy of note1 as ,mr4 ,fiske remarks#g that1 the ,hindu commentators of the ,veda certainly lay great stress on the fact that the palasa is trident-leaved4 ,we have already pointed out1 too1 how the red colour of a flower1 as in the case of the berries of the mountain-ash1 was apparently sufficient to determine the association of ideas4 ,the ,swiss name for mistletoe1 donnerbesen1 thunder besom1 illustrates its divine origin1 on account of which it was supposed to protect the homestead from fire1 and hence in ,sweden it has long been suspended in farm-houses1 like the mountain-ash in ,scotland4 ,but its virtues are by no means limited1 for like all lightning-plants its potency is displayed in a variety of ways1 its healing properties having from a remote period been in the highest repute4 ,for purposes also of sorcery it has been reckoned of considerable importance1 and as a preventive of nightmare and other night scares it is still in favour on the ,continent4 ,one reason which no doubt has obtained for it a marked degree of honour is its parasitical manner of growth1 which was in primitive times ascribed to the intervention of the gods4 ,according to one of its traditionary origins1 its seed was said to be deposited on certain trees by birds1 the messengers of the gods1 if not the gods themselves in disguise1 by which this plant established itself in the branch of a tree4 ,the mode of procedure1 say the old botanists1 was through the mistletoe thrush4 ,this bird1 it was asserted1 by feeding on the berries1 surrounded its beak with the viscid mucus they contain1 to rid itself of which it rubbed its beak1 in the course of flying1 against the branches of trees1 and thereby inserted the seed which gave birth to the new plant4 ,when the mistletoe was found growing on the oak1 its presence was attributed specially to the gods1 and as such was treated with the deepest reverence4 ,it was not1 too1 by accident that the oak was selected1 as this tree was honoured by ,aryan tradition with being of lightning origin4 ,hence when the mistletoe was found on its branches1 the occurrence was considered as deeply significant1 and all the more so as its existence in such a locality was held to be very rare#h4 ,speaking of the oak1 it may be noted1 that as sacred to ,thor1 it was under his immediate protection1 and hence it was considered an act of sacrilege to mutilate it in ever so small a degree4 ,indeed1 it was a law of the ,ostrogoths that anybody might hew down what trees he pleased in the common wood1 except oaks and hazels2 those trees had peace1 i4e41 they were not to be felled#i4 ,that profanity of this kind was not treated with immunity was formerly fully believed1 an illustration of which is given us by ,aubrey1#aj who says that1 to cut oakwood is unfortunate4 ,there was at ,norwood one oak that had mistletoe1 a timber tree1 which was felled about #afeg4 ,some persons cut this mistletoe for some apothecaries in ,london1 and sold them a quantity for ten shillings each time1 and left only one branch remaining for more to sprout out4 ,one fell lame shortly after2 soon after each of the others lost an eye1 and he that felled the tree1 though warned of these misfortunes of the other men1 would1 notwithstanding1 adventure to do it1 and shortly afterwards broke his leg2 as if the ,hamadryads had resolved to take an ample revenge for the injury done to their venerable and sacred oak4 ,we can understand1 then1 how the custom originated of planting the oak on the boundaries of lands1 a survival of which still remains in the so-called gospel oaks of many of our ,english parishes4 ,with ,thor's tree thus standing our forefathers felt a sense of security which materially added to the peace and comfort of their daily life4 ,but its sacred attributes were not limited to this country1 many a legend on the ,continent testifying to the safety afforded by its sheltering branches4 ,indeed1 so great are its virtues that1 according to a ,westphalian tradition1 the ,wandering ,jew can only rest where he shall happen to find two oaks growing in the form of a cross4 ,a further proof of its exalted character may be gathered from the fact that around its roots ,scandinavian mythology has gathered fairyland1 and hence in ,germany the holes in its trunk are the pathways for elves4 ,but the connection between lightning and plants extends over a wide area1 and ,germany is rich in legends relative to this species of folk-lore4 ,thus there is the magic springwort1 around which have clustered so many curious lightning myths and talismanic properties4 ,by reason of its celestial origin this much-coveted plant1 when buried in the ground at the summit of a mountain1 has the reputation of drawing down the lightning and dividing the storm4 ,it is difficult1 however1 to procure1 especially as there is no certainty as to the exact species of plants to which it belongs1 although ,grimm identifies it with the ,euphorbia lathyris4 ,at any rate1 it is chiefly procurable by the woodpecker--a lightning-bearer2 and to secure this much-prized treasure1 its nest must be stopped up1 access to which it will quickly gain by touching it with the springwort4 ,but if one have in readiness a pan of water1 a fire1 or a red cloth1 the bird will let the plant fall1 which otherwise it would be a difficult work to obtain1 the notion1 no doubt1 being that the bird must return the mystic plant to the element from which it springs1 that being either the water of the clouds or the lightning fire enclosed therein4#aa ,professor ,gubernatis1 referring to the symbolical nature of this tradition1 remarks that1 this herb may be the moon itself1 which opens the hiding-place of the night1 or the thunderbolt1 which opens the hiding-places of the cloud4 ,according to the ,swiss version of the story it is the hoopoe that brings the spring-wort1 a bird also endowed with mystic virtues1#ab while in ,iceland1 ,normandy1 and ancient ,greece it is an eagle1 a swallow1 or an ostrich4 ,analogous to the talismanic properties of the springwort are those of the famous luck or key-flower of ,german folk-lore1 by the discovery of which the fortunate possessor effects an entrance into otherwise inaccessible fairy haunts1 where unlimited treasures are offered for his acceptance4 ,there then1 again1 the luck-flower is no doubt intended to denote the lightning1 which reveals strange treasures1 giving water to the parched and thirsty land1 and1 as ,mr4 ,fiske remarks1 making plain what is doing under cover of darkness4#ac ,the lightning-flash1 too1 which now and then1 as a lesson of warning1 instantly strikes dead those who either rashly or presumptuously essay to enter its awe-inspiring portals1 is exemplified in another version of the same legend4 ,a shepherd1 while leading his flock over the ,ilsentein1 pauses to rest1 but immediately the mountain opens by reason of the springwort or luck-flower in the staff on which he leans4 ,within the cavern a white lady appears1 who invites him to accept as much of her wealth as he choses4 ,thereupon he fills his pockets1 and hastening to quit her mysterious domains1 he heeds not her enigmatical warning1 ,forget not the best1 the result being that as he passes through the door he is severed in twain amidst the crashing of thunder4 ,stories of this kind1 however1 are the exception1 legendary lore generally regarding the lightning as a benefactor rather than a destroyer4 ,the lightning-flash1 to quote ,mr4 ,baring-,gould's words1 reaches the barren1 dead1 and thirsty land2 forth gush the waters of heaven1 and the parched vegetation bursts once more into the vigour of life restored after suspended animation4 ,that this is the case we have ample proof in the myths relating to plants1 in many of which the life-giving properties of the lightning are clearly depicted4 ,hence1 also1 the extraordinary healing properties which are ascribed to the various lightning plants4 ,ash rods1 for instance1 are still used in many parts of ,england for the cure of diseased sheep1 cows1 and horses1 and in ,cornwall1 as a remedy for hernia1 children are passed through holes in ash trees4 ,the mistletoe has the reputation of being an antidote for poisons and a specific against epilepsy4 ,culpepper speaks of it as a sure panacea for apoplexy1 palsy1 and falling sickness1 a belief current in ,sweden1 where finger rings are made of its wood4 ,an old-fashioned charm for the bite of an adder was to place a cross formed of hazel-wood on the wound1 and the burning of a thorn-bush has long been considered a sure preventive of mildew in wheat4 ,without multiplying further illustrations1 there can be no doubt that the therapeutic virtues of these so-called lightning plants may be traced to1 in very many cases1 their mythical origin4 ,it is not surprising too that plants of this stamp should have been extensively used as charms against the influences of occult powers1 their symbolical nature investing them with a potency such as was possessed by no ordinary plant4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see an article on ,myths of the ,fire ,stealer1 ,saturday ,review1 ,june #b1 #ahhc1 p4 #fhi2 ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture4 #b4 ,myths and ,myth ,makers1 p4 #ee4 #c4 ,see ,keary's ,outlines of ,primitive ,belief1 #ahhb1 p4 #ih4 #d4 ,indo-,european ,tradition and ,folk-lore1 p4 #aei4 #e4 ,mystic ,trees and ,shrubs1 ,fraser's ,magazine1 ,nov4 #ahgj1 p4 #eii4 #f4 ,sacred ,trees and ,flowers1 ,quarterly ,review1 ,july #ahfc1 pp4 #bca1 #bcb4 #g4 ,myths and ,myth ,makers1 p4 #ee4 #h4 ,see ,flower ,lore1 pp4 #ch1 #ci4 #i4 ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 p4 #agi4 #aj4 ,natural ,history and ,antiquities of ,surrey1 ii4 #cd4 #aa4 ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 p4 #agf2 ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 #ahhd1 chap1 xxxii42 ,gubernatis' ,zoological ,mythology1 ii4 #bff-g4 ,see ,albertus ,magnus1 ,de ,mirab4 ,mundi1 #afja1 p4 #bbe4 #ab4 ,gubernatis' ,zoological ,mythology1 ii4 #bcj4 #ac4 ,myths and ,mythmakers1 p4 #eh4 ,see ,baring-,gould's ,curious ,myths of the ,middle ,ages1 #ahgg1 pp4 #chf-daf4 #ad4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #dfj4 #ae4 ,see ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 pp4 #dg-h4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,plants ,,in ,,witchcraft4 ,the vast proportions which the great witchcraft movement assumed in bygone years explains the magic properties which we find ascribed to so many plants in most countries4 ,in the nefarious trade carried on by the representatives of this cruel system of sorcery certain plants were largely employed for working marvels1 hence the mystic character which they have ever since retained4 ,it was necessary1 however1 that these should be plucked at certain phases of the moon or seasons of the year1 or from some spot where the sun was supposed not to have shone on it4#a ,hence ,shakespeare makes one of his witches speak of root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark1 and of slips of yew sliver'd in the moon's eclipse1 a practice which was long kept up4 ,the plants1 too1 which formed the witches' pharmacopoeia1 were generally selected either from their legendary associations or by reason of their poisonous and soporific qualities4 ,thus1 two of those most frequently used as ingredients in the mystic cauldron were the vervain and the rue1 these plants having been specially credited with supernatural virtues4 ,the former probably derived its notoriety from the fact of its being sacred to ,thor1 an honour which marked it out1 like other lightning plants1 as peculiarly adapted for occult uses4 ,it was1 moreover1 among the sacred plants of the ,druids1 and was only gathered by them1 when the dog-star arose1 from unsunned spots4 ,at the same time1 it is noteworthy that many of the plants which were in repute with witches for working their marvels were reckoned as counter-charms1 a fact which is not surprising1 as materials used by wizards and others for magical purposes have generally been regarded as equally efficacious if employed against their charms and spells4#b ,although vervain1 therefore1 as the enchanters' plant1 was gathered by witches to do mischief in their incantations1 yet1 as ,aubrey says1 it hinders witches from their will1 a circumstance to which ,drayton further refers when he speaks of the vervain as 'gainst witchcraft much avayling4 ,rue1 likewise1 which entered so largely into magic rites1 was once much in request as an antidote against such practices2 and nowadays1 when worn on the person in conjunction with agrimony1 maiden-hair1 broom-straw1 and ground ivy1 it is said in the ,tyrol to confer fine vision1 and to point out the presence of witches4 ,it is still an undecided question as to why rue should out of all other plants have gained its widespread reputation with witches1 but ,m4 ,maury supposes that it was on account of its being a narcotic and causing hallucinations4 ,at any rate1 it seems to have acquired at an early period in this country a superstitious reverence1 for1 as ,mr4 ,conway says1#c ,we find the missionaries sprinkling holy water from brushes made of it1 whence it was called 'herb of grace'4 ,respecting the rendezvous of witches1 it may be noted that they very frequently resorted to hills and mountains1 their meetings taking place on the mead1 on the oak sward1 under the lime1 under the oak1 at the pear tree4 ,thus the fairy rings which are often to be met with on the ,sussex downs are known as hag-tracks1#d from the belief that they are caused by hags and witches1 who dance there at midnight4#e ,their love for sequestered and romantic localities is widely illustrated on the ,continent1 instances of which have been collected together by ,grimm1 who remarks how the fame of particular witch mountains extends over wide kingdoms4 ,according to a tradition current in ,friesland1#f no woman is to be found at home on a ,friday1 because on that day they hold their meetings and have dances on a barren heath4 ,occasionally1 too1 they show a strong predilection for certain trees1 to approach which as night-time draws near is considered highly dangerous4 ,the ,judas tree 7,cercis siliquastrum7 was one of their favourite retreats1 perhaps on account of its traditionary association with the apostle4 ,the ,neapolitan witches held their tryst under a walnut tree near ,benevento1#g and at ,bologna the peasantry tell how these evil workers hold a midnight meeting beneath the walnut trees on ,st4 ,john's ,eve4 ,the elder tree is another haunt under whose branches witches are fond of lurking1 and on this account caution must be taken not to tamper with it after dark4#h ,again1 in the ,netherlands1 experienced shepherds are careful not to let their flocks feed after sunset1 for there are wicked elves that prepare poison in certain plants--nightwort being one of these4 ,nor does any man dare to sleep in a meadow or pasture after sunset1 for1 as the shepherds say1 he would have everything to fear4 ,a ,tyrolese legend#i relates how a boy who had climbed a tree1 overlooked the ghastly doings of certain witches beneath its boughs4 ,they tore in pieces the corpse of a woman1 and threw the portions in the air4 ,the boy caught one1 and kept it by him2 but the witches1 on counting the pieces1 found that one was missing1 and so replaced it by a scrap of alderwood1 when instantly the dead came to life again4 ,similarly1 also1 they had their favourite flowers1 one having been the foxglove1 nicknamed witches' bells1 from their decorating their fingers with its blossoms2 while in some localities the hare-bell is designated the witches' thimble4 ,on the other hand1 flowers of a yellow or greenish hue were distasteful to them4#aj ,in the witchcraft movement it would seem that certain plants were in requisition for particular purposes1 these workers of darkness having utilised the properties of herbs to special ends4 ,a plant was not indiscriminately selected1 but on account of possessing some virtue as to render it suitable for any design that the witches might have in view4 ,considering1 too1 how multitudinous and varied were their actions1 they had constant need of applying to the vegetable world for materials with which to carry out their plans4 ,but foremost amongst their requirements was the power of locomotion wherewith to enable them with supernatural rapidity to travel from one locality to another4 ,accordingly1 one of their most favourite vehicles was a besom or broom1 an implement which1 it has been suggested1 from its being a type of the winds1 is an appropriate utensil in the hands of the witches1 who are windmakers and workers in that element4#aa ,according to the ,asiatic ,register for #ahja1 the ,eastern as well as the ,european witches practise their spells by dancing at midnight1 and the principal instrument they use on such occasions is a broom4 ,hence1 in ,hamburg1 sailors1 after long toiling against a contrary wind1 on meeting another ship sailing in an opposite direction1 throw an old broom before the vessel1 believing thereby to reverse the wind4#ab ,as1 too1 in the case of vervain and rue1 the besom1 although dearly loved by witches1 is still extensively used as a counter-charm against their machinations--it being a well-known belief both in ,england and ,germany that no individual of this stamp can step over a besom laid inside the threshold4 ,hence1 also1 in ,westphalia1 at ,shrovetide1 white besoms with white handles are tied to the cows' horns2 and1 in the rites connected with the ,midsummer fires kept up in different parts of the country1 the besom holds a prominent place4 ,in ,bohemia1 for instance1 the young men collect for some weeks beforehand as many worn-out brooms as they can lay their hands on4 ,these1 after dipping in tar1 they light--running with them from one bonfire to another--and when burnt out they are placed in the fields as charms against blight4#ac ,the large ragwort--known in ,ireland as the fairies' horse--has long been sought for by witches when taking their midnight journeys4 ,burns1 in his ,address to the ,deil1 makes his witches skim the muirs and dizzy crags on rag-bred nags with wicked speed4 ,the same legendary belief prevails in ,cornwall1 in connection with the ,castle ,peak1 a high rock to the south of the ,logan stone4 ,here1 writes ,mr4 ,hunt1#ad many a man1 and woman too1 now quietly sleeping in the churchyard of ,st4 ,levan1 would1 had they the power1 attest to have seen the witches flying into the ,castle ,peak on moonlight nights1 mounted on the stems of the ragwort4 ,amongst other plants used for a similar purpose were the bulrush and reed1 in connection with-which may be quoted the ,irish tale of the rushes and cornstalks that turn into horses the moment you bestride them#ae4 ,in ,germany#af witches were said to use hay for transporting themselves through the air4 ,when engaged in their various occupations they often considered it expedient to escape detection by assuming invisibility1 and for this object sought the assistance of certain plants1 such as the fern-seed#ag4 ,in ,sweden1 hazel-nuts were supposed to have the power of making invisible1 and it may be remembered how in one of ,andersen's stories the elfin princess has the faculty of vanishing at will1 by putting a wand in her mouth4#ah ,but these were not the only plants supposed to confer invisibility1 for ,german folk-lore tells us how the far-famed luck-flower was endowed with the same wonderful property2 and by the ancients the heliotrope was credited with a similar virtue1 but which ,boccaccio1 in his humorous tale of ,calandrino in the ,decameron1 applies to the so-called stone4 ,heliotrope is a stone of such extraordinary virtue that the bearer of it is effectually concealed from the sight of all present4 ,dante in his ,inferno1 xxiv4 #ib1 further alludes to it3 ,amid this dread exuberance of woe ,ran naked spirits winged with horrid fear1 ,nor hope had they of crevice where to hide1 ,or heliotrope to charm them out of view4 ,in the same way the agate was said to render a person invisible1 and to turn the swords of foes against themselves4#ai ,the ,swiss peasants affirm that the ,ascension ,day wreaths of the amaranth make the wearer invisible1 and in the ,tyrol the mistletoe is credited with this property4 ,but some plants1 as we have already pointed out1 were credited with the magic property of revealing the presence of witches1 and of exposing them engaged in the pursuit of plying their nefarious calling4 ,in this respect the ,st4 ,john's wort was in great request1 and hence it was extensively worn as an amulet1 especially in ,germany on ,st4 ,john's ,eve1 a time when not only witches by common report peopled the air1 but evil spirits wandered about on no friendly errand4 ,thus the ,italian name of devil-chaser1 from the circumstance of its scaring away the workers of darkness1 by bringing their hidden deeds to light4 ,this1 moreover1 accounts for the custom so prevalent in most ,european countries of decorating doorways and windows with its blossoms on ,st4 ,john's ,eve4 ,in our own country ,stowe#bj speaks of it as its having been placed over the doors together with green birch1 fennel1 orpine1 and white lilies1 whereas in ,france the peasantry still reverence it as dispersing every kind of unseen evil influence4 ,the elder was invested with similar properties1 which seem to have been more potent than even those attributed to the ,st4 ,john's wort4 ,according to an old tradition1 any baptized person whose eyes were anointed with the green juice of its inner bark could see witches in any part of the world4 ,hence the tree was extremely obnoxious to witches1 a fact which probably accounts for its having been so often planted near cottages4 ,its magic influence has also caused it to be introduced into various rites1 as in ,styria on ,bertha ,night 7,january #fth71 when the devil goes about in great force4#ba ,as a safeguard1 persons are recommended to make a magic circle1 in the centre of which they should stand with elder-berries gathered on ,st4 ,john's ,night4 ,by so doing the mystic fern seed may be obtained1 which possesses the strength of thirty or forty men4 ,in ,germany1 too1 a species of wild radish is said to reveal witches1 as also is the ivy1 and saxifrage enables its bearer to see witches on ,walpurgis ,night4 ,but1 in spite of plants of this kind1 witches somehow or other contrived to escape detection by the employment of the most subtle charms and spells4 ,they generally1 too1 took the precaution of avoiding such plants as were antagonistic to them1 displaying a cunning ingenuity in most of their designs which it was by no means easy to forestall4 ,hence in the composition of their philtres and potions they infused the juices of the most deadly herbs1 such as that of the nightshade or monkshood2 and to add to the potency of these baleful draughts they considered it necessary to add as many as seven or nine of the most poisonous plants they could obtain1 such1 for instance1 as those enumerated by one of the witches in ,ben ,jonson's ,masque of ,queens1 who says3-- ,and ,i ha' been plucking plants among ,hemlock1 ,henbane1 ,adder's ,tongue2 ,nightshade1 ,moonwort1 ,libbard's bane1 ,and twice1 by the dogs1 was like to be ta'en4 ,another plant used by witches in their incantations was the sea or horned poppy1 known in mediaeval times as ,ficus infernolis2 hence it is further noticed by ,ben ,jonson in the ,witches' ,song3 ,yes1 ,i have brought to help our vows1 ,horned poppy1 cypress boughs1 ,the fig tree wild that grows on tombs1 ,and juice that from the larch tree comes4 ,then1 of course1 there was the wondrous moonwort 7,botrychium lunaria71 which was doubly valuable from its mystic virtue1 for1 as ,culpepper#bb tells us1 it was believed to open locks and possess other magic virtues4 ,the mullein1 popularly termed the hag-taper1 was also in request1 and the honesty 7,lunaria biennis71 in sorceries excelling1 was equally employed4 ,by ,scotch witches the woodbine was a favourite plant1#bc who1 in effecting magical cures1 passed their patients nine times through a girth or garland of green woodbine4 ,again1 a popular means employed by witches of injuring their enemies was by the briony4 ,coles1 in his ,art of ,simpling1 for instance1 informs us how1 they take likewise the roots of mandrake1 according to some1 or1 as ,i rather suppose1 the roots of briony1 which simple folk take for the true mandrake1 and make thereof an ugly image1 by which they represent the person on whom they intend to exercise their witchcraft4 ,and ,lord ,bacon1 speaking of the mandrake1 says--,some plants there are1 but rare1 that have a mossie or downy root1 and likewise that have a number of threads1 like beards1 as mandrakes1 whereof witches and impostours make an ugly image1 giving it the form of a face at the top of the root1 and leave those strings to make a broad beard down to the foot4 ,the witchcraft literature of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries contains numerous allusions to the diabolical practice--a superstition immortalised by ,shakespeare4 ,the mandrake1 from its supposed mysterious character1 was intimately associated with witches1 and ,ben ,jonson1 in his ,masque of ,queens1 makes one of the hags who has been gathering this plant say1 ,i last night lay all alone ,on the ground1 to hear the mandrake groan2 ,and plucked him up1 though he grew full low1 ,and1 as ,i had done1 the cock did crow4 ,we have already incidentally spoken of the vervain1 ,st4 ,john's wort1 elder1 and rue as antagonistic to witchcraft1 but to these may be added many other well-known plants1 such as the juniper1 mistletoe1 and blackthorn4 ,indeed1 the list might be greatly extended--the vegetable kingdom having supplied in most parts of the world almost countless charms to counteract the evil designs of these malevolent beings4 ,in our own country the little pimpernel1 herb-paris1 and cyclamen were formerly gathered for this purpose1 and the angelica was thought to be specially noisome to witches4 ,the snapdragon and the herb-betony had the reputation of averting the most subtle forms of witchcraft1 and dill and flax were worn as talismans against sorcery4 ,holly is said to be antagonistic to witches1 for1 as ,mr4 ,folkard#bd says1 in its name they see but another form of the word 'holy1' and its thorny foliage and blood-red berries are suggestive of the most ,christian associations4 ,then there is the rowan-tree or mountain-ash1 which has long been considered one of the most powerful antidotes against works of darkness of every kind1 probably from its sacred associations with the worship of the ,druids4 ,hence it is much valued in ,scotland1 and the following couplet1 of which there are several versions1 still embodies the popular faith3 ,rowan-tree and red thread1 ,put the witches to their speed4 ,but its fame has not been confined to any one locality1 and as far south as ,cornwall the peasant1 when he suspects that his cow has been overlooked1 twists an ashen twig round its horns4 ,indeed1 so potent is the ash as a counter charm to sorcery1 that even the smallest twig renders their actions impotent2 and hence1 in an old ballad entitled ,laidley ,wood1 in the ,northumberland ,garland1 it is said3 ,the spells were vain1 the hag returned ,to the queen in sorrowful mood1 ,crying that witches have no power1 ,where there is row'n-tree wood4 ,hence persons carry an ashen twig in their pocket1 and according to a ,yorkshire proverb3 ,if your whipsticks made of row'n1 ,you may ride your nag through any town2 ,but1 on the other hand1 ,woe to the lad without a rowan-tree gall4 ,possessed of such virtues1 it is not surprising that the mystic ash should have been held in the highest repute1 in illustration of which we find many an amusing anecdote4 ,thus1 according to a ,herefordshire tradition1 some years ago two hogsheads full of money were concealed in an underground cellar belonging to the ,castle of ,penyard1 where they were kept by supernatural force4 ,a farmer1 however1 made up his mind to get them out1 and employed for the purpose twenty steers to draw down the iron door of the vault4 ,on the door being slightly opened1 a jackdaw was seen sitting on one of the casks1 but the door immediately closed with a bang--a voice being heard to say1 ,had it not been ,for your quicken tree goad1 ,and your yew tree pin1 ,you and your cattle ,had all been drawn in4 ,another anecdote current in ,yorkshire is interesting1 showing how fully superstitions of this kind are believed#be3--;,a woman was lately in my shop1 and in pulling out her purse brought out also a piece of stick a few inches long4 ,i asked her why she carried that in her pocket4 ',oh1' she replied1 ',i must not lose that1 or ,i shall be done for4' ',why so8' ,i inquired4 ',well1' she answered1 ',i carry that to keep off the witches2 while ,i have that about me1 they cannot hurt me4' ,on my adding that there were no witches nowadays1 she instantly replied1 ',oh1 yes6 there are thirteen at this very time in the town1 but so long as ,i have my rowan-tree safe in my pocket they cannot hurt me4' ,occasionally when the dairymaid churned for a long time without making butter1 she would stir the cream with a twig of mountain ash1 and beat the cow with another1 thus breaking the witch's spell4 ,but1 to prevent accidents of this kind1 it has long been customary in the northern countries to make the churn-staff of ash4 ,for the same reason herd-boys employ an ash-twig for driving cattle1 and one may often see a mountain-ash growing near a house4 ,on the ,continent the tree is in equal repute1 and in ,norway and ,denmark rowan branches are usually put over stable doors to keep out witches1 a similar notion prevailing in ,germany4 ,no tree1 perhaps1 holds such a prominent place in witchcraft-lore as the mountain-ash1 its mystic power having rarely failed to render fruitless the evil influence of these enemies of mankind4 ,in our northern counties witches are said to dislike the bracken fern1 because it bears on its root the initial ,c1 which may be seen on cutting the root horizontally4#bf and in most places equally distasteful to them is the yew1 perhaps for no better reason than its having formerly been much planted in churchyards4 ,the herb-bennett 7,geum urbanum71 like the clover1 from its trefoiled leaf1 renders witches powerless1 and the hazel has similar virtues4 ,among some of the plants considered antagonistic to sorcery on the ,continent may be mentioned the water-lily1 which is gathered in the ,rhine district with a certain formula4 ,in ,tuscany1 the lavender counteracts the evil eye1 and a ,german antidote against the hurtful effects of any malicious influence was an ointment made of the leaves of the marsh-mallow4 ,in ,italy1 an olive branch which has been blessed keeps the witch from the dwelling1 and in some parts of the ,continent the plum-tree is used4 ,kolb1 writes ,mr4 ,black1#bg who became one of the first wonder-doctors of the ,tyrol1 when he was called to assist any bewitched person1 made exactly at midnight the smoke of five different sorts of herbs1 and while they were burning the bewitched was gently beaten with a martyr-thorn birch1 which had to be got the same night4 ,this beating the patient with thorn was thought to be really beating the hag who had caused the evil4 ,some seasons1 too1 have been supposed to be closely associated with the witches1 as in ,germany1 where all flax must be spun before ,twelfth ,night1 for one who spins afterwards is liable to be bewitched4 ,lastly1 to counteract the spell of the evil eye1 from which many innocent persons were believed to suffer in the witchcraft period1 many flowers have been in requisition among the numerous charms used4 ,thus1 the ,russian maidens still hang round the stem of the birch-tree red ribbon1 the ,brahmans gather rice1 and in ,italy rue is in demand4 ,the ,scotch peasantry pluck twigs of the ash1 the ,highland women the groundsel1 and the ,german folk wear the radish4 ,in early times the ringwort was recommended by ,apuleius1 and later on the fern was regarded as a preservative against this baneful influence4 ,the ,chinese put faith in the garlic2 and1 in short1 every country has its own special plants4 ,it would seem1 too1 that after a witch was dead and buried1 precautionary measures were taken to frustrate her baneful influence4 ,thus1 in ,russia1 aspen is laid on a witch's grave1 the dead sorceress being then prevented from riding abroad4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,moncure ,conway's ,demonology and ,devil ,lore1 #ahhj1 ii4 #cbd4 #b4 ,see ,friend's ,flower ,lore1 ii4 #ebi-cj4 #c4 ,demonology and ,devil ,lore1 ii4 #cbd4 #d4 ,grimm1 ,teutonic ,mythology1 #ahhc1 iii4 #ajea4 #e4 ,folkard's ,plant ,lore1 ,legends1 and ,lyrics1 #ahhd1 p4 #ia4 #f4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #ai4 #g4 ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 iii4 #ajeb4 #h4 ,see ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #bfg4 #i4 ,see ,folkard's ,plant ,lore1 ,legends1 and ,lyrics1 p4 #bji4 #aj4 ,ibid41 p4 #ajd4 #aa4 ,see ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,folk-lore1 pp4 #bbe-g4 #ab4 ,see ,hardwick's ,traditions1 ,superstitions1 and ,folk-lore1 p4 #aag2 also ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 #ahhc1 iii4 #ajhc4 #ac4 ,see ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 #aheb1 iii4 #ba1 #acg4 #ad4 ,popular ,romances of the ,west of ,england1 #ahga1 p4 #ccj4 #ae4 ,grimm's ,teutonic ,mythology1 iii4 #ajhd4 #af4 ,see ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #bjh-i4 #ag4 ,see chap4 ,doctrine of ,signatures4 #ah4 ,see ,yardley's ,supernatural in ,romantic ,fiction1 #ahhj1 pp4 #aca-b4 #ai4 ,see ,fiske1 ,myths and ,mythmakers1 p4 #dd2 also ,baring-,gould's ,curious ,myths of the ,middle ,ages1 #ahgg1 p4 #cih4 #bj4 ,survey of ,london4 ,see ,mason's ,folk-lore of ,british ,plants in ,dublin ,university ,magazine1 ,september #ahgc1 p4 #cbf-h4 #ba4 ,mr4 ,conway's ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 #fjb4 #bb4 ,british ,herbal4 #bc4 ,see ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #chj4 #bd4 ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #cgf4 #be4 ,henderson's ,folk-lore of ,northern ,counties1 #ahgi1 p4 #bbe4 #bf4 ,folk-lore of ,northern ,counties1 #ahgi4 #bg4 ,folk-medicine1 p4 #bjb4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,plants ,,in ,,demonology4 ,the association of certain plants with the devil forms an extensive and important division in their folk-lore1 and in many respects is closely connected with their mystic history4 ,it is by no means easy always to account for some of our most beautiful flowers having ,satanic surroundings1 although frequently the explanation must be sought in their poisonous and deadly qualities4 ,in some cases1 too1 the student of comparative mythology may trace their evil reputation to those early traditions which were the expressions of certain primitive beliefs1 the survivals of which nowadays are found in many an apparently meaningless superstition4 ,anyhow1 the subject is a very wide one1 and is equally represented in most countries4 ,it should be remembered1 moreover1 that rudimentary forms of dualism--the antagonism of a good and evil deity#a--;have from a remote period occupied men's minds1 a system of belief known even among the lower races of mankind4 ,hence1 just as some plants would in process of time acquire a sacred character1 others would do the reverse4 ,amongst the legendary stories and folktales of most countries we find frequent allusion to the devil as an active agent in utilising various flowers for his mischievous pursuits2 and on the ,continent we are told of a certain evil spirit named ,kleure who transforms himself into a tree to escape notice1 a superstition which under a variety of forms still lingers here and there4#b ,it would seem1 too1 that in some of our old legends and superstitions the terms ,puck and ,devil are synonymous1 a circumstance which explains the meaning1 otherwise unintelligible1 of many items of plant-lore in our own and other countries4 ,thus the word ,puck has been identified with ,pogge--toad1 under which form the devil was supposed to be personified2 and hence probably originated such expressions as toadstools1 paddock-stools1 c4 ,the thorns of the eglantine are said to point downwards1 because when the devil was excluded from heaven he tried to regain his lost position by means of a ladder composed of its thorns4 ,but when the eglantine was only allowed to grow as a bush1 out of spite he placed its thorns in their present eccentric position4 ,the seed of the parsley1 is apt to come up only partially1 according as the devil takes his tithe of it4#c ,in ,germany devil's oaks are of frequent occurrence1 and one of these at ,gotha is held in great regard4#d and ,gerarde1 describing the vervain1 with its manifold mystic virtues1 says that the devil did reveal it as a secret and divine medicine4 ,belladonna1 writes ,mr4 ,conway1 is esteemed in ,bohemia a favourite plant of the devil1 who watches it1 but may be drawn from it on ,walpurgis ,night by letting loose a black hen1 after which he will run4 ,then there is the sow-thistle1 which in ,russia is said to belong to the devil2 and ,loki1 the evil spirit in northern mythology1 is occasionally spoken of as sowing weeds among the good seed2 from whence1 it has been suggested1 originated the popular phrase of sowing one's wild oats4#e ,the ,german peasantry have their rye-wolf1 a malignant spirit infesting the rye-fields2 and in some parts of the ,continent orchards are said to be infested by evil demons1 who1 until driven away by various incantations1 are liable to do much harm to the fruit4 ,the ,italians1 again1 affirm that in each leaf of the fig-tree an evil spirit dwells2 and throughout the ,continent there are various other demons who are believed to haunt the crops4 ,evil spirits were once said to lurk in lettuce-beds1 and a certain species was regarded with ill favour by mothers1 a circumstance which1 ,mr4 ,folkard rightly suggests1#f may account for a ,surrey saying1 ,o'er much lettuce in the garden will stop a young wife's bearing4 ,among similar legends of the kind it is said that1 in ,swabia1 fern-seed brought by the devil between eleven and twelve o'clock on ,christmas night enables the bearer to do as much work as twenty or thirty ordinary men4 ,according to a popular piece of superstition current in our southern counties1 the devil is generally supposed to put his cloven foot upon the blackberries on ,michaelmas ,day1 and hence after this date it is considered unlucky to gather them during the remainder of the year4 ,an interesting instance of this superstition is given by ,mrs4 ,latham in her ,west ,sussex ,superstitions1 which happened to a farmer's wife residing in the neighbourhood of ,arundel4 ,it appears that she was in the habit of making a large quantity of blackberry jam1 and finding that less fruit had been brought to her than she required1 she said to the charwoman1 ,i wish you would send some of your children to gather me three or four pints more4 ,ma'am1 exclaimed the woman in astonishment1 don't you know this is the #aath ,october8 ,yes1 she replied4 ,bless me1 ma'am6 ,and you ask me to let my children go out blackberrying6 ,why1 ,i thought every one knew that the devil went round on the #ajth ,october1 and spat on all the blackberries1 and that if any person were to eat on the #aath1 he or some one belonging to him would either die or fall into great trouble before the year was out4 ,in ,scotland the devil is said to but throw his cloak over the blackberries and render them unwholesome1 while in ,ireland he is said to stamp on them4 ,among further stories of this kind may be quoted one current in ,devonshire respecting ,st4 ,dunstan1 who1 it is said1 bought up a quantity of barley for brewing beer4 ,the devil1 knowing how anxious the saint would be to get a good sale for his beer1 offered to blight the apple trees1 so that there should be no cider1 and hence a greater demand for beer1 on condition that he sold himself to him4 ,st4 ,dunstan accepted the offer1 and stipulated that the trees should be blighted on the #agth1 #ahth1 and #aith ,may4 ,should the apple-blossom be nipped by cold winds or frost about this time1 many allusions are still made to ,st4 ,dunstan4 ,of the plants associated personally with the evil one may be mentioned the henbane1 which is known in ,germany as the devil's eye1 a name applied to the stich-wort in ,wales4 ,a species of ground moss is also styled in ,germany the devil's claws2 one of the orchid tribe is ,satan's hand2 the lady's fingers is devil's claws1 and the plantain is devil's head4 ,similarly the house-leek has been designated the devil's beard1 and a ,norfolk name for the stinkhorn is devil's horn4 ,of further plants related to his ,satanic majesty is the clematis1 termed devil's thread1 the toad-flax is his ribbon1 the indigo his dye1 while the scandix forms his darning-needles4 ,the tritoma1 with its brilliant red blossom1 is familiar in most localities as the devil's poker1 and the ground ivy has been nicknamed the devil's candlestick1 the mandrake supplying his candle4 ,the puff-balls of the lycoperdon form the devil's snuff-box1 and in ,ireland the nettle is his apron1 and the convolvulus his garter2 while at ,iserlohn1 in ,germany1#g the mothers1 to deter their children eating the mulberries1 sing to them that the devil requires them for the purpose of blacking his boots4 ,the ,arum maculatum is devil's ladies and gentlemen1 and the ,ranunculus arvensis is the devil on both sides4 ,the vegetable kingdom also has been equally mindful of his majesty's food1 the spurge having long been named devil's milk and the briony the devil's cherry4 ,a species of fungus1 known with us as witches' butter1 is called in ,sweden devil's butter1 while one of the popular names for the mandrake is devil's food4 ,the hare-parsley supplies him with oatmeal1 and the stichwort is termed in the ,west of ,england devil's corn4 ,among further plants associated with his ,satanic majesty may be enumerated the garden fennel1 or love-in-a-mist1 to which the name of devil-in-a-bush has been applied1 while the fruit of the deadly nightshade is commonly designated devil's berries4 ,then there is the devil's tree1 and the devil's dung is one of the nicknames of the assafoetida4 ,the hawk-weed1 like the scabious1 was termed devil's bit1 because the root looks as if it had been bitten off4 ,according to an old legend1 the root was once longer1 until the devil bit away the rest for spite1 for he needed it not to make him sweat who is always tormented with fear of the day of judgment4 ,gerarde further adds that1 ,the devil did bite it for envy1 because it is an herb that hath so many great virtues1 and is so beneficial to mankind4 ,a species of ranunculus supplies his coach-wheels1 and in some parts of the country ferns are said to supply his brushes4 ,his majesty's wants1 therefore1 have been amply provided for by the vegetable kingdom1 for even the wild garlic affords him a posy#h4 ,once more1 in ,sweden1 a rose-coloured flower1 known as ,our ,lady's hand1 has two roots like hands1 one white1 the other black1 and when both are placed in water the black one will sink1 this is called ',satan's hand2' but the white one1 called ',mary's hand1' will float4#i ,hence this flower is held in deep and superstitious veneration among the peasantry2 and in ,crete the basil is considered an emblem of the devil1 and is placed on most window-ledges1 no doubt as a charm4 ,some plants1 again1 have been used for exorcism from their reputed antagonism to all ,satanic influence4 ,thus the avens or herb-bennett1 when kept in a house1 was believed to render the devil powerless1 and the ,greeks of old were in the habit of placing a laurel bough over their doorways to keep away evil spirits4 ,the thistle has been long in demand for counteracting the powers of darkness1 and in ,esthonia it is placed on the ripening corn to drive and scare away malignant demons4 ,in ,poland1 the disease known among the poorer classes as elf-lock is supposed to be the work of wicked spirits1 but tradition says it will gradually disappear if one buries thistle seed4#aj ,the aloe1 by the ,egyptians1 is reputed to resist any baleful influence1 and the lunary or honesty is by our own country people said to put every evil influence to flight4 ,in ,germany the juniper disperses evil spirits1 and in ancient times the black hellebore1 peony1 and mugwort were largely used for this purpose4 ,according to a ,russian belief the elder-tree drives away evil spirits1 and hence this plant is held in high respect4 ,among further plants possessing the same quality are the nettle and milfoil1 and then there is the famous ,st4 ,john's wort1 popularly nicknamed devil's flight4 ,closely allied with this part of our subject are those plants connected with serpents1 here forming a very numerous class4 ,indeed1 it was only natural that our ancestors1 from their dread of the serpent on account of its poisonous sting1 as well as from their antipathy to it as the symbol of evil1 should ascertain those plants which seemed either attractive1 or antagonistic1 to this much-dreaded reptile4 ,accordingly certain plants1 from being supposed to be distasteful to serpents1 were much used as amulets to drive them away4 ,foremost among these may be mentioned the ash1 to escape contact with which a serpent1 it has been said1 would even creep into the fire1 in allusion to which ,cowley thus writes3 ,but that which gave more wonder than the rest1 ,within an ash a serpent built her nest ,and laid her eggs1 when once to come beneath ,the very shadow of an ash was death4 ,gerarde notices this curious belief1 and tells us that1 the leaves of this tree are so great virtue against serpents that they dare not so much as touch the morning and evening shadows of the tree1 but shun them afar off4 ,hence ash-sap was a ,german remedy for serpent bites4 ,lucan1 in his ,pharsalia 7#iae-iba71 has enumerated some of the plants burned for the purpose of expelling serpents3 ,beyond the farthest tents rich fires they build1 ,that healthy medicinal odours yield1 ,there foreign galbanum dissolving fries1 ,and crackling flames from humble wallwort rise4 ,there tamarisk1 which no green leaf adorns1 ,and there the spicy ,syrian costos burns2 ,there centaury supplies the wholesome flame1 ,that from ,therssalian ,chiron takes its name2 ,the gummy larch tree1 and the thapsos there1 ,woundwort and maidenweed perfume the air1 ,there the long branches of the long-lived hart ,with southernwood their odours strong impart1 ,the monsters of the land1 the serpents fell1 ,fly far away and shun the hostile smell4 ,the smoke of the juniper was equally repellent to serpents1 and the juice of dittany drives away venomous beasts1 and doth astonish them4 ,in olden times1 for serpent bites1 agrimony1 chamomile1 and the fruit of the bramble1 were held efficacious1 and ,gerarde recommends the root of the bugloss1 as it keepeth such from being stung as have drunk it before2 the leaves and seeds do the same4 ,on the other hand1 some plants had the reputation of attracting serpents1 one of these being the moneywort or creeping loosestrife1 with which they were said to heal themselves when wounded4 ,as far back as the time of ,pliny serpents were supposed to be very fond of fennel1 restoring to them their youth by enabling them to cast their old skins4 ,there is a belief in ,thuringia that the possession of fern seed causes the bearer to be pursued by serpents till thrown away2 and1 according to a curious ,eussian proverb1 from all old trees proceeds either an owl or a devil1 in reference1 no doubt1 to their often bare and sterile appearance4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 ii4 #caf4 #b4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #aic4 #c4 ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #dhf4 #d4 ,mr4 ,conway1 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #eic4 #e4 ,mr4 ,conway1 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #ajg4 #f4 ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #daa4 #g4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #ddh4 #h4 ,see ,friend's ,flower-lore1 i4 #fh4 #i4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 ii4 #ajd4 #aj4 ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 ,fraser's ,magazine4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,plants ,,in ,,fairy-,,lore4 ,many plants have gained a notoriety from their connection with fairyland1 and although the belief in this romantic source of superstition has almost died out1 yet it has left its traces in the numerous legends which have survived amongst us4 ,thus the delicate white flowers of the wood-sorrel are known in ,wales as fairy bells1 from a belief once current that these tiny beings were summoned to their moonlight revels and gambols by these bells4 ,in ,ireland they were supposed to ride to their scenes of merrymaking on the ragwort1 hence known as the fairies' horse4 ,cabbage-stalks1 too1 served them for steeds1 and a story is told of a certain farmer who resided at ,dundaniel1 near ,cork1 and was considered to be under fairy control4 ,for a long time he suffered from the falling sickness1 owing to the long journeys which he was forced to make1 night by night1 with the fairy folk on one of his own cabbage stumps4 ,sometimes the good people made use of a straw1 a blade of grass1 or a fern1 a further illustration of which is furnished by ,the ,witch of ,fife3 ,the first leet night1 quhan the new moon set1 ,quhan all was douffe and mirk1 ,we saddled our naigis wi' the moon-fern leif1 ,and rode fra ,kilmerrin kirk4 ,some horses were of the brume-cow framit1 ,and some of the greine bay tree2 ,but mine was made of ane humloke schaw1 ,and a stour stallion was he4#a ,in some folk-tales fairies are represented as employing nuts for their mode of conveyance1 in allusion to which ,shakespeare1 in ,romeo and ,juliet1 makes ,mercutio speak of ,queen ,mab's arrival in a nut-shell4 ,similarly the fairies selected certain plants for their attire4 ,although green seems to have been their popular colour1 yet the fairies of the moon were often clad in heath-brown or lichen-dyed garments1 whence the epithet of ,elfin-grey4 ,their petticoats1 for instance1 were composed of the fox-glove1 a flower in demand among ,irish fairies for their gloves1 and in some parts of that country for their caps1 where it is nicknamed ,lusmore1 while the ,cuscuta epithymum is known in ,jersey as fairies' hair4 ,their raiment was made of the fairy flax1 and the wood-anemone1 with its fragile blossoms1 was supposed to afford them shelter in wet weather4 ,shakespeare has represented ,ariel reclining in a cowslip's bell1 and further speaks of the small crimson drops in its blossom as gold coats spots--these be rubies1 fairy favours4 ,and at the present day the cowslip is still known in ,lincolnshire as the fairy cup4 ,its popular ,german name is key-flower2 and no flower has had in that country so extensive an association with preternatural wealth4 ,a well-known legend relates how ,bertha entices some favoured child by exquisite primroses to a doorway overgrown with flowers4 ,this is the door to an enchanted castle4 ,when the key-flower touches it1 the door gently opens1 and the favoured mortal passes to a room with vessels covered over with primroses1 in which are treasures of gold and jewels4 ,when the treasure is secured the primroses must be replaced1 otherwise the finder will be for ever followed by a black dog4 ,sometimes their mantles are made of the gossamer1 the cobwebs which may be seen in large quantities on the furze bushes2 and so of ,king ,oberon we are told3 ,a rich mantle did he wear1 ,made of tinsel gossamer1 ,bestarred over with a few ,diamond drops of morning dew4 ,tulips are the cradles in which the fairy tribe have lulled their offspring to rest1 while the ,pyrus japonica serves them for a fire4#b ,their hat is supplied by the ,peziza coccinea2 and in ,lincolnshire1 writes ,mr4 ,friend1#c ,a kind of fungus like a cup or old-fashioned purse1 with small objects inside1 is called a fairy-purse4 ,when mending their clothes1 the foxglove gives them thimbles2 and many other flowers might be added which are equally in request for their various needs4 ,it should be mentioned1 however1 that fairies1 like witches1 have a strange antipathy to yellow flowers1 and rarely frequent localities where they grow4 ,in olden times1 we read how in ,scandinavia and ,germany the rose was under the special protection of dwarfs and elves1 who were ruled by the mighty ,king ,laurin1 the lord of the rose-garden3 ,four portals to the garden lead1 and when the gates are closed1 ,no living might dare touch a rose1 'gainst his strict command opposed2 ,whoe'er would break the golden gates1 or cut the silken thread1 ,or who would dare to crush the flowers down beneath his tread1 ,soon for his pride would have to pledge a foot and hand2 ,thus ,laurin1 king of ,dwarfs1 rules within his land4 ,we may mention here that the beautiful white or yellow flowers that grow on the banks of lakes and rivers in ,sweden are called neck-roses1 memorials of the ,neck1 a water-elf1 and the poisonous root of the water-hemlock was known as neck-root4#d ,in ,brittany and in some parts of ,ireland the hawthorn1 or1 as it is popularly designated1 the fairy-thorn1 is a tree most specially in favour4 ,on this account it is held highly dangerous to gather even a leaf from certain old and solitary thorns which grow in sheltered hollows of the moorlands1 for these are the trysting-places of the fairy race4 ,a trace of the same superstition existed in ,scotland1 as may be gathered from the subjoined extract from the ,scottish ,statistical ,report of the year #agif1 in connection with ,new parish3--,there is a quick thorn of a very antique appearance1 for which the people have a superstitious veneration4 ,they have a mortal dread to lop off or cut any part of it1 and affirm with a religious horror that some persons who had the temerity to hurt it1 were afterwards severely punished for their sacrilege4 ,one flower which1 for some reason or other1 is still held in special honour by them1 is the common stichwort of our country hedges1 and which the ,devonshire peasant hesitates to pluck lest he should be pixy-led4 ,a similar idea formerly prevailed in the ,isle of ,man in connection with the ,st4 ,john's wort4 ,if any unwary traveller happened1 after sunset1 to tread on this plant1 it was said that a fairy-horse would suddenly appear1 and carry him about all night4 ,wild thyme is another of their favourite plants1 and ,mr4 ,folkard notes that in ,sicily rosemary is equally beloved2 and that the young fairies1 under the guise of snakes1 lie concealed under its branches4 ,according to a ,netherlandish belief1 the elf-leaf1 or sorceresses' plant1 is particularly grateful to them1 and therefore ought not to be plucked4#e ,the four-leaved clover is a magic talisman which enables its wearer to detect the whereabouts of fairies1 and was said only to grow in their haunts2 in reference to which belief ,lover thus writes3 ,i'll seek a four-leaved clover ,in all the fairy dells1 ,and if ,i find the charmed leaf1 ,oh1 how ,i'll weave my spells6 ,and according to a ,danish belief1 any one wandering under an elder-bush at twelve o'clock on ,midsummer ,eve will see the king of fairyland pass by with all his retinue4 ,fairies' haunts are mostly in picturesque spots 7such as among the tufts of wild thyme72 and the oak tree1 both here and in ,germany1 has generally been their favourite abode1 and hence the superstitious reverence with which certain trees are held1 care being taken not to offend their mysterious inhabitants4 ,an immense deal of legendary lore has clustered round the so-called fairy-rings--little circles of a brighter green in old pastures--within which the fairies were supposed to dance by night4 ,this curious phenomenon1 however1 is owing to the outspread propagation of a particular mushroom1 the fairy-ringed fungus1 by which the ground is manured for a richer following vegetation4#f ,amongst the many other conjectures as to the cause of these verdant circles1 some have ascribed them to lightning1 and others have maintained that they are produced by ants4#g ,in the ,tempest 7v4 i7 ,prospero invokes the fairies as the demi-puppets that3 ,by moonshine do the green sour ringlets make1 ,whereof the ewe not bites2 and you1 whose pastime ,is to make midnight mushrooms4 ,and in the ,merry ,wives of ,windsor 7v4 #e7 ,mistress ,quickly says3 ,and nightly1 meadow-fairies1 look1 you sing1 ,like to the ,garter's compass1 in a ring2 ,the expressure that it bears1 green let it be1 ,more fertile-fresh than all the field to see4 ,drayton1 in his ,nymphidia 7#a4 #fi-gb71 tells how the fairies3 ,in their courses make that round1 ,in meadows and in marshes found1 ,of them so called the fayrie ground1 ,of which they have the keeping4 ,these fairy-rings have long been held in superstitious awe2 and when in olden times ,may-dew was gathered by young ladies to improve their complexion1 they carefully avoided even touching the grass within them1 for fear of displeasing these little beings1 and so losing their personal charms4 ,at the present day1 too1 the peasant asserts that no sheep nor cattle will browse on the mystic patches1 a natural instinct warning them of their peculiar nature4 ,a few miles from ,alnwick was a fairy-ring1 round which if people ran more than nine times1 some evil was supposed to befall them4 ,it is generally agreed that fairies were extremely fond of dancing around oaks1 and thus in addressing the monarch of the forest a poet has exclaimed3 ,the fairies1 from their nightly haunt1 ,in copse or dell1 or round the trunk revered ,of ,herne's moon-silvered oak1 shall chase away ,each fog1 each blight1 and dedicate to peace ,thy classic shade4 ,in ,sweden the miliary fever is said by the peasantry to be caused by the elf-mote or meeting with elves1 as a remedy for which the lichen aphosus or lichen caninus is sought4 ,the toadstools often found near these so-called fairy-rings were also thought to be their workmanship1 and in some localities are styled pixy-stools1 and in the ,north of ,wales fairy-tables1 while the cheeses1 or fruit of the mallow1 are known in the ,north of ,england as fairy-cheeses4 ,a species of wood fungus found about the roots of old trees is designated fairy-butter1 because after rain1 and when in a certain degree of putrefaction1 it is reduced to a consistency which1 together with its colour1 makes it not unlike butter4 ,the fairy-butter of the ,welsh is a substance found at a great depth in cavities of limestone rocks4 ,ritson1 in his ,fairy ,tales1 speaking of the fairies who frequented many parts of ,durham1 relates how a woman who had been in their society challenged one of the guests whom she espied in the market selling fairy-butter1 an accusation1 however1 which was deeply resented4 ,browne1 in his ,britannia's ,pastorals1 makes the table on which they feast consist of3 ,a little mushroom1 that was now grown thinner ,by being one time shaven for the dinner4 ,fairies have always been jealous of their rights1 and are said to resent any infringement of their privileges1 one of these being the property of fruit out of season4 ,any apples1 too1 remaining after the crop has been gathered in1 they claim as their own2 and hence1 in the ,west of ,england1 to ensure their goodwill and friendship1 a few stray ones are purposely left on the trees4 ,this may partially perhaps explain the ill-luck of plucking flowers out of season#h4 ,a ,netherlandish piece of folk-lore informs us that certain wicked elves prepare poison in some plants4 ,hence experienced shepherds are careful not to let their flocks feed after sunset4 ,one of these plants1 they say1 is nightwort1 which belongs to the elves1 and whoever touches it must die#i4 ,the disease known in ,poland as elf-lock is said to be the work of evil fairies or demons1 and is cured by burying thistle-seed in the ground4 ,similarly1 in ,iceland1 says ,mr4 ,conway1 the farmer guards the grass around his field lest the elves abiding in them invade his crops4 ,likewise the globe-flower has been designated the troll-flower1 from the malignant trolls or elves1 on account of its poisonous qualities4 ,on the other hand1 the ,bavarian peasant has a notion that the elves are very fond of strawberries2 and in order that they may be good-humoured and bless his cows with abundance of milk1 he is careful to tie a basket of this fruit between the cow's horns4 ,of the many legendary origins of the fairy tribe1 there is a popular one abroad that mortals have frequently been transformed into these little beings through eating of ambrosia or some peculiar kind of herb4#aj ,according to a ,cornish tradition1 the fern is in some mysterious manner connected with the fairies2 and a tale is told of a young woman who1 when one day listlessly breaking off the fronds of fern as she sat resting by the wayside1 was suddenly confronted by a fairy widower1 who was in search of some one to attend to his little son4 ,she accepted his offer1 which was ratified by kissing a fern leaf and repeating this formula3 ,for a year and a day ,i promise to stay4 ,soon she was an inhabitant of fairyland1 and was lost to mortal gaze until she had fulfilled her stipulated engagement4 ,in ,germany we find a race of elves1 somewhat like the dwarfs1 popularly known as the ,wood or ,moss people4 ,they are about the same size as children1 grey and old-looking1 hairy1 and clad in moss4 ,their lives1 like those of the ,hamadryads1 are attached to the trees2 and if any one causes by friction the inner bark to loosen a ,wood-woman dies4#aa ,their great enemy is the ,wild ,huntsman1 who1 driving invisibly through the air1 pursues and kills them4 ,on one occasion a peasant1 hearing the weird baying in a wood1 joined in the cry2 but on the following morning he found hanging at his stable door a quarter of a green ,moss-woman as his share of the game4 ,as a spell against the ,wild ,huntsman1 the ,moss-women sit in the middle of those trees upon which the woodcutter has placed a cross1 indicating that they are to be hewn1 thereby making sure of their safety4 ,then1 again1 there is the old legend which tells how ,brandan met a man on the sea1#ab who was1 a thumb long1 and floated on a leaf1 holding a little bowl in his right hand and a pointer in his left2 the pointer he kept dipping into the sea and letting water drop from it into the bowl2 when the bowl was full1 he emptied it out and began filling it again1 his doom consisting in measuring the sea until the judgment-day4 ,this floating on the leaf is suggestive of ancient ,indian myths1 and reminds us of ,brahma sitting on a lotus and floating across the sea4 ,vishnu1 when1 after ,brahma's death1 the waters have covered all the worlds1 sits in the shape of a tiny infant on a leaf of the fig tree1 and floats on the sea of milk sucking the toe of his right foot4#ac ,another tribe of water-fairies are the nixes1 who frequently assume the appearance of beautiful maidens4 ,on fine sunny days they sit on the banks of rivers or lakes1 or on the branches of trees1 combing and arranging their golden locks3 ,know you the ,nixes1 gay and fair8 ,their eyes are black1 and green their hair1 ,they lurk in sedgy shores4 ,a fairy or water-sprite that resides in the neighbourhood of the ,orkneys is popularly known as ,tangie1 so-called from tang11 the seaweed with which he is covered4 ,occasionally he makes his appearance as a little horse1 and at other times as a man4#ad ,then there are the wood and forest folk of ,germany1 spirits inhabiting the forests1 who stood in friendly relation to man1 but are now so disgusted with the faithless world1 that they have retired from it4 ,hence their precept-- ,peel no tree1 ,relate no dream1 ,pipe no bread1 or ,bake no cumin in bread1 ,so will ,god help thee in thy need4 ,on one occasion a forest-wife1 who had just tasted a new baked-loaf1 given as an offering1 was heard screaming aloud3 ,they've baken for me cumin bread1 ,that on this house brings great distress4 ,the prosperity of the poor peasant was soon on the wane1 and before long he was reduced to abject poverty4#ae ,these legends1 in addition to illustrating the fairy mythology of bygone years1 are additionally interesting from their connection with the plants and flowers1 most of which are familiar to us from our childhood4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,crofton ,croker's ,fairy ,legends and ,traditions of the ,south of ,ireland1 #ahfb1 p4 #ih4 #b4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #cj4 #c4 ,friend1 ,flowers and ,flower ,lore1 p4 #cd4 #d4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 ii4 #ha-b4 #e4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #bff4 #f4 ,see ,the ,phytologist1 #ahfb1 p4 #bcf-h4 #g4 ,folk-lore of ,shakespeare1 p4 #ae4 #h4 ,see ,friend's ,flower ,lore1 i4 #cd4 #i4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 iii4 #bff4 #aj4 ,friend's ,flower ,lore1 i4 #bg4 #aa4 ,see ,keightley's ,fairy ,mythology1 p4 #bca4 #ab4 ,grimm's ,teut4 ,myth41 #ahhc1 ii4 #dea2 #ac4 ,asiatic ,researches1 i4 #cde4 #ad4 ,see ,keightley's ,fairy ,mythology1 p4 #agc4 #ae4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 i4 #bea-c4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,love-,,charms4 ,plants have always been largely used for testing the fidelity of lovers1 and at the present day are still extensively employed for this purpose by the rustic maiden4 ,as in the case of medical charms1 more virtue would often seem to reside in the mystic formula uttered while the flower is being secretly gathered1 than in any particular quality of the flower itself4 ,then1 again1 flowers1 from their connection with certain festivals1 have been consulted in love matters1 and elsewhere we have alluded to the knowledge they have long been supposed to give in dreams1 after the performance of certain incantations4 ,turning to some of the well-known charm formulas1 may be mentioned that known as a clover of two1 the mode of gathering it constituting the charm itself3 ,a clover1 a clover of two1 ,put it in your right shoe2 ,the first young man you meet1 ,in field1 street1 or lane1 ,you'll get him1 or one of his name4 ,then there is the hempseed formula1 and one founded on the luck of an apple-pip1 which1 when seized between the finger and thumb1 is supposed to pop in the direction of the lover's abode2 an illustration of which we subjoin as still used in ,lancashire3 ,pippin1 pippin1 paradise1 ,tell me where my true love lies1 ,east1 west1 north1 and south1 ,pilling ,brig1 or ,cocker ,mouth4 ,the old custom1 too1 of throwing an apple-peel over the head1 marriage or single blessedness being foretold by its remaining whole or breaking1 and of the peel so cast forming the initial of the future loved one1 finds many adherents4 ,equally popular1 too1 was the practice of divining by a thistle blossom4 ,when anxious to ascertain who loved her most1 a young woman would take three or four heads of thistles1 cut off their points1 and assign to each thistle the name of an admirer1 laying them under her pillow4 ,on the following morning the thistle which has put forth a fresh sprout will denote the man who loves her most4 ,there are numerous charms connected with the ash-leaf1 and among those employed in the ,north of ,england we may quote the following3 ,the even ash-leaf in my left hand1 ,the first man ,i meet shall be my husband2 ,the even ash-leaf in my glove1 ,the first ,i meet shall be my love2 ,the even ash-leaf in my breast1 ,the first man ,i meet's whom ,i love best2 ,the even ash-leaf in my hand1 ,the first ,i meet shall be my man4 ,even ash1 even ash1 ,i pluck thee1 ,this night my true love for to see1 ,neither in his rick nor in his rear1 ,but in the clothes he does every day wear4 ,and there is the well-known saying current throughout the country3 ,if you find an even ash or a four-leaved clover1 ,rest assured you'll see your true love ere the day is over4 ,longfellow alludes to the husking of the maize among the ,american colonists1 an event which was always accompanied by various ceremonies1 one of which he thus forcibly describes3 ,in the golden weather the maize was husked1 and the maidens ,blushed at each blood-red ear1 for that betokened a lover1 ,but at the crooked laughed1 and called it a thief in the corn-field3 ,even the blood-red ear to ,evangeline brought not her lover4 ,charms of this kind are common1 and vary in different localities1 being found extensively on the ,continent1 where perhaps even greater importance is attached to them than in our own country4 ,thus1 a popular ,french one--which many of our young people also practise--is for lovers to test the sincerity of their affections by taking a daisy and plucking its leaflets off one by one1 saying1 ,does he love me8--a little--much--passionately--not at all6 the phrase which falls to the last leaflet forming the answer to the inquiry3 ,la blanche et simple ,paquerette1 ,que ton coeur consult surtout1 ,dit1 ,ton amant1 tendre fillette1 ,t'aime1 un peu1 beaucoup1 point du tout4 ,perhaps ,brown alludes to the same species of divination when he writes of3 ,the gentle daisy with her silver crown1 ,worn in the breast of many a shepherd lass4 ,in ,england the marigold1 which is carefully excluded from the flowers with which ,german maidens tell their fortunes as unfavourable to love1 is often used for divination1 and in ,germany the star-flower and dandelion4 ,among some of the ordinary flowers in use for love-divination may be mentioned the poppy1 with its prophetic leaf1 and the old-fashioned bachelor's buttons1 which was credited with possessing some magical effect upon the fortunes of lovers4 ,hence its blossoms were carried in the pocket1 success in love being indicated in proportion as they lost or retained their freshness4 ,browne alludes to the primrose1 which maidens as a true-love in their bosoms place2 and in the ,north of ,england the kemps or spikes of the ribwort plantain are used as love-charms4 ,the mode of procedure as practised in ,northamptonshire is thus picturesquely given by ,clare in his ,shepherd's ,calendar33 ,or trying simple charms and spells1 ,which rural superstition tells1 ,they pull the little blossom threads ,from out the knotweed's button heads1 ,and put the husk1 with many a smile1 ,in their white bosom for a while2 ,then1 if they guess aright the swain ,their love's sweet fancies try to gain1 ',tis said that ere it lies an hour1 ',twill blossom with a second flower1 ,and from the bosom's handkerchief ,bloom as it ne'er had lost a leaf4 ,then there are the downy thistle-heads1 which the rustic maiden names after her lovers1 in connection with which there are many old rhymes4 ,beans have not lost their popularity2 and the leaves of the laurel still reveal the hidden fortune1 having been also burnt in olden times by girls to win back their errant lovers4 ,the garden scene in ,faust is a well-known illustration of the employment of the centaury or bluebottle for testing the faith of lovers1 for ,margaret selects it as the floral indication whence she may learn the truth respecting ,faust3 ,and that scarlet poppies around like a bower1 ,the maiden found her mystic flower4 ',now1 gentle flower1 ,i pray thee tell ,if my love loves1 and loves me well2 ,so may the fall of the morning dew ,keep the sun from fading thy tender blue2 ,now ,i remember the leaves for my lot-- ,he loves me not--he loves me--he loves me not-- ,he loves me6 ,yes1 the last leaf--yes6 ,i'll pluck thee not for that last sweet guess2 ,he loves me6' ',yes1' a dear voice sighed2 ,and her lover stands by ,margaret's side4 ,another mode of love-divination formerly much practised among the lower orders was known as peascod-wooing4 ,the cook1 when shelling green peas1 would1 if she chanced to find a pod having nine1 lay it on the lintel of the kitchen-door1 when the first man who happened to enter was believed to be her future sweetheart2 an allusion to which is thus given by ,gay3 ,as peascod once ,i pluck'd1 ,i chanced to see ,one that was closely fill'd with three times three1 ,which1 when ,i cropp'd1 ,i safely home couvey'd1 ,and o'er the door the spell in secret laid4 ,the latch mov'd up1 when who should first come in1 ,but1 in his proper person1 ,lublerkin4 ,on the other hand1 it was customary in the ,north of ,england to rub a young woman with pease-straw should her lover prove unfaithful3 ,if you meet a bonnie lassie1 ,gie her a kiss and let her gae2 ,if you meet a dirty hussey1 ,fie1 gae rub her o'er wi' strae6 ,from an old ,spanish proverb it would seem that the rosemary has long been considered as in some way connected with love3 ,who passeth by the rosemarie ,and careth not to take a spraye1 ,for woman's love no care has he1 ,nor shall he though he live for aye4 ,of flowers and plants employed as love-charms on certain festivals may be noticed the bay1 rosebud1 and the hempseed on ,st4 ,valentine's ,day1 nuts on ,st4 ,mark's ,eve1 and the ,st4 ,john's wort on ,midsummer ,eve4 ,in ,denmark#a many an anxious lover places the ,st4 ,john's wort between the beams under the roof for the purpose of divination1 the usual custom being to put one plant for herself and another for her sweetheart4 ,should these grow together1 it is an omen of an approaching wedding4 ,in ,brittany young people prove the good faith of their lovers by a pretty ceremony4 ,on ,st4 ,john's ,eve1 the men1 wearing bunches of green wheat ears1 and the women decorated with flax blossoms1 assemble round an old historic stone and place upon it their wreaths4 ,should these remain fresh for some time after1 the lovers represented by them are to be united2 but should they wither and die away1 it is a certain proof that the love will as rapidly disappear4 ,again1 in ,sicily it is customary for young women to throw from their windows an apple into the street1 which1 should a woman pick up1 it is a sign that the girl will not be married during the year4 ,sometimes it happens that the apple is not touched1 a circumstance which indicates that the young lady1 when married1 will ere long be a widow4 ,on this festival1 too1 the orpine or livelong has long been in request1 popularly known as ,midsummer men1 whereas in ,italy the house-leek is in demand4 ,the moss-rose1 again1 in years gone by1 was plucked1 with sundry formalities1 on ,midsummer ,eve for love-divination1 an allusion to which mode of forecasting the future1 as practised in our own country1 occurs in the poem of ,the ,cottage ,girl3 ,the moss-rose that1 at fall of dew1 ,ere eve its duskier curtain drew1 ,was freshly gathered from its stem1 ,she values as the ruby gem2 ,and1 guarded from the piercing air1 ,with all an anxious lover's care1 ,she bids it1 for her shepherd's sake1 ,awake the ,new ,year's frolic wake3 ,when faded in its altered hue1 ,she reads--the rustic is untrue6 ,but if its leaves the crimson paint1 ,her sick'ning hopes no longer faint2 ,the rose upon her bosom worn1 ,she meets him at the peep of morn4 ,on the ,continent the rose is still thought to possess mystic virtues in love matters1 as in ,thuringia1 where girls foretell their future by means of rose-leaves4 ,a ceremony belonging to ,hallowe'en is observed in ,scotland with some trepidation1 and consists in eating an apple before a looking-glass1 when the face of the desired one will be seen4 ,it is thus described by ,burns3 ,wee ,jenny to her granny says1 ',will ye gae wi' me1 granny8 ,i'll eat the apple at the glass ,i gat frae uncle ,johnny4' ,she fuff't her pipe wi' sic a lunt1 ,in wrath she was sae vap'rin1 ,she notic't na an aizle brunt ,her braw new worset apron ,out thro' that night4 ',ye little skelpie limmer's face6 ,i daur you try sic sportin' ,as seek the foul thief ony place1 ,for him to spae your fortune2 ,nae doubt but ye may get a sight6 ,great cause ye hae to fear it1 ,for mony a ane has gotten a fright1 ,and lived and died deleeret ,on sic a night4' ,hallowe'en also is still a favourite anniversary for all kinds of nut-charms1 and ,st4 ,thomas was long invoked when the prophetic onion named after him was placed under the pillow4 ,rosemary and thyme were used on ,st4 ,agnes' ,eve with this formula3 ,st4 ,agnes1 that's to lovers kind1 ,come1 ease the troubles of my mind4 ,in ,austria1 on ,christmas ,eve1 apples are used for divination4 ,according to ,mr4 ,conway1 the apple must be cut in two in the dark1 without being touched1 the left half being placed in the bosom1 and the right laid behind the door4 ,if this latter ceremony be carefully carried out1 the desired one may be looked for at midnight near the right half4 ,he further tells us that in the ,erzgebirge1 the maiden1 having slept on ,st4 ,andrew's1 or ,christmas1 night with an apple under her pillow1 takes her stand with it in her hand on the next festival of the ,church thereafter2 and the first man whom she sees1 other than a relative1 will become her husband4 ,again1 in ,bohemia1 on ,christmas ,eve1 there is a pretty practice for young people to fix coloured wax-lights in the shells of the first nuts they have opened that day1 and to float them in water1 after silently assigning to each the name of some fancied wooer4 ,he whose little barque is the first to approach the girl will be her future husband2 but1 on the other hand1 should an unwelcome suitor seem likely to be the first1 she blows against it1 and so1 by impeding its progress1 allows the favoured barque to win4 ,in very early times flowers were mcuh in request as love-philtres1 various allusions to which occur in the literature of most ages4 ,thus1 in ,a ,midsummer ,night's ,dream1 ,oberon tells ,puck to place a pansy on the eyes of ,titania1 in order that1 on awaking1 she may fall in love with the first object she encounters4 ,gerarde speaks of the carrot as serving for love matters1 and adds that the root of the wild species is more effectual than that of the garden4 ,vervain has long been in repute as a love-philtre1 and in ,germany now-a-days endive-seed is sold for its supposed power to influence the affections4 ,the root of the male fern was in years gone by used in love-philtres1 and hence the following allusion3 ',twas the maiden's matchless beauty ,that drew my heart a-nigh2 ,not the fern-root potion1 ,but the glance of her blue eye4 ,then there is the basil with its mystic virtues1 and the cumin-see and cyclamen1 which from the time of ,theophrastus have been coveted for their magic virtues4 ,the purslane1 crocus1 and periwinkle were thought to inspire love2 while the agnus castus and the ,saraca ,indica 7one of the sacred plants of ,india71 a species of the willow1 were supposed to drive away all feelings of love4 ,similarly in ,voigtland1 the common basil was regarded as a test of chastity1 withering in the hands of the impure4 ,the mandrake1 which is still worn in ,france as a love-charm1 was employed by witches in the composition of their philtres2 and in ,bohemia1 it is said that if a maiden can secretly put a sprig of the common clover into her lover's shoe ere he sets out on a journey1 he will be faithful to her during his absence4 ,as far back as the time of ,pliny1 the water-lily was regarded as an antidote to the love-philtre1 and the amaranth was used for curbing the affections4 ,on the other hand1 ,our ,lady's bedstraw and the mallow were supposed to have the reverse effect1 while the myrtle not only created love1 but preserved it4 ,the ,sicilians still employ hemp to secure the affections of those they love1 and gather it with various formalities1#b fully believing in its potency4 ,indeed1 charms of this kind are found throughout the world1 every country having its own special plants in demand for this purpose4 ,however whimsical they may seem1 they at any rate have the sanction of antiquity1 and can claim an antecedent history certainly worthy of a better cause4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology4 #b4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #gbj4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,dream-,,plants4 ,the importance attached to dreams in all primitive and savage culture accounts for the significance ascribed to certain plants found by visitors to dreamland4 ,at the outset1 it may be noticed that various drugs and narcotic potions have1 from time immemorial1 been employed for producing dreams and visions--a process still in force amongst uncivilised tribes4 ,thus the ,mundrucus of ,north ,brazil1 when desirous of gaining information on any special subject1 would administer to their seers narcotic drinks1 so that in their dreams they might be favoured with the knowledge required4 ,certain of the ,amazon tribes use narcotic plants for encouraging visions1 and the ,californian ,indians1 writes ,mr4 ,tylor1#a would give children narcotic potions1 to gain from the ensuing visions information about their enemies2 whilst1 he adds1 the ,darien ,indians used the seeds of the ,datura sanguinca to bring on in children prophetic delirium1 in which they revealed hidden treasure4 ,similarly1 the ,delaware medicine-men used to drink decoctions of an intoxicating nature1 until their minds became wildered1 so that they saw extraordinary visions4#b ,the ,north ,american ,indians also held intoxication by tobacco to be supernatural ecstasy4 ,it is curious to find a survival of this source of superstition in modern ,european folk-lore4 ,thus1 on the ,continent1 many a lover puts the four-leaved clover under his pillow to dream of his lady-love2 and in our own country1 daisy-roots are used by the rustic maiden for the same purpose4 ,the ,russians are familiar with a certain herb1 known as the son-trava1 a dream herb1 which has been identified with the ,pulsatilla patens1 and is said to blossom in ,april1 and to have an azure-coloured flower4 ,when placed under the pillow1 it will induce dreams1 which are generally supposed to be fulfilled4 ,it has been suggested that it was from its title of tree of dreams that the elm became a prophetic tree1 having been selected by ,virgil in the ,aeneid 7vi47 as the roosting-place of dreams in gloomy ,orcus3 ,full in the midst a spreading elm displayed ,his aged arms1 and cast a mighty shade2 ,each trembling leaf with some light visions teems1 ,and leaves impregnated with airy dreams4 ,at the present day1 the yarrow or milfoil is used by love-sick maidens1 who are directed to pluck the mystic plant from a young man's grave1 repeating meanwhile this formula3 ,yarrow1 sweet yarrow1 the first that ,i have found1 ,in the name of ,jesus ,christ ,i pluck it from the ground2 ,as ,jesus loved sweet ,mary and took her for ,his dear1 ,so in a dream this night ,i hope my true love will appear4 ,indeed1 many other plants are in demand for this species of love-divination1 some of which are associated with certain days and festivals4 ,in ,sweden1 for instance1 if on ,midsummer night nine kinds of flowers are laid under the head1 a youth or maiden will dream of his or her sweetheart4#c ,hence in these simple and rustic love-charms may be traced similar beliefs as prevail among rude communities4 ,again1 among many of the ,american ,indian tribes we find1 according to ,mr4 ,dorman1#d a mythical tree or vine1 which has a sacredness connected with it of peculiar significance1 forming a connecting-link and medium of communication between the world of the living and the dead4 ,it is generally used by the spirit as a ladder to pass downward and upward upon2 the ,ojibways having possessed one of these vines1 the upper end of which was twined round a star4 ,he further adds that many traditions are told of attempts to climb these heavenly ladders2 and1 if a young man has been much favoured with dreams1 and the people believe he has the art of looking into futurity1 the path is open to the highest honours4 ,the future prophet puts down his dreams in pictographs1 and when he has a collection of these1 if they prove true in any respect1 then this record of his revelations is appealed to as proof of his prophetic power4 ,but1 without enumerating further instances of these savage dream-traditions1 which are closely allied with the animistic theories of primitive culture1 we would turn to those plants which modern ,european folk-lore has connected with dreamland4 ,these are somewhat extensive1 but a brief survey of some of the most important ones will suffice to indicate their general significance4 ,firstly1 to dream of white flowers has been supposed to prognosticate death2 with which may be compared the popular belief that if a white rosebush puts forth unexpectedly1 it is a sign of death to the nearest house2 dream-omens in many cases reflecting the superstitions of daily life4 ,in ,scotch ballads the birch is associated with the dead1 an illustration of which we find in the subjoined lines3-- ,i dreamed a dreary dream last nicht2 ,god keep us a' frae sorrow6 ,i dreamed ,i pu'd the birk sae green1 ,wi' my true love on ,yarrow4 ,i'll redde your dream1 my sister dear1 ,i'll tell you a' your sorrow2 ,you pu'd the birk wi' your true love2 ,he's killed1--he's killed on ,yarrow4 ,of the many plants which have been considered of good omen when seen in dreams1 may be mentioned the palm-tree1 olive1 jasmine1 lily1 laurel1 thistle1 thorn1 wormwood1 currant1 pear1 c42 whereas the greatest luck attaches to the rose4 ,on the other hand1 equally numerous are the plants which denote misfortune4 ,among these may be included the plum1 cherry1 withered roses1 walnut1 hemp1 cypress1 dandelion1 c4 ,beans are still said to produce bad dreams and to portend evil2 and according to a ,leicestershire saying1 ,if you wish for awful dreams or desire to go crazy1 sleep in a bean-field all night4 ,some plants are said to foretell long life1 such as the oak1 apricot1 apple1 box1 grape1 and fig2 and sickness is supposed to be presaged by such plants as the elder1 onion1 acorn1 and plum4 ,love and marriage are1 as might be expected1 well represented in the dream-flora2 a circumstance1 indeed1 which has not failed to impress the young at all times4 ,thus1 foremost amongst the flowers which indicate success in love is the rose1 a fact which is not surprising when it is remembered how largely this favourite of our gardens enters into love-divinations4 ,then there is the clover1 to dream of which foretells not only a happy marriage1 but one productive of wealth and prosperity4 ,in this case1 too1 it must be remembered the clover has long been reckoned as a mystic plant1 having in most ,european countries been much employed for the purposes of divination4 ,of further plants credited as auguring well for love affairs are the raspberry1 pomegranate1 cucumber1 currant1 and box2 but the walnut implies unfaithfulness1 and the act of cutting parsley is an omen that the person so occupied will sooner or later be crossed in love4 ,this ill-luck attached to parsley is in some measure explained from the fact that in many respects it is an unlucky plant4 ,it is a belief1 as we have noticed elsewhere1 widely spread in ,devonshire1 that to transplant parsley is to commit a serious offence against the guardian genius who presides over parsley-beds1 certain to be punished either on the offender himself or some member of his family within the course of the year4 ,once more to dream of cutting cabbage1 writes ,mr4 ,folkard1#e ,denotes jealousy on the part of wife1 husband1 or lover1 as the case may be4 ,to dream of any one else cutting them portends an attempt by some person to create jealousy in the loved one's mind4 ,to dream of eating cabbages implies sickness to loved ones and loss of money4 ,the bramble1 an important plant in folk-lore1 is partly unlucky1 and1 ,to dream of passing through places covered with brambles portends troubles2 if they prick you1 secret enemies will do you an injury with your friends2 if they draw blood1 expect heavy losses in trade4 ,but to dream of passing through brambles unhurt denotes a triumph over enemies4 ,to dream of being pricked with briars1 says the ,royal ,dream ,book1#f shows that the person dreaming has an ardent desire to something1 and that young folks dreaming thus are in love1 who prick themselves in striving to gather their rose4 ,some plants are said to denote riches1 such as the oak1 marigold1 pear and nut tree1 while the gathering of nuts is said to presage the discovery of unexpected wealth4 ,again1 to dream of fruit or flowers out of season is a bad omen1 a notion1 indeed1 with which we find various proverbs current throughout the country4 ,thus1 the ,northamptonshire peasant considers the blooming of the apple-tree after the fruit is ripe as a certain omen of death--a belief embodied in the following proverb3 ,a bloom upon the apple-tree when the apples are ripe1 ,is a sure termination to somebody's life4 ,and once more1 according to an old ,sussex adage-- ,fruit out of season ,sounds out of reason4 ,on the other hand1 to dream of fruit or any sort of crop during its proper season is still an indication of good luck4#g ,thus it is lucky to dream of daisies in spring-time or summer1 but just the reverse in autumn or winter4 ,without enumerating further instances of this kind1 we may quote the subjoined rhyme relating to the onion1 as a specimen of many similar ones scattered here and there in various countries3#h ,to dream of eating onions means ,much strife in thy domestic scenes1 ,secrets found out or else betrayed1 ,and many falsehoods made and said4 ,many plants in dream-lore have more than one meaning attached to them4 ,thus from the1 ,royal ,dream ,book we learn that yellow flowers predict love mixed with jealousy1 and that you will have more children to maintain than what justly belong to you4 ,to dream of garlic indicates the discovery of hidden treasures1 but the approach of some domestic quarrel4 ,cherries1 again1 indicate inconstancy2 but one would scarcely expect to find the thistle regarded as lucky2 for1 according to an old piece of folk-lore1 to dream of being surrounded by this plant is a propitious sign1 foretelling that the person will before long have some pleasing intelligence4 ,in the same way a similar meaning in dream-lore attaches to the thorn4 ,according to old dream-books1 the dreaming of yew indicates the death of an aged person1 who will leave considerable wealth behind him2 while the violet is said to devote advancement in life4 ,similarly1 too1 the vine foretells prosperity1 for which1 says a dream interpreter1 we have the example of ,astyages1 king of the ,medes1 who dreamed that his daughter brought forth a vine1 which was a prognostic of the grandeur1 riches1 and felicity of the great ,cyrus1 who was born of her after this dream4 ,plucking ears of corn signifies the existence of secret enemies1 and ,mr4 ,folkard quotes an old authority which tells us that the juniper is potent in dreams4 ,thus1 it is unlucky to dream of the tree itself1 especially if the person be sick2 but to dream of gathering the berries1 if it be in winter1 denotes prosperity4 ,to dream of the actual berries signifies that the dreamer will shortly arrive at great honours and become an important person4 ,to the married it foretells the birth of a male child4 ,again1 eating almonds signifies a journey1 its success or otherwise being denoted by their tasting sweet or the contrary4 ,dreaming of grass is an auspicious omen1 provided it be green and fresh2 but if it be withered and decayed1 it is a sign of the approach of misfortune and sickness1 followed perhaps by death4 ,woe betide1 too1 the person who dreams that he is cutting grass4 ,certain plants produce dreams on particular occasions4 ,the mugwort and plantain have long been associated with ,midsummer2 and1 according to ,thomas ,hill in his ,natural and ,artificial ,conclusions1 a rare coal is to be found under these plants but one hour in the day1 and one day in the year4 ,when ,aubrey happened to be walking behind ,montague ,house at twelve o'clock on ,midsummer day1 he relates how he saw about twenty-two young women1 most of them well dressed1 and apparently all very busy weeding4 ,on making inquiries1 he was informed that they were looking for a coal under the root of a plantain1 to put beneath their heads that night1 when they would not fail to dream of their future husbands4 ,but1 unfortunately for this credulity1 as an old author long ago pointed out1 the coal is nothing but an old dead root1 and that it may be found almost any day and hour when sought for4 ,by lovers the holly has long been supposed to have mystic virtues as a dream-plant when used on the eve of any of the following festivals3 ,christmas1 ,new ,year's ,day1 ,midsummer1 and ,all ,hallowe'en4 ,according to the mode of procedure practised in the northern counties1 the anxious maiden1 before retiring to rest1 places three pails full of water in her bedroom1 and then pins to her night-dress three leaves of green holly opposite to her heart1 after which she goes to sleep4 ,believing in the efficacy of the charm1 she persuades herself that she will be roused from her first slumber by three yells1 as if from the throats of three bears1 succeeded by as many hoarse laughs4 ,when these have died away1 the form of her future husband will appear1 who will show his attachment to her by changing the position of the water-pails1 whereas if he have no particular affection he will disappear without even touching them4 ,then1 of course1 from time immemorial all kinds of charms have been observed on ,st4 ,valentine's ,day to produce prophetic dreams4 ,a popular charm consisted of placing two bay leaves1 after sprinkling them with rose-water1 across the pillow1 repeating this formula3-- ,good ,valentine1 be kind to me1 ,in dream let me my true love see4 ,st4 ,luke's ,day was in years gone by a season for love-divination1 and among some of the many directions given we may quote the subjoined1 which is somewhat elaborate3-- ,take marigold flowers1 a sprig of marjoram1 thyme1 and a little wormwood2 dry them before a fire1 rub them to powder1 then sift it through a fine piece of lawn2 simmer these with a small quantity of virgin honey1 in white vinegar1 over a slow fire2 with this anoint your stomach1 breasts1 and lips1 lying down1 and repeat these words thrice3-- ',st ,luke1 ,st4 ,luke1 be kind to me1 ,in dream let me my true love see6' ,this said1 hasten to sleep1 and in the soft slumbers of night's repose1 the very man whom you shall marry shall appear before you4 ,lastly1 certain plants have been largely used by gipsies and fortune-tellers for invoking dreams1 and in many a country village these are plucked and given to the anxious inquirer with various formulas4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,primitive ,culture1 #ahgc1 ii4 #daf1 #dag4 #b4 ,see ,dorman's ,primitive ,superstition1 p4 #fh4 #c4 ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 #ahea1 ii4 #ajh4 #d4 ,primitive ,superstitions1 p4 #fg4 #e4 ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #bfe4 #f4 ,quoted in ,brand's ,popular ,antiquities1 #ahdi1 iii4 #ace4 #g4 ,see ,friend's ,flower-,lore1 i4 #bjg4 #h4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #dgg4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,plants ,,and ,,the ,,weather4 ,the influence of the weather on plants is an agricultural belief which is firmly credited by the modern husbandman4 ,in many instances his meteorological notions are the result of observation1 although in some cases the reason assigned for certain pieces of weather-lore is far from obvious4 ,incidental allusion has already been made to the astrological doctrine of the influence of the moon's changes on plants--a belief which still retains its hold in most agricultural districts4 ,it appears that in years gone by neither sowing1 planting1 nor grafting was ever undertaken without a scrupulous attention to the increase or waning of the moon2#a and the advice given by ,tusser in his ,five ,hundred ,points of ,husbandry is not forgotten even at the present day3-- ,sow peas and beans in the wane of the moon1 ,who soweth them sooner1 he soweth too soon1 ,that they with the planet may rest and rise1 ,and flourish with bearing1 most plentiful-wise4 ,many of the old gardening books give the same advice1 although by some it has been severely ridiculed4 ,scott1 in his ,discoverie of ,witchcraft1 notes how1 the poor husbandman perceiveth that the increase of the moon maketh plants fruitful1 so as in the full moone they are in best strength1 decaying in the wane1 and in the conjunction do entirely wither and fade4 ,similarly the growth of mushrooms is said to be affected by the weather1 and in ,devonshire apples shrump up if picked during a waning moon4#b ,one reason1 perhaps1 for the attention so universally paid to the moon's changes in agricultural pursuits is1 writes ,mr4 ,farrer1 that they are far more remarkable than any of the sun's1 and more calculated to inspire dread by the nocturnal darkness they contend with1 and hence are held in popular fancy nearly everywhere1 to cause1 portend1 or accord with changes in the lot of mortals1 and all things terrestrial4#c ,on this assumption may be explained the idea that the1 moon's wane makes things on earth to wane2 when it is new or full it is everywhere the proper season for new crops to be sown4 ,in the ,hervey ,islands cocoa-nuts are generally planted in the full of the moon1 the size of the latter being regarded as symbolical of the ultimate fulness of the fruit4 ,in the same way the weather of certain seasons of the year is supposed to influence the vegetable world1 and in ,rutlandshire we are told that a green ,christmas brings a heavy harvest2 but a full moon about ,christmas ,day is unlucky1 hence the adage3 ,light ,christmas1 light wheatsheaf1 ,dark ,christmas1 heavy wheatsheaf4 ,if the weather be clear on ,candlemas ,day corn and fruits will then be dear1 and whoever doth plant or sow on ,shrove ,tuesday1 it will always remain green4 ,according to a piece of weather-lore in ,sweden1 there is a saying that to strew ash branches in a field on ,ash ,wednesday is equivalent to three days' rain and three days' sun4 ,rain on ,easter ,day foretells a good harvest but poor hay crop1 while thunder on ,all ,fool's ,day brings good crops of corn and hay4 ,according to the ,shepherd's ,calendar1 if1 ,midsummer ,day be never so little rainy the hazel and walnut will be scarce2 corn smitten in many places2 but apples1 pears1 and plums will not be hurt4 ,and we are further reminded3-- ,till ,st4 ,james's ,day be come and gone1 ,there may be hops or there may be none4 ,speaking of hops1 it is said1 plenty of ladybirds1 plenty of hops4 ,it is also a popular notion among our peasantry that if a drop of rain hang on an oat at this season there will be a good crop4 ,another agricultural adage says3-- ,no tempest1 good ,july1 lest corn come off bluely4 ,then there is the old ,michaelmas rhyme3-- ,at ,michaelmas time1 or a little before1 ,half an apple goes to the core2 ,at ,christmas time1 or a little after1 ,a crab in the hedge1 and thanks to the grafter4 ,on the other hand1 the blossoming of plants at certain times is said to be an indication of the coming weather1 and so when the bramble blooms early in ,june an early harvest may be expected2 and in the northern counties the peasant judges of the advance of the year by the appearance of the daisy1 affirming that spring has not arrived till you can set your foot on twelve daisies4 ,we are also told that when many hawthorn blossoms are seen a severe winter will follow2 and1 according to ,wilsford1 the broom having plenty of blossoms is a sign of a fruitful year of corn4 ,a ,surrey proverb tells us that ,it's always cold when the blackthorn comes into flower2 and there is the rhyme which reminds us that3-- ,if the oak is out before the ash1 ',twill be a summer of wet and splash2 ,but if the ash is before the oak1 ',twill be a summer of fire and smoke4 ,there are several versions of this piece of weather-lore1 an old ,kentish one being ,oak1 smoke2 ash1 quash2 and according to a version given in ,notes and ,queries 7#ast ,series v4 #ga73-- ,if the oak's before the ash1 then you'll only get a splash1 ,if the ash precedes the oak1 then you may expect a soak4 ,from the ,shepherd's ,calendar we learn that1 ,if in the fall of the leaf in ,october many leaves wither on the boughs and hang there1 it betokens a frosty winter and much snow1 with which may be compared a ,devonshire saying3-- ,if good apples you would have ,the leaves must go into the grave4 ,or1 in other words1 you must plant your trees in the fall of the leaf4 ,and again1 ,apples1 pears1 hawthorn-quick1 oak2 set them at ,all-hallow-tide and command them to prosper2 set them at ,candlemas and entreat them to grow4 ,in ,germany1#d too1 there is a rhyme which may be thus translated3-- ,when the hawthorn bloom too early shows1 ,we shall have still many snows4 ,in the same way the fruit of trees and plants was regarded as a prognostication of the ensuing weather1 and ,wilsford tells us that great store of walnuts and almonds presage a plentiful year of corn1 especially filberts4 ,the notion that an abundance of haws betokens a hard winter is still much credited1 and has given rise to the familiar ,scotch proverb3-- ,mony haws1 ,mony snaws4 ,another variation of the same adage in ,kent is1 ,a plum year1 a dumb year1 and1 ,many nits1 many pits1 implying that the abundance of nuts in the autumn indicates the pits or graves of those who shall succumb to the hard and inclement weather of winter2 but1 on the other hand1 ,a cherry year1 a merry year4 ,a further piece of weather-lore tells us3-- ,many rains1 many rowans2 ,many rowans1 many yawns1 ,the meaning being that an abundance of rowans--the fruit of the mountain-ash--denote a deficient harvest4 ,among further sayings of this kind may be noticed one relating to the onion1 which is thus3-- ,onion's skin very thin1 ,mild-winter's coming in2 ,onion's skin thick and tough1 ,coming winter cold and rough4 ,again1 many of our peasantry have long been accustomed to arrange their farming pursuits from the indications given them by sundry trees and plants4 ,thus it is said-- ,when the sloe tree is as white as a sheet1 ,sow your barley whether it be dry or wet4 ,with which may be compared another piece of weather-lore3-- ,when the oak puts on his gosling grey1 ',tis time to sow barley night or day4 ,the leafing of the elm has from time immemorial been made to regulate agricultural operations1 and hence the old rule3-- ,when the elmen leaf is as big as a mouse's ear1 ,then to sow barley never fear4 ,when the elmen leaf is as big as an ox's eye1 ,then say ,i1 ',hie1 boys1 hie6' ,a ,warwickshire variation is3-- ,when elm leaves are big as a shilling1 ,plant kidney beans1 if to plant 'em you're willing4 ,when elm leaves are as big as a penny1 ,you must plant kidney beans if you mean to have any4 ,but if the grass grow in ,january1 the husbandman is recommended to lock his grain in the granary1 while a further proverb informs us that3-- ,on ,candlemas ,day if the thorns hang a drop1 ,you are sure of a good pea crop4 ,in bygone times the appearance of the berries of the elder was held to indicate the proper season for sowing wheat3-- ,with purple fruit when elder branches bend1 ,and their high hues the hips and cornels lend1 ,ere yet chill hoar-frost comes1 or sleety rain1 ,sow with choice wheat the neatly furrowed plain4 ,the elder is not without its teaching1 and according to a popular old proverb3-- ,when the elder is white1 brew and bake a peck1 ,when the elder is black1 brew and bake a sack4 ,according to an old proverb1 ,you must look for grass on the top of the oak tree1 the meaning being1 says ,ray1 that the grass seldom springs well before the oak begins to put forth4 ,in the ,western ,counties it is asserted that frost ceases as soon as the mulberry tree bursts into leaf1 with which may be compared the words of ,autolycus in the ,winter's ,tale 7iv4 #c73-- ,when daffodils begin to peer1 ,with heigh6 the doxy over the dale1 ,why1 then conies in the sweet o' the year4 ,the dairyman is recommended in autumn to notice the appearance of the fern1 because3-- ,when the fern is as high as a ladle1 ,you may sleep as long as you are able4 ,when the fern begins to look red1 ,then milk is good with brown bread4 ,formerly certain agricultural operations were regulated by the seasons1 and an old rule tells the farmer-- ,upon ,st4 ,david's ,day1 put oats and barley in the clay4 ,another version being3-- ,sow peas and beans on ,david and ,chad1 ,be the weather good or bad4 ,a ,somersetshire piece of agricultural lore fixes an earlier date1 and bids the farmer to sow or set beans in ,candlemas waddle4 ,in connection with the inclement weather that often prevails throughout the spring months it is commonly said1 ,they that go to their corn in ,may may come weeping away1 but ,they that go in ,june may come back with a merry tune4 ,then there is the following familiar pretty couplet1 of which there are several versions3-- ,the bee doth love the sweetest flower1 ,so doth the blossom the ,april shower4 ,in connection with beans1 there is a well-known adage which says3-- ,be it weal or be it woe1 ,beans should blow before ,may go4 ,of the numerous other items of plant weather-lore1 it is said that ,march wind wakes the ether 7i4 e41 adder7 and blooms the whin2 and many of our peasantry maintain that3-- ,a peck of ,march dust and a shower in ,may1 ,makes the corn green and the fields gay4 ,it should also be noted that many plants are considered good barometers4 ,chickweed1 for instance1 expands its leaves fully when fine weather is to follow2 but if it should shut up1 then the traveller is to put on his greatcoat4#e ,the same1 too1 is said to be the case with the pimpernel1 convolvulus1 and clover2 while if the marigold does not open its petals by seven o'clock in the morning1 either rain or thunder may be expected in the course of the day4 ,according to ,wilsford1 tezils1 or fuller's thistle1 being gathered and hanged up in the house1 where the air may come freely to it1 upon the alteration of cold and windy weather will grow smoother1 and against rain will close up its prickles4 ,once more1 according to the ,shepherd's ,calendar1 ,chaff1 leaves1 thistle-down1 or such light things whisking about and turning round foreshows tempestuous winds2 ,and ,coles1 in his introduction to the ,knowledge of ,plants1 informs us that1 ,if the down flieth off colt's-foot1 dandelion1 and thistles when there is no wind1 it is a sign of rain4 ,some plants1 again1 have gained a notoriety from opening or shutting their flowers at the sun's bidding2 in allusion to which ,perdita remarks in the ,winter's ,tale 7iv4 #c73-- ,the marigold1 that goes to bed with the sun1 and with him rises weeping4 ,it was also erroneously said1 like the sun-flower1 to turn its blossoms to the sun1 the latter being thus described by ,thomson3-- ,the lofty follower of the sun1 ,sad when he sets1 shuts up her yellow leaves1 ,drooping all night1 and1 when he warm returns1 ,points her enamour'd bosom to his ray4 ,another plant of this kind is the endive1 which is said to open its petals at eight o'clock in the morning1 and to close them at four in the afternoon4 ,thus we are told how3-- ,on upland slopes the shepherds mark ,the hour when1 to the dial true1 ,cichorium to the towering lark1 ,lifts her soft eye1 serenely blue4 ,and as another floral index of the time of day may be noticed the goat's-beard1 opening at sunrise and closing at noon--hence one of its popular names of ,go to bed at noon4 ,this peculiarity is described by ,bishop ,mant3-- ,and goodly now the noon-tide hour1 ,when from his high meridian tower ,the sun looks down in majesty1 ,what time about1 the grassy lea4 ,the goat's-beard1 prompt his rise to hail1 ,with broad expanded disk1 in veil ,close mantling wraps its yellow head1 ,and goes1 as peasants say1 to bed4 ,the dandelion has been nicknamed the peasant's clock1 its flowers opening very early in the morning2 while its feathery seed-tufts have long been in requisition as a barometer with children3-- ,dandelion1 with globe of down1 ,the schoolboy's clock in every town1 ,which the truant puffs amain ,to conjure lost hours back again4 ,among other flowers possessing a similar feature may be noticed the wild succory1 creeping mallow1 purple sandwort1 small bindweed1 common nipplewort1 and smooth sow-thistle4 ,then of course there is the pimpernel1 known as the shepherd's clock and poor man's weather-glass2 while the small purslane and the common garden lettuce are also included in the flower-clock4#f ,among further items of weather-lore associated with ,may1 we are told how he that sows oats in ,may gets little that way1 and ,he who mows in ,may will have neither fruit nor hay4 ,calm weather in ,june sets corn in tune2 and a ,suffolk adage says3-- ,cut your thistles before ,st4 ,john1 ,you will have two instead of one4 ,but ,midsummer rain spoils hay and grain1 whereas it is commonly said that1 ,a leafy ,may1 and a warm ,june1 ,bring on the harvest very soon4 ,again1 boisterous wet weather during the month of ,july is to be deprecated1 for1 as the old adage runs3-- ,no tempest1 good ,july1 ,lest the corn look surly4 ,flowers of this kind are very numerous1 and under a variety of forms prevail largely in our own and other countries1 an interesting collection of which have been collected by ,mr4 ,swainson in his interesting little volume on ,weather ,folk-lore1 in which he has given the parallels in foreign countries4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that a great number of these plant-sayings originated very many years ago--long before the alteration in the style of the calendar--which in numerous instances will account for their apparent contradictory character4 ,in noticing1 too1 these proverbs1 account must be taken of the variation of climate in different countries1 for what applies to one locality does not to another4 ,thus1 for instance1 according to a ,basque proverb1 ,a wet ,may1 a fruitful year1 whereas it is said in ,corsica1 ,a rainy ,may brings little barley and no wheat4 ,instances of this kind are of frequent occurrence1 and of course are in many cases explained by the difference of climate4 ,but in comparing all branches of folk-lore1 similar variations1 as we have already observed1 are noticeable1 to account for which is often a task full of difficulty4 ,of the numerous other instances of weather-lore associated with agricultural operations1 it is said in relation to rain3-- ,sow beans in the mud1 and they'll grow like wood4 ,and a saying in ,east ,anglia is to this effect3-- ,sow in the slop 7or sop71 heavy at top4 ,a further admonition advises the farmer to ,sow wheat in dirt1 and rye in dust2 ,while1 according to a piece of folk-lore current in ,east ,anglia1 ,wheat well-sown is half-grown4 ,the ,scotch have a proverb warning the farmer against premature sowing3-- ,nae hurry wi' your corns1 ,nae hurry wi' your harrows2 ,snaw lies ahint the dyke1 ,mair may come and fill the furrows4 ,and according to another old adage we are told how3-- ,when the aspen leaves are no bigger than your nail1 ,is the time to look out for truff and peel4#g ,in short1 it will be found that most of our counties have their items of weather-lore2 many of which1 whilst varying in some respect1 are evidently modifications of one and the same belief4 ,in many cases1 too1 it must be admitted that this species of weather-wisdom is not based altogether on idle fancy1 but in accordance with recognised habits of plants under certain conditions of weather4 ,indeed1 it has been pointed out that so sensitive are various flowers to any change in the temperature or the amount of light1 that it has been noticed that there is as much as one hour's difference between the time when the same flower opens at ,paris and ,upsala4 ,it is1 too1 a familiar fact to students of vegetable physiology that the leaves of ,porleria hygrometrica fold down or rise up in accordance with the state of the atmosphere4 ,in short1 it was pointed out in the ,standard1 in illustration of the extreme sensitiveness of certain plants to surrounding influences1 how the ,haedysarums have been well known ever since the days of ,linnseus to suddenly begin to quiver without any apparent cause1 and just as suddenly to stop4 ,force cannot initiate the movement1 though cold will stop it1 and heat will set in motion again the suspended animation of the leaves4 ,if artificially kept from moving they will1 when released1 instantly begin their task anew and with redoubled energy4 ,similarly the leaves of the ,colocasia esculenta--the tara of the ,sandwich ,islands--will often shiver at irregular times of the day and night1 and with such energy that little bells hung on the petals tinkle4 ,and yet1 curious to say1 we are told that the keenest eye has not yet been able to detect any peculiarity in these plants to account for these strange motions4 ,it has been suggested that they are due to changes in the weather of such a slight character that1 our nerves are incapable of appreciating them1 or the mercury of recording their accompanying oscillations4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 #ahgc1 i4 #acj4 #b4 ,see ,english ,folk-lore1 pp4 #db1 #dc4 #c4 ,primitive ,manners and ,customs1 p4 #gd4 #d4 ,dublin ,university ,magazine1 ,december #ahgc1 p4 #fgg4 #e4 ,see ,swainson's ,weather-lore1 p4 #beg4 #f4 ,see ,flower-lore1 p4 #bbf4 #g4 ,see ,notes and ,queries1 #ast ,ser4 ,,ii4 #eaa4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,plant ,,proverbs4 ,a host of curious proverbs have1 from the earliest period1 clustered round the vegetable world1 most of which--gathered from experience and observation--embody an immense amount of truth1 besides in numerous instances conveying an application of a moral nature4 ,these proverbs1 too1 have a very wide range1 and on this account are all the more interesting from the very fact of their referring to so many conditions of life4 ,thus1 the familiar adage which tells us that nobody is fond of fading flowers1 has a far deeper signification1 reminding us that everything associated with change and decay must always be a matter of regret4 ,to take another trite proverb of the same kind1 we are told how truths and roses have thorns about them1 which is absolutely true2 and there is the well-known expression to pipe in an ivy leaf1 which signifies to go and engage in some futile or idle pursuit which cannot be productive of any good4 ,the common proverb1 ,he hath sown his wild oats1 needs no comment2 and the inclination of evil to override good is embodied in various adages1 such1 as1 ,the weeds o'ergrow the corn1 while the tenacity with which evil holds its ground is further expressed in such sayings as this--,the frost hurts not weeds4 ,the poisonous effects1 again1 of evil is exemplified thus--,one ill-bred mars a whole pot of pottage1 and the rapidity with which it spreads has1 amongst other proverbs1 been thus described1 ,evil weeds grow apace4 ,speaking of weeds in their metaphorical sense1 we may quote one further adage respecting them3-- ,a weed that runs to seed ,is a seven years' weed4 ,and the oft-quoted phrase1 ,it will be a nosegay to him as long as he lives1 implies that disagreeable actions1 instead of being lost sight of1 only too frequently cling to a man in after years1 or1 as ,ray says1 stink in his nostrils4 ,the man who abandons some good enterprise for a worthless1 or insignificant1 undertaking is said to cut down an oak and plant a thistle1 of which there is a further version1 to cut down an oak and set up a strawberry4 ,the truth of the next adage needs no comment--,usurers live by the fall of heirs1 as swine by the droppings of acorns4 ,things that are slow but sure in their progress are the subject of a well-known ,gloucestershire saying3-- ,it is as long in coming as ,cotswold barley4 ,the corn in this cold country1 writes ,ray1 exposed to the winds1 bleak and shelterless1 is very backward at the first1 but afterwards overtakes the forwardest in the country1 if not in the barn1 in the bushel1 both for the quantity and goodness thereof4 ,according to the ,italians1 ,every grain hath its bran1 which corresponds with our saying1 ,every bean hath its black1 ,the meaning being that nothing is without certain imperfections4 ,a person in extreme poverty is often described as being as bare as the birch at ,yule ,even1 and an ill-natured or evil-disposed person who tries to do harm1 but cannot1 is commonly said to3-- ,jump at it like a cock at a gooseberry4 ,then the idea of durableness is thus expressed in a ,wiltshire proverb3-- ,an eldern stake and a blackthorn ether hedge1 ,will make a hedge to last for ever-- an elder stake being commonly said to last in the ground longer than an iron bar of the same size4#a ,a person who is always on the alert to make use of opportunities1 and never allows a good thing to escape his grasp1 is said to have a ready mouth for a ripe cherry4 ,the rich beauty1 too1 of the cherry1 which causes it to be gathered1 has had this moral application attached to it3-- ,a woman and a cherry are painted for their own harm4 ,speaking of cherries1 it may be mentioned that the awkwardness of eating them on account of their stones1 has given rise to sundry proverbs1 as the following3-- ,eat peas with the king1 and cherries with the beggar1 and3-- ,those that eat cherries with great persons shall have their eyes squirted out with the stones4 ,a man who makes a great show without a corresponding practice is said to be like fig-tree fuel1 much smoke and little fire1 and another adage says3-- ,peel a fig for your friend1 and a peach for your enemy4 ,this proverb1 however1 is not quite clear when applied to this country4 ,to peel a fig1 so far as we are concerned1 writes ,mr4 ,hazlitt#b1 can have no significance1 except that we should not regard it as a friendly service2 but1 in fact1 the proverb is merely a translation from the ,spanish1 and in that language and country the phrase carries a very full meaning1 as no one would probably like to eat a fig without being sure that the fruit had not been tampered with4 ,the whole saying is1 however1 rather unintelligible4 ',peeling a peach' would be treated anywhere as a dubious attention4 ,of the many proverbs connected with thorns1 there is the true one which tells us how1 ,he that goes barefoot must not plant thorns1 ,the meaning of which is self-evident1 and the person who lives in a chronic state of uneasiness is said to1 sit on thorns4 ,then there is the oft-quoted adage3-- ,while thy shoe is on thy foot1 tread upon the thorns4 ,on the other hand1 that no position in life is exempt from trouble of some kind is embodied in this proverb3-- ,wherever a man dwells he shall be sure to have a thorn bush near his door1 which ,ray also explains in its literal sense1 remarking that there are few places in ,england where a man can dwell1 but he shall have one near him4 ,then1 again1 thorns are commonly said to make the greatest crackling1 and the thorn comes forth with its point forward4 ,many a great man has wished himself poor and obscure in his hours of adversity1 a sentiment contained in the following proverb3-- ,the pine wishes herself a shrub when the axe is at her root4 ,a quaint phrase applied to those who expect events to take an unnatural turn is3-- ,would you have potatoes grow by the pot-side8 ,amongst some of the other numerous proverbs may be mentioned a few relating to the apple2 one of these reminding us that1 ,an apple1 an egg1 and a nut1 ,you may eat after a slut4 ,selfishness in giving is thus expressed3-- ,to give an apple where there is an orchard4 ,and the idea of worthlessness is often referred to as when it is said that ,there is small choice in rotten apples1 with which may be compared another which warns us of the contagious effects of bad influence3-- ,the rotten apple injures its neighbour4 ,the utter dissimilarity which often exists between two persons1 or things1 is jocularly enjoined in the familiar adage3-- ,as like as an apple is to a lobster1 ,and the folly of taking what one knows is paltry or bad has given rise to an instructive proverb3-- ,better give an apple than eat it4 ,the folly of expecting good results from the most unreasonable causes is the subject of the following old adage3-- ,plant the crab where you will1 it will never bear pippins4 ,the crab tree has also been made the subject of several amusing rhymes1 one of which is as follows3-- ,the crab of the wood is sauce very good for the crab of the sea1 ,but the wood of the crab is sauce for a drab that will not her husband obey4 ,the coolness of the cucumber has long ago become proverbial for a person of a cold collected nature1 ,as cool as a cucumber1 and the man who not only makes unreasonable requests1 but equally expects them to be gratified1 is said to ask an elm-tree for pears4 ,then1 again1 foolish persons who have no power of observation1 are likened to a blind goose that knows not a fox from a fern bush4 ,the willow has long been a proverbial symbol of sadness1 and on this account it was customary for those who were forsaken in love to wear a garland made of willow4 ,thus in ,othello1 ,desdemona 7,act iv4 sc4 #c7 anticipating her death1 says3-- ,my mother had a maid called ,barbara3 ,she was in love2 and he she loved proved mad1 ,and did forsake her3 she had a song of willow2 ,an old thing 'twas1 but it expressed her fortune1 ,and she died singing it3 that song to-night ,will not go from my mind4 ,according to another adage3-- ,willows are weak1 yet they bind other wood1 ,the significance of which is clear4 ,then1 again1 there is the not very complimentary proverbial saying1 of which there are several versions3-- ,a spaniel1 a woman1 and a walnut-tree1 ,the more they're beaten1 the better they be4 ,another variation1 given by ,moor in his ,suffolk ,words 7p4 #dfe71 is this3-- ,three things by beating better prove3 ,a nut1 an ass1 a woman2 ,the cudgel from their back remove1 ,and they'll be good for no man4 ,a curious phrase current in ,devonshire for a young lady who jilts a man is1 ,she has given him turnips2 and an expressive one for those persons who in spite of every kindness are the very reverse themselves is this3-- ,though you stroke the nettle ever so kindly1 yet it will sting you2 ,with which may be compared a similar proverb equally suggestive3-- ,he that handles a nettle tenderly is soonest stung4 ,the ultimate effects of perseverance1 coupled with time1 is thus shown3-- ,with time and patience the leaf of the mulberry tree becomes satin4 ,a phrase current1 according to ,ray1 in ,gloucestershire for those who always have a sad1 severe1 and terrific countenance1 is1 ,he looks as if he lived on ,tewkesbury mustard--this town having been long noted for its mustard-balls made there1 and sent to other parts4 ,it may be remembered that in #b ,henry ,,iv4 7,act ii4 sc4 #d7 ,falstaff speaks of wit as thick as ,tewkesbury mustard4 ,then there is the familiar adage applied to the man who lacks steady application1 ,a rolling stone gathers no moss1 with which may be compared another1 ,seldom mosseth the marble-stone that men tread oft upon4 ,among the good old proverbs associated with flax may be mentioned the following1 which enjoins the necessity of faith in our actions3-- ,get thy spindle and thy distaff ready1 and ,god will send the flax4 ,a popular phrase speaks of ,an owl in an ivy-bush1 which perhaps was originally meant to denote the union of wisdom with conviviality1 equivalent to ,be merry and wise4 ,formerly an ivy-bush was a common tavern sign1 and gave rise to the familiar proverb1 ,good wine needs no bush1 this plant having been selected probably from having been sacred to ,bacchus4 ,according to an old proverb respecting the camomile1 we are told that the more it is trodden the more it will spread1 an allusion to which is made by ,falstaff in ,i ,henry ,,iv4 7,act ii4 sc4 #d73-- ,for though the camomile1 the more it is trodden on1 the faster it grows2 yet youth1 the more it is wasted1 the sooner it wears4 ,there are many proverbs associated with the oak4 ,referring to its growth1 we are told that ,the willow will buy a horse before the oak will pay for a saddle1 the allusion being1 of course1 to the different rates at which trees grow4 ,that occasionally some trifling event may have the most momentous issues is thus exemplified3-- ,the smallest axe may fell the largest oak2 ,although1 on the other hand1 it is said that3-- ,an oak is not felled at one chop4 ,a further variation of the same idea tells us how3-- ,little strokes fell great oaks1 ,in connection with which may be quoted the words of ,ovid to the same effect3-- ,quid magis est durum saxo8 ,quid mollius unda8 ,dura taneu molli saxa cavantur aqua8 ,then1 again1 it is commonly said that3-- ,oaks may fall when seeds brave the storm4 ,and to give one more illustration3-- ,the greatest oaks have been little acorns4 ,similarly1 with trees in general1 we find a good number of proverbs4 ,thus one informs us that ,wise men in the world are like timber trees in a hedge1 here and there one4 ,that there is some good in every one is illustrated by this saying--,there's no tree but bears some fruit4 ,the familiar proverb1 that ,the tree is no sooner down but every one runs for his hatchet1 explains itself1 whereas ,the highest tree hath the greater fall1 which1 in its moral application1 is equally true4 ,again1 an agricultural precept enjoins the farmer to ,set trees poor and they will grow rich2 set them rich and they will grow poor1 that is1 remove them out of a more barren into a fatter soil4 ,that success can only be gained by toil is illustrated in this proverb--,he that would have the fruit must climb the tree1 and once more it is said that ,he who plants trees loves others beside himself4 ,in the ,midland counties there is a proverbial saying that if there are no kegs or seeds in the ash trees1 there will be no king within the twelvemonth1 the ash never being wholly destitute of kegs4 ,another proverb refers to the use of ash-wood for burning3-- ,burn ash-wood green1 ',tis a fire for a queen1 ,burn ash-wood dear1 ',twill make a man swear2 ,the meaning being that the ash when green burns well1 but when dry or withered just the reverse4 ,a form of well-wishing formerly current in ,yorkshire was thus3-- ,may your footfall be by the root of an ash1 ,in allusion1 it has been suggested1 to the fact that the ash is a capital tree for draining the soil in its vicinity4 ,but leaving trees1 an immense number of proverbs are associated with corn1 many of which are very varied4 ,thus1 of those who contrive to get a good return for their meagre work or money1 it is said3-- ,you have made a long harvest for a little corn1 ,with which may be compared the phrase3-- ,you give me coloquintida 7colocynth7 for ,herb-,john4 ,those who reap advantage from another man's labour are said to put their sickle into another man's corn1 and the various surroundings of royalty1 however insignificant they may be1 are generally better1 says the proverb1 than the best thing of the subjects3-- ,the king's chaff is better than other people's corn4 ,among the proverbs relating to grass may be mentioned the popular one1 ,he does not let the grass grow under his feet2 another old version of which is1 ,no grass grows on his heel4 ,another well-known adage reminds us that3-- ,the higher the hill the lower the grass4 ,and equally familiar is the following3-- ,while the grass groweth the seely horse starveth4 ,in connection with hops1 the proverb runs that hops make or break2 and no hop-grower1 writes1 ,mr4 ,hazlitt1#c will have much difficulty in appreciating this proverbial dictum4 ,an estate has been lost or won in the course of a single season2 but the hop is an expensive plant to rear1 and a bad year may spoil the entire crop4 ,actions which produce different results to what are expected are thus spoken of3-- ,you set saffron and there came up wolfsbane4 ,in ,devonshire it may be noted that this plant is used to denote anything of value2 and it is related of a farmer near ,exeter who1 when praising a certain farm1 remarked1 ',tis a very pretty little place2 he'd let so dear as saffron4 ,many1 again1 are the proverbial sayings associated with roses--most of these being employed to indicate what is not only sweet and lovely1 but bright and joyous4 ,thus1 there are the well-known phrases1 ,a bed of roses1 and ,as sweet as a rose1 and the oft-quoted popular adage3-- ,the rose1 called by any other name1 would smell as sweet1 ,which1 as ,mr4 ,hazlitt remarks1 although not originally proverbial1 or in its nature1 or even in the poet's intention so1 has acquired that character by long custom4 ,an old adage1 which is still credited by certain of our country folk1 reminds us that3-- ,a parsley field will bring a man to his saddle and a woman to her grave1 ,a warning which is not unlike one current in ,surrey and other southern counties3-- ,where parsley's grown in the garden1 there'll be a death before the year's out4 ,in ,devonshire it has long been held unlucky to transplant parsley1 and a poor woman in the neighbourhood of ,morwenstow attributed a certain stroke with which one of her children had been afflicted after whooping-cough to the unfortunate undoing of the parsley bed4 ,in the ,folk-lore ,record1 too1 an amusing instance is related of a gardener at ,southampton1 who1 for the same reason1 refused to sow some parsley seed4 ,it may be noted that from a very early period the same antipathy has existed in regard to this plant1 and it is recorded how a few mules laden with parsley threw into a complete panic a ,greek force on its march against the enemy4 ,but the plant no doubt acquired its ominous significance from its having been largely used to bestrew the tombs of the dead2 the ,greek term dehisthai selinou--to be in need of parsley--was a common phrase employed to denote those on the point of death4 ,there are various other superstitions attached to this plant1 as in ,hampshire1 where the peasants dislike giving any away for fear of some ill-luck befalling them4 ,similarly1 according to another proverb3-- ,sowing fennel is sowing sorrow4 ,but why this should be so it is difficult to explain1 considering that by the ancients fennel was used for the victor's wreath1 and1 as one of the plants dedicated to ,st4 ,john1 it has long been placed over doors on his vigil4 ,on the other hand1 there is a common saying with respect to rosemary1 which was once much cultivated in kitchen gardens3-- ,where rosemary flourishes the lady rules4 ,vetches1 from being reputed a most hardy grain1 have been embodied in the following adage3-- ,a thetch will go through ,the bottom of an old shoe1 ,which reminds us of the proverbial saying3-- ,like a camomile bed1 ,the more it is trodden ,the more it will spread4 ,the common expression3-- ,worth a plum1 ,is generally said of a man who is accredited with large means1 and another adage tells us that1 ,the higher the plum-tree1 the riper the plum4 ,to live in luxury and affluence is expressed by the proverbial phrase ,to live in clover1 with which may be compared the saying ,do it up in lavender1 applied to anything which is valuable and precious4 ,a further similar phrase is ,laid up in lavender1 in allusion to the old-fashioned custom of scenting newly-washed linen with this fragrant plant4 ,thus ,shenstone says3-- ,lavender1 whose spikes of azure bloom ,shall be1 erewhile1 in arid bundles bound1 ,to lurk amidst the labours of her loom1 ,and crown her kerchiefs clean with micklc rare perfume4 ,according to ,gerarde1 the ,spartans were in the habit of eating cress with their bread1 from a popular notion very generally held among the ancients1 that those who ate it became noted for their wit and decision of character4 ,hence the old proverb3-- ,eat cress to learn more wit4 ,of fruit proverbs we are told that1 ,if you would enjoy the fruit1 pluck not the flower4 ,and again3-- ,when all fruit fails1 welcome haws4 ,and ,if you would have fruit1 you must carry the leaf to the grave2 which ,ray explains1 ,you must transplant your trees just about the fall of the leaf1 and then there is the much-quoted rhyme3-- ,fruit out of season1 ,sorrow out of reason4 ,respecting the vine1 it is said3-- ,make the vine poor1 and it will make you rich1 ,that is1 prune off its branches2 and another adage is to this effect3 ,short boughs1 long vintage4 ,the constant blooming of the gorse has given rise to a popular ,northamptonshire proverb3-- ,when gorse is out of bloom1 kissing is out of season4 ,the health-giving properties of various plants have long been in the highest repute1 and have given rise to numerous well-known proverbs1 which are still heard in many a home4 ,thus old ,gerarde1 describing the virtues of the mallow1 tells us3-- ,if that of health you have any special care1 ,use ,french mallows1 that to the body wholesome are4 ,then there is the time-honoured adage which says that3-- ,he that would live for aye ,must eat sage in ,may4 ,and ,aubrey has bequeathed us the following piece of advice3-- ,eat leeks in ,lide1 and ramsines in ,may1 ,and all the year after physicians may play4 ,there are many sayings of this kind still current among our country-folk1 some of which no doubt contain good advice2 and of the plaintain1 which from time immemorial has been used as a vulnerary1 it is said3-- ,plantain ribbed1 that heals the reaper's wounds4 ,in ,herefordshire there is a popular rhyme associated with the aul 7,alnus glutinosus73-- ,when the bud of the aul is as big as the trout's eye1 ,then that fish is in season in the river ,wye4 ,a ,yorkshire name for the quaking grass 7,briza media7 is trembling jockies1 and according to a local proverb3-- ,a trimmling jock i' t' house1 ,an' you weeant hev a mouse1 ,this plant being1 it is said1 obnoxious to mice4 ,according to a ,warwickshire proverb3-- ,plant your sage and rue together1 ,the sage will grow in any weather4 ,this list of plant proverbs might easily be extended1 but the illustrations quoted in the preceding pages are a fair sample of this portion of our subject4 ,whereas many are based on truth1 others are more or less meaningless4 ,at any rate1 they still thrive to a large extent among our rural community1 by whom they are regarded as so many household sayings4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,akerman's ,wiltshire ,glossary1 p4 #ah4 #b4 ,english ,proverbs and ,proverbial ,phrases1 pp4 #cbg-h4 #c4 ,proverbs and ,proverbial ,phrases1 p4 #bjg4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,their ,,ceremonial ,,use4 ,in the earliest period of primitive society flowers seem to have been largely used for ceremonial purposes4 ,tracing their history downwards up to the present day1 we find how extensively1 throughout the world1 they have entered into sacred and other rites4 ,this is not surprising when we remember how universal have been the love and admiration for these choice and lovely productions of nature's handiwork4 ,from being used as offerings in the old heathen worship they acquired an additional veneration1 and became associated with customs which had important significance4 ,hence the great quantity of flowers required1 for ceremonial purposes of various kinds1 no doubt promoted and encouraged a taste for horticulture even among uncultured tribes4 ,thus the ,mexicans had their famous floating gardens1 and in the numerous records handed down of social life1 as it existed in different countries1 there is no lack of references to the habits and peculiarities of the vegetable world4 ,again1 from all parts of the world1 the histories of bygone centuries have contributed their accounts of the rich assortment of flowers in demand for the worship of the gods1 which are valuable as indicating how elaborate and extensive was the knowledge of plants in primitive periods1 and how magnificent must have been the display of these beautiful and brilliant offerings4 ,amongst some tribes1 too1 so sacred were the flowers used in religious rites held1 that it was forbidden so much as to smell them1 much less to handle them1 except by those whose privileged duty it was to arrange them for the altar4 ,coming down to the historic days of ,greece and ,rome1 we have abundant details of the skill and care that were displayed in procuring for religious purposes the finest and choicest varieties of flowers2 abundant allusions to which are found in the old classic writings4 ,the profuseness with which flowers were used in ,rome during triumphal processions has long ago become proverbial1 in allusion to which ,macaulay says3-- ,on they ride to the ,forum1 ,while laurel boughs1 and flowers1 ,from house-tops and from windows1 ,fell on their crests in showers4 ,flowers1 in fact1 were in demand on every conceivable occasion1 a custom which was frequently productive of costly extravagance4 ,then there was their festival of the ,floralia1 in honour of the reappearance of spring-time1 with its hosts of bright blossoms1 a survival of which has long been kept up in this country on ,may ,day1 when garlands and carols form the chief feature of the rustic merry-making4 ,another grand ceremonial occasion1 when flowers were specially in request1 was the ,fontinalia1 an important day in ,rome1 for the wells and fountains were crowned with flowers3-- ,fontinalia festus erat dies ,romae1 quo in fontes coronas projiciebant1 puteosque coronabant1 ut a quibus pellucidos liquores at restinguendam sitim acciperent1 iisdem gratiam referre hoc situ viderentur4 ,a pretty survival of this festival has long been observed in the well-dressing of ,tissington on ,ascension ,day1 when the wells are most beautifully decorated with leaves and flowers1 arranged in fanciful devices1 interwoven into certain symbols and texts4 ,this floral rite is thus described in ,the ,fleece3-- ,with light fantastic toe1 the nymphs ,thither assembled1 thither every swain2 ,and o'er the dimpled stream a thousand flowers1 ,pale lilies1 roses1 violets and pinks1 ,mix'd with the greens of bouret1 mint1 and thyme1 ,and trefoil1 sprinkled with their sportive arms1 ,such custom holds along th' irriguous vales1 ,from ,wreken's brow to rocky ,dolvoryn1 ,sabrina's early haunt4 ,with this usage may be compared one performed by the fishermen of ,weymouth1 who on the first of ,may put out to sea for the purpose of scattering garlands of flowers on the waves1 as a propitiatory offering to obtain food for the hungry4 ,this link1 according to ,miss ,lambert1 is but another link in the chain that connects us with the yet more primitive practice of the ,red ,indian1 who secures passage across the ,lake ,superior1 or down the ,mississippi1 by gifts of precious tobacco1 which he wafts to the great spirit of the ,flood on the bosom of its waters4 ,by the ,romans a peculiar reverence seems to have attached to their festive garlands1 which were considered unsuitable for wearing in public4 ,hence1 any person appearing in one was liable to punishment1 a law which was carried out with much rigour4 ,on one occasion1 ,lucius ,fulvius1 a banker1 having been convicted at the time of the second ,punic war1 of looking down from the balcony of a house with a chaplet of roses on his head1 was thrown into prison by order of the ,senate1 and here kept for sixteen years1 until the close of the war4 ,a further case of extreme severity was that of ,p4 ,munatius1 who was condemned by the ,triumviri to be put in chains for having crowned himself with flowers from the statue of ,marsyas4 ,allusions to such estimation of garlands in olden times are numerous in the literature of the past1 and it may be remembered how ,montesquieu remarked that it was with two or three hundred crowns of oak that ,rome conquered the world4 ,guests at feasts wore garlands of flowers tied with the bark of the linden tree1 to prevent intoxication2 the wreath having been framed in accordance with the position of the wearer4 ,a poet1 in his paraphrase on ,horace1 thus illustrates this custom3-- ,nay1 nay1 my boy1 'tis not for me ,this studious pomp of ,eastern luxury2 ,give me no various garlands fine ,with linden twine2 ,nor seek where latest lingering blows ,the solitary rose4 ,not only were the guests adorned with flowers1 but the waiters1 drinking-cups1 and room1 were all profusely decorated4#a ,in short1 as the author of ,flower-lore remarks1 it would be difficult to name the occasions on which flowers were not employed2 and1 as almost all plants employed in making garlands had a symbolical meaning1 the garland was composed in accordance with that meaning4 ,garlands1 too1 were thrown to actors on the stage1 a custom which has come down to the present day in an exaggerated form4 ,indeed1 many of the flowers in request nowadays for ceremonial uses in our own and other countries may be traced back to this period2 the symbolical meaning attached to certain plants having survived after the lapse of many centuries4 ,for a careful description of the flowers thus employed1 we would refer the reader to two interesting papers contributed by ,miss ,lambert to the ,nineteenth ,century1#b in which she has collected together in a concise form all the principal items of information on the subject in past years4 ,a casual perusal of these papers will suffice to show what a wonderful knowledge of botany the ancients must have possessed2 and it may be doubted whether the most costly array of plants witnessed at any church festival supersedes a similar display witnessed by worshippers in the early heathen temples4 ,in the same way1 we gain an insight into the profusion of flowers employed by heathen communities in later centuries1 showing how intimately associated these have been with their various forms of worship4 ,thus1 the ,singhalese seem to have used flowers to an almost incredible extent1 and one of their old chronicles tells us how the ,ruanwell dagoba--#bgj feet high--was festooned with garlands from pedestal to pinnacle1 till it had the appearance of one uniform bouquet4 ,we are further told that in the fifteenth century a certain king offered no less than #f1dhj1cbj sweet-smelling flowers at the shrine of the tooth2 and1 among the regulations of the temple at ,dambedenia in the thirteenth century1 one prescribes that every day an offering of #ajj1jjj blossoms1 and each day a different kind of flower1 should be presented4 ,this is a striking instance1 but only one of many4 ,with regard to ,greece1 there are few of our trees and flowers1 writes ,mr4 ,moncure ,conway1#c which were not cultivated in the gorgeous gardens of ,epicurus1 ,pericles1 and ,pisistratus4 ,among the flowers chiefly used for garlands and chaplets in ceremonial rites we find the rose1 violet1 anemone1 thyme1 melilot1 hyacinth1 crocus1 yellow lily1 and yellow flowers generally4 ,thucydides relates how1 in the ninth year of the ,peloponnesian ,war1 the temple of ,juno at ,argos was burnt down owing to the priestess ,chrysis having set a lighted torch too near the garlands and then fallen asleep4 ,the garlands caught fire1 and the damage was irremediable before she was conscious of the mischief4 ,the gigantic scale on which these floral ceremonies were conducted may be gathered from the fact that in the procession of ,europa at ,corinth a huge crown of myrtle1 thirty feet in circumference1 was borne4 ,at ,athens the myrtle was regarded as the symbol of authority1 a wreath of its leaves having been worn by magistrates4 ,on certain occasions the mitre of the ,jewish high priest was adorned with a chaplet of the blossoms of the henbane4 ,of the further use of garlands1 we are told that the ,japanese employ them very freely2#d both men and women wearing chaplets of fragrant blossoms4 ,a wreath of a fragrant kind of olive is the reward of literary merit in ,china4 ,in ,northern ,india the ,african marigold is held as a sacred flower2 they adorn the trident emblem of ,mahdiv with garlands of it1 and both men and women wear chaplets made of its flowers on his festivals4 ,throughout ,polynesia garlands have been habitually worn on seasons of religious solemnity or social rejoicing1 and in ,tonga they were employed as a token of respect4 ,in short1 wreaths seem to have been from a primitive period adopted almost universally in ceremonial rites1 having found equal favour both with civilised as well as uncivilised communities4 ,it will probably1 too1 always be so4 ,flowers have always held a prominent place in wedding ceremonies1 and at the present day are everywhere extensively used4 ,indeed1 it would be no easy task to exhaust the list of flowers which have entered into the marriage customs of different countries1 not to mention the many bridal emblems of which they have been made symbolical4 ,as far back as the time of ,juno1 we read1 according to ,homer's graphic account1 how3-- ,glad earth perceives1 and from her bosom pours ,unbidden herbs and voluntary flowers3 ,thick1 new-born violets a soft carpet spread1 ,and clust'ring lotos swelled the rising bed2 ,and sudden hyacinths the earth bestrow1 ,and flamy crocus made the mountain glow4 ,according to a very early custom the ,grecian bride was required to eat a quince1 and the hawthorn was the flower which formed her wreath1 which at the present day is still worn at ,greek nuptials1 the altar being decked with its blossoms4 ,among the ,romans the hazel held a significant position1 torches having been burnt on the wedding evening to insure prosperity to the newly-married couple1 and both in ,greece and ,rome young married couples were crowned with marjoram4 ,at ,roman weddings1 too1 oaken boughs were carried during the ceremony as symbols of fecundity2 and the bridal wreath was of verbena1 plucked by the bride herself4 ,holly wreaths were sent as tokens of congratulation1 and wreaths of parsley and rue were given under a belief that they were effectual preservatives against evil spirits4 ,in ,germany1 nowadays1 a wreath of vervain is presented to the newly-married bride2 a plant which1 on account of its mystic virtues1 was formerly much used for love-philtres and charms4 ,the bride herself wears a myrtle wreath1 as also does the ,jewish maiden1 but this wreath was never given either to a widow or a divorced woman4 ,occasionally1 too1 it is customary in ,germany to present the bride and bridegroom with an almond at the wedding banquet1 and in the nuptial ceremonies of the ,czechs this plant is distributed among the guests4 ,in ,switzerland so much importance was in years past attached to flowers and their symbolical significance that1 a very strict law was in force prohibiting brides from wearing chaplets or garlands in the church1 or at any time during the wedding feast1 if they had previously in any way forfeited their rights to the privileges of maidenhood4#e ,with the ,swiss maiden the edelweiss is almost a sacred flower1 being regarded as a proof of the devotion of her lover1 by whom it is often gathered with much risk from growing in inaccessible spots4 ,in ,italy1 as in days of old1 nuts are scattered at the marriage festival1 and corn is in many cases thrown over the bridal couple1 a survival of the old ,roman custom of making offerings of corn to the bride4 ,a similar usage prevails at an ,indian wedding1 where1 after the first night1 the mother of the husband1 with all the female relatives1 comes to the young bride and places on her head a measure of corn--emblem of fertility4 ,the husband then comes forward and takes from his bride's head some handfuls of the grain1 which he scatters over himself4 ,as a further illustration we may quote the old ,polish custom1 which consisted of visitors throwing wheat1 rye1 oats1 barley1 rice1 and beans at the door of the bride's house1 as a symbol that she never would want any of these grains so long as she did her duty4 ,in the ,tyrol is a fine grove of pine-trees--the result of a long-established custom for every newly united couple to plant a marriage tree1 which is generally of the pine kind4 ,garlands of wild asparagus are used by the ,boeotians1 while with the ,chinese the peach-blossom is the popular emblem of a bride4 ,in ,england1 flowers have always been largely employed in the wedding ceremony1 although they have varied at different periods1 influenced by the caprice of fashion4 ,thus1 it appears that flowers were once worn by the betrothed as tokens of their engagement1 and ,quarles in his ,sheapheard's ,oracles1 #afdf1 tells us how1 ,love-sick swains ,compose rush-rings and myrtle-berry chains1 ,and stuck with glorious kingcups1 and their bonnets ,adorn'd with laurell slips1 chaunt their love sonnets4 ,spenser1 too1 in his ,shepherd's ,calendar for ,april1 speaks of ,coronations and sops in wine worn of paramours--sops in wine having been a nickname for pinks 7,dianthus plumarius71 although ,dr4 ,prior assigns the name to ,dianthus caryophyllus4 ,similarly willow was worn by a discarded lover4 ,in the bridal crown1 the rosemary often had a distinguished place1 besides figuring at the ceremony itself1 when it was1 it would seem1 dipped in scented water1 an allusion to which we find in ,beaumont and ,fletcher's ,scornful ,lady1 where it is asked1 ,were the rosemary branches dipped8 ,another flower which was entwined in the bridal garland was the lily1 to which ,ben ,jonson refers in speaking of the marriage of his friend ,mr4 ,weston with the ,lady ,frances ,stuart3-- ,see how with roses and with lilies shine1 ,lilies and roses 7flowers of either sex71 ,the bright bride's paths4 ,it was also customary to plant a rose-bush at the head of the grave of a deceased lover1 should either of them die before the wedding4 ,sprigs of bay were also introduced into the bridal wreath1 besides ears of corn1 emblematical of the plenty which might always crown the bridal couple4 ,nowadays the bridal wreath is almost entirely composed of orange-blossom1 on a background of maiden-hair fern1 with a sprig of stephanotis interspersed here and there4 ,much uncertainty exists as to why this plant was selected1 the popular reason being that it was adopted as an emblem of fruitfulness4 ,according to a correspondent of ,notes and ,queries1 the practice may be traced to the ,saracens1 by whom the orange-blossom was regarded as a symbol of a prosperous marriage--a circumstance which is partly to be accounted for by the fact that in the ,east the orange-tree bears ripe fruit and blossom at the same time4 ,then there is the bridal bouquet1 which is a very different thing from what it was in years gone by4 ,instead of being composed of the scarcest and most costly flowers arranged in the most elaborate manner1 it was a homely nosegay of mere country flowers--some of the favourite ones1 says ,herrick1 being pansy1 rose1 lady-smock1 prick-madam1 gentle-heart1 and maiden-blush4 ,a spray of gorse was generally inserted1 in allusion1 no doubt1 to the time-honoured proverb1 ,when the furze is out of bloom1 kissing is out of fashion4 ,in spring-time again1 violets and primroses were much in demand1 probably from being in abundance at the season2 although they have generally been associated with early death4 ,among the many floral customs associated with the wedding ceremony may be mentioned the bridal-strewings1 which were very prevalent in past years1 a survival of which is still kept up at ,knutsford1 in ,cheshire4 ,on such an occasion1 the flowers used were emblematical1 and if the bride happened to be unpopular1 she often encountered on her way to the church flowers of a not very complimentary meaning4 ,the practice was not confined to this country1 and we are told how in ,holland the threshold of the newly-married couple was strewn with flowers1 the laurel being as a rule most conspicuous among the festoons4 ,lastly1 the use of flowers in paying honours to the dead has been from time immemorial most widespread4 ,instances are so numerous that it is impossible to do more than quote some of the most important1 as recorded in our own and other countries4 ,for detailed accounts of these funereal floral rites it would be necessary to consult the literature of the past from a very early period1 and the result of such inquiries would form material enough for a goodly-sized volume4 ,therespect for the dead among the early ,greeks was very great1 and ,miss ,lambert#f quotes the complaint of ,petala to ,simmalion1 in the ,epistles of ,alciphron1 to show how special was the dedication of flowers to the dead3--,i have a lover who is a mourner1 not a lover2 he sends me garlands and roses as if to deck a premature grave1 and he says he weeps through the live-long night4 ,the chief flowers used by them for strewing over graves were the polyanthus1 myrtle1 and amaranth2 the rose1 it would appear from ,anacreon1 having been thought to possess a special virtue for the dead3-- ,when pain afflicts and sickness grieves1 ,its juice the drooping heart relieves2 ,and after death its odours shed ,a pleasing fragrance o'er the dead4 ,and ,electra is represented as complaining that the tomb of her father1 ,agamemnon1 had not been duly adorned with myrtle-- ,with no libations1 nor with myrtle boughs1 ,were my dear father's manes gratified4 ,the ,greeks also planted asphodel and mallow round their graves1 as the seeds of these plants were supposed to nourish the dead4 ,mourners1 too1 wore flowers at the funeral rites1 and ,homer relates how the ,thessalians used crowns of amaranth at the burial of ,achilles4 ,the ,romans were equally observant1 and ,ovid1 when writing from the land of exile1 prayed his wife--,but do you perform the funeral rites for me when dead1 and offer chaplets wet with your tears4 ,although the fire shall have changed my body into ashes1 yet the sad dust will be sensible of your pious affection4 ,like the ,greeks1 the ,romans set a special value on the rose as a funeral flower1 and actually left directions that their graves should be planted with this favourite flower1 a custom said to have been introduced by them into this country4 ,both ,camden and ,aubrey allude to it1 and at the present day in ,wales white roses denote the graves of young unmarried girls4 ,coming down to modern times1 we find the periwinkle1 nicknamed death's flower1 scattered over the graves of children in ,italy--notably ,tuscany--and in some parts of ,germany the pink is in request for this purpose4 ,in ,persia we read of3-- ,the basil-tuft that waves ,its fragrant blossoms over graves2 ,and among the ,chinese1 roses1 the anemone1 and a species of lycoris are planted over graves4 ,the ,malays use a kind of basil1 and in ,tripoli tombs are adorned with such sweet and fragrant flowers as the orange1 jessamine1 myrtle1 and rose4 ,in ,mexico the ,indian carnation is popularly known as the flower of the dead1 and the people of ,tahiti cover their dead with choice flowers4 ,in ,america the ,freemasons place twigs of acacia on the coffins of brethren4 ,the ,buddhists use flowers largely for funeral purposes1 and an ,indian name for the tamarisk is the messenger of ,yama1 the ,indian ,god of ,death4 ,the people of ,madagascar have a species of mimosa1 which is frequently found growing on the tombs1 and in ,norway the funeral plants are juniper and fir4 ,in ,france the custom very largely nourishes1 roses and orange-blossoms in the southern provinces being placed in the coffins of the young4 ,indeed1 so general is the practice in ,france that1 sceptics and believers uphold it1 and statesmen1 and soldiers1 and princes1 and scholars equally with children and maidens are the objects of it4 ,again1 in ,oldenburg1 it is said that cornstalks must be scattered about a house in which death has entered1 as a charm against further misfortune1 and in the ,tyrol an elder bush is often planted on a newly-made grave4 ,in our own country the practice of crowning the dead and of strewing their graves with flowers has prevailed from a very early period1 a custom which has been most pathetically and with much grace described by ,shakespeare in ,cymbeline 7,act iv4 sc4 #b73-- ,with fairest flowers1 ,whilst summer lasts1 and ,i live here1 ,fidele1 ,i'll sweeten thy sad grave3 thou shalt not lack ,the flower that's like thy face1 pale primrose2 nor ,the azured harebell1 like thy veins2 no1 nor ,the leaf of eglantine1 whom not to slander1 ,out-sweeten'd not thy breath3 the ruddock would1 ,with charitable bill1 ,o bill1 sore-shaming ,those rich-left heirs that let their fathers lie ,without a monument6 bring thee all this2 ,yea1 and furr'd moss besides1 when flowers are none1 ,to winter-ground thy corse4 ,allusions to the custom are frequently to be met with in our old writers1 many of which have been collected together by ,brand4#g ,in former years it was customary to carry sprigs of rosemary at a funeral1 probably because this plant was considered emblematical of remembrance3-- ,to show their love1 the neighbours far and near1 ,follow'd with wistful look the damsel's bier2 ,spring'd rosemary the lads and lasses bore1 ,while dismally the parson walked before4 ,gay speaks of the flowers scattered on graves as rosemary1 daisy1 butter'd flower1 and endive blue1 and ,pepys mentions a churchyard near ,southampton where the graves were sown with sage4 ,another plant which has from a remote period been associated with death is the cypress1 having been planted by the ancients round their graves4 ,in our own country it was employed as a funeral flower1 and ,coles thus refers to it1 together with the rosemary and bay3-- ,cypresse garlands are of great account at funerals amongst the gentler sort1 but rosemary and bayes are used by the commons both at funerals and weddings4 ,they are all plants which fade not a good while after they are gathered1 and used 7as ,i conceive7 to intimate unto us that the remembrance of the present solemnity might not die presently 7at once71 but be kept in mind for many years4 ,the yew has from time immemorial been planted in churchyards besides being used at funerals4 ,paris1 in ,romeo and ,juliet1 7,act v4 sc4 #c71 says3-- ,under yon yew trees lay thee all along1 ,holding thine ear close to the hollow ground2 ,so shall no foot upon the churchyard tread1 ,being loose1 unfirm1 with digging up of graves1 ,but thou shall hear it4 ,shakespeare also refers to the custom of sticking yew in the shroud in the following song in ,twelfth ,night 7,act ii4 sc4 #d73-- ,my shroud of white1 stuck all with yew1 ,oh1 prepare it2 ,my part of death1 no one so true ,did share it4 ,unhappy lovers had garlands of willow1 yew1 and rosemary laid on their biers1 an allusion to which occurs in the ,maid's ,tragedy3-- ,lay a garland on my hearse ,of the dismal yew2 ,maidens1 willow branches bear-- ,say ,i died true4 ,my love was false1 but ,i was firm ,from my hour of birth2 ,upon my buried body lie ,lightly1 gentle earth4 ,among further funeral customs may be mentioned that of carrying a garland of flowers and sweet herbs before a maiden's coffin1 and afterwards suspending it in the church4 ,nichols1 in his ,history of ,lancashire 7vol4 ii4 pt4 i4 #chb71 speaking of ,waltham in ,framland ,hundred1 says3 ,in this church under every arch a garland is suspended1 one of which is customarily placed there whenever any young unmarried woman dies4 ,it is to this custom ,gay feelingly alludes3-- ,to her sweet mem'ry flowing garlands strung1 ,on her now empty seat aloft were hung4 ,indeed1 in all the ceremonial observances of life1 from the cradle to the grave1 flowers have formed a prominent feature1 the symbolical meaning long attached to them explaining their selection on different occasions4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,flower-lore1 p4 #adg4 #b4 ,the ,ceremonial ,use of ,flowers4 #c4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #gaa4 #d4 ,flower-lore1 pp4 #adi-ej4 #e4 ,miss ,lambert1 ,nineteenth ,century1 ,may #ahhj1 p4 #hba4 #f4 ,nineteenth ,century1 ,september #ahgh1 p4 #dgc4 #g4 ,popular ,antiquities1 #ahgj1 ii4 #bd1 c4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,plant ,,names4 ,the origin and history of plant names is a subject of some magnitude1 and is one that has long engaged the attention of philologists4 ,of the many works published on plant names1 that of the ,english ,dialect ,society#a is by far the most complete1 and forms a valuable addition to this class of literature4 ,some idea of the wide area covered by the nomenclature of plants1 as seen in the gradual evolution and descent of vernacular names1 may be gathered even from a cursory survey of those most widely known in our own and other countries4 ,apart1 too1 from their etymological associations1 it is interesting to trace the variety of sources from whence plant names have sprung1 a few illustrations of which are given in the present chapter4 ,at the outset1 it is noteworthy that our ,english plant names can boast of a very extensive parentage1 being1 derived from many languages--,latin1 ,greek1 ancient ,british1 ,anglo-,saxon1 ,norman1 ,low ,german1 ,swedish1 ,danish1 ,arabic1 ,persian4#b ,it is not surprising1 therefore1 that in many cases much confusion has arisen in unravelling their meaning1 which in the course of years would naturally become more or less modified by a succession of influences such as the intercommunication and change of ideas between one country and another4 ,on the other hand1 numerous plant names clearly display their origin1 the lapse of years having left these unaffected1 a circumstance which is especially true in the case of ,greek and ,latin names4 ,names of ,french origin are frequently equally distinct1 a familiar instance being dandelion1 from the ,french dent-de-lion1 lion's tooth1 although the reason for its being so called is by no means evident4 ,at the same time1 it is noticeable that in nearly every ,european language the plant bears a similar name2 whereas ,professor ,de ,gubernatis connects the name with the sun 7,helios71 and adds that a lion was the animal symbol of the sun1 and that all plants named after him are essentially plants of the sun4#c ,one of the popular names of the ,st4 ,john's wort is tutsan1 a corruption of the ,french toute saine1 so called from its healing properties1 and the mignonette is another familiar instance4 ,the flower-de-luce1 one of the names probably of the iris1 is derived from fleur de ,louis1 from its having been assumed as his device by ,louis ,,vii4 of ,france4 ,it has undergone various changes1 having been in all probability contracted into fleur-de-luce1 and finally into fleur-de-lys or fleur-de-lis4 ,an immense deal of discussion has been devoted to the history of this name1 and a great many curious theories proposed in explanation of it1 some being of opinion that the lily and not the iris is referred to4 ,but the weight of evidence seem to favour the iris theory1 this plant having been undoubtedly famous in ,french history4 ,once more1 by some1#d the name fleur-de-lys has been derived from ,lys1 in which manner the twelve first ,louis signed their names1 and which was easily contracted into ,lys4 ,some consider it means the flower that grows on the banks of the river ,lis1 which separated ,france and ,artois from ,flanders4 ,turning to the literature of the past1 ,shakespeare has several allusions to the plant1 as in ,i ,henry ,,vi1 where a messenger enters and exclaims3-- ,awake1 awake1 ,english nobility6 ,let not sloth dim your honours new begot2 ,cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms2 ,of ,england's coat one half is cut away4 ,spenser mentions the plant1 and distinguishes it from the lily3-- ,show mee the grounde with daifadown-dillies1 ,and cowslips1 and kingcups1 and loved lillies2 ,the pretty pawnee1 ,and the cherisaunce1 ,shall march with the fayre flowre delice4 ,another instance is the mignonette of our ,french neighbours1 known also as the love-flower4 ,one of the names of the deadly nightshade is belladonna which reminds us of its ,italian appellation1 and several of our commonest plant names are obtained from the ,low ,german or ,dutch1 as1 for instance1 buckwheat 7,polygonum fagopyrum71 from the ,dutch bockweit4 ,the rowan-tree 7,pyrus aucuparia7 comes from the ,danish run1 ,swedish rnn1 which1 as ,dr4 ,prior remarks1 is traceable to the old ,norse runa1 a charm1 from its being supposed to have power to avert evil4 ,similarly1 the adder's tongue 7,ophioglossum vulgatum7 is said to be from the ,dutch adder-stong1 and the word hawthorn is found in the various ,german dialects4 ,as the authors of ,english ,plant ,names remark 7,intr4 xv471 many north-country names are derived from ,swedish and ,danish sources1 an interesting example occurring in the word kemps1 a name applied to the black heads of the ribwort plantain 7,plantago lanceolata74 ,the origin of this name is to be found in the ,danish kaempe1 a warrior1 and the reason for its being so called is to be found in the game which children in most parts of the kingdom play with the flower-stalks of the plantain1 by endeavouring to knock off the heads of each other's mimic weapons4 ,again1 as ,mr4 ,friend points out1 the birch would take us back to the primeval forests of ,india1 and among the multitudinous instances of names traceable to far-off countries may be mentioned the lilac and tulip from ,persia1 the latter being derived from thoulyban1 the word used in ,persia for a turban4 ,lilac is equivalent to lilag1 a ,persian word signifying flower1 having been introduced into ,europe from that country early in the sixteenth century by ,busbeck1 a ,german traveller4 ,but illustrations of this land are sufficient to show from how many countries our plant names have been brought1 and how by degrees they have become interwoven into our own language1 their pronunciation being ,anglicised by ,english speakers4 ,many plants1 again1 have been called in memory of leading characters in days gone by1 and after those who discovered their whereabouts and introduced them into ,european countries4 ,thus the fuchsia1 a native of ,chili1 was named after ,leonard ,fuchs1 a well-known ,german botanist1 and the magnolia was so called in honour of ,pierre ,magnol1 an eminent writer on botanical subjects4 ,the stately dahlia after ,andrew ,dahl1 the ,swedish botanist4 ,but1 without enumerating further instances1 for they are familiar to most readers1 it may be noticed that plants which embody the names of animals are very numerous indeed4 ,in many cases this has resulted from some fancied resemblance to some part of the animal named2 thus from their long tongued-like leaves1 the hart's-tongue1 lamb's-tongue1 and ox-tongue were so called1 while some plants have derived their names from the snouts of certain animals1 such as the swine's-snout 7,lentodon taraxacum71 and calf's-snout1 or1 as it is more commonly termed1 snapdragon 7,antirrhinum majus74 ,the gaping corollas of various blossoms have suggested such names as dog's-mouth1 rabbit's-mouth1 and lion's-snap1 and plants with peculiarly-shaped leaves have given rise to names like these--mouse-ear 7,stachys ,zanaia71 cat's-ears1 and bear's-ears4 ,numerous names have been suggested by their fancied resemblance to the feet1 hoofs1 and tails of animals and birds2 as1 for instance1 colt's-foot1 crow-foot1 bird's-foot trefoil1 horse-shoe vetch1 bull-foot1 and the vervain1 nicknamed frog's-foot4 ,then there is the larkspur1 also termed lark's-claw1 and lark's-heel1 the lamb's-toe being so called from its downy heads of flowers1 and the horse-hoof from the shape of the leaf4 ,among various similar names may be noticed the crane's-bill and stork's-bill1 from their long beak-like seed-vessels1 and the valerian1 popularly designated capon's-tail1 from its spreading flowers4 ,many plant names have animal prefixes1 these indeed forming a very extensive list4 ,but in some instances1 the name of an animal prefixed has a totally different signification1 denoting size1 coarseness1 and frequently worthlessness or spuriousness4 ,thus the horse-parsley was so called from its coarseness as compared with smallage or celery1 and the horse-mushroom from its size in distinction to a species more commonly eaten4 ,the particular uses to which certain plants have been applied have originated their names3 the horse-bean1 from being grown as a food for horses2 and the horse-chestnut1 because used in ,turkey for horses that are broken or touched in the wind4 ,parkinson1 too1 adds how1 horse-chestnuts are given in the ,east1 and so through all ,turkey1 unto horses to cure them of the cough1 shortness of wind1 and such other diseases4 ,the germander is known as horse-chere1 from its growing after horse-droppings2 and the horse-bane1 because supposed in ,sweden to cause a kind of palsy in horses--an effect which has been ascribed by ,linnaeus not so much to the noxious qualities of the plant itself1 as to an insect 7,curculio paraplecticus7 that breeds in its stem4 ,the dog has suggested sundry plant names1 this prefix frequently suggesting the idea of worthlessness1 as in the case of the dog-violet1 which lacks the sweet fragrance of the true violet1 and the dog-parsley1 which1 whilst resembling the true plant of this name1 is poisonous and worthless4 ,in like manner there is the dog-elder1 dog's-mercury1 dog's-chamomile1 and the dog-rose1 each a spurious form of a plant quite distinct2 while on the other hand we have the dog's-tooth grass1 from the sharp-pointed shoots of its underground stem1 and the dog-grass 7,triticum caninu71 because given to dogs as an aperient4 ,the cat has come in for its due share of plant names1 as for instance the sun-spurge1 which has been nicknamed cat's-milk1 from its milky juice oozing in drops1 as milk from the small teats of a cat2 and the blossoms of the talix1 designated cats-and-kittens1 or kittings1 probably in allusion to their soft1 fur-like appearance4 ,further names are1 cat's-faces 7,viola tricolor71 cat's-eyes 7,veronica chamcaedrys71 cat's-tail1 the catkin of the hazel or willow1 and cat's-ear 7,hypochaeris maculata74 ,the bear is another common prefix4 ,thus there is the bear's-foot1 from its digital leaf1 the bear-berry1 or bear's-bilberry1 from its fruit being a favourite food of bears1 and the bear's-garlick4 ,there is the bear's-breech1 from its roughness1 a name transferred by some mistake from the ,acanthus to the cow-parsnip1 and the bear's-wort1 which it has been suggested is rather to be derived from its use in uterine complaints than from the animal4 ,among names in which the word cow figures may be mentioned the cow-bane1 water-hemlock1 from its supposed baneful effects upon cows1 because1 writes ,withering1 early in the spring1 when it grows in the water1 cows often eat it1 and are killed by it4 ,cockayne would derive cowslip from cu1 cow1 and slyppe1 lip1 and cow-wheat is so nicknamed from its seed resembling wheat1 but being worthless as food for man4 ,the flowers of the ,arum maculatum are bulls and cows2 and in ,yorkshire the fruit of ,crataegus oxyacantha is bull-horns2--an old name for the horse-leek being bullock's-eye4 ,many curious names have resulted from the prefix pig1 as in ,sussex1 where the bird's-foot trefoil is known as pig's-pettitoes2 and in ,devonshire the fruit of the dog-rose is pig's-noses4 ,a ,northamptonshire term for goose-grass 7,galium aparine7 is pig-tail1 and the pig-nut 7,brunium flexuosum7 derived this name from its tubers being a favourite food of pigs1 and resembling nuts in size and flavour4 ,the common cyclamen is sow-head1 and a popular name for the ,sonchus oleraceus is sow-thistle4 ,among further names also associated with the sow may be included the sow-fennel1 sow-grass1 and sow-foot1 while the sow-bane 7,chenopodium rubrum71 is so termed from being1 as ,parkinson tells us1 found certain to kill swine4 ,among further animal prefixes may be noticed the wolfs-bane 7,aconitum napellus71 wolf's-claws 7,lycopodium clavatum71 wolf's-milk 7,euphorbia helioscopia71 and wolfs-thistle 7,carlina acaulis74 ,the mouse has given us numerous names1 such as mouse-ear 7,hieracium pilosella71 mouse-grass 7,aira caryophyllea71 mouse-ear scorpion-grass 7,myosotis palustris71 mouse-tail 7,myosurus minimus71 and mouse-pea4 ,the term rat-tail has been applied to several plants having a tail-like inflorescence1 such as the ,plantago lanceolata 7ribwort plantain74 ,the term toad as a prefix1 like that of dog1 frequently means spurious1 as in the toad-flax1 a plant which1 before it comes into flower1 bears a tolerably close resemblance to a plant of the true flax4 ,the frog1 again1 supplies names1 such as frog's-lettuce1 frog's-foot1 frog-grass1 and frog-cheese2 while hedgehog gives us such names as hedgehog-parsley and hedgehog-grass4 ,connected with the dragon we have the name dragon applied to the snake-weed 7,polygonum bistorta71 and dragon's-blood is one of the popular names of the ,herb-,robert4 ,the water-dragon is a nickname of the ,caltha palustris1 and dragon's-mouth of the ,digitalis purpurea4 ,once more1 there is scorpion-grass and scorpion-wort1 both of which refer to various species of ,myosotis2 snakes and vipers also adding to the list4 ,thus there is viper's-bugloss1 and snake-weed4 ,in ,gloucestershire the fruit of the ,arum maculatum is snake's-victuals1 and snake's-head is a common name for thefritillary4 ,there is the snake-skin willow and snake's-girdles2--snake's-tongue being a name given to the bane-wort 7,ranunculus flammula74 ,names in which the devil figures have been noticed elsewhere1 as also those in which the words fairy and witch enter4 ,as the authors1 too1 of the ,dictionary of ,plant ,names have pointed out1 a great number of names may be called dedicatory1 and embody the names of many of the saints1 and even of the ,deity4 ,the latter1 however1 are very few in number1 owing perhaps to a sense of reverence1 and ,god ,almighty's bread and cheese1 ,god's eye1 ,god's grace1 ,god's meat1 ,our ,lord's1 or ,our ,saviour's flannel1 ,christ's hair1 ,christ's herb1 ,christ's ladder1 ,christ's thorn1 ,holy ,ghost1 and ,herb-,trinity1 make up almost the whole list4 ,on the other hand1 the ,virgin ,mary has suggested numerous names1 some of which we have noticed in the chapter on sacred plants4 ,certain of the saints1 again1 have perpetuated their names in our plant nomenclature1 instances of which are scattered throughout the present volume4 ,some plants1 such as flea-bane and wolf's-bane1 refer to the reputed property of the plant to keep off or injure the animal named1#e and there is a long list of plants which derived their names from their real or imaginary medicinal virtues1 many of which illustrate the old doctrine of signatures4 ,birds1 again1 like animals1 have suggested various names1 and among some of the best-known ones may be mentioned the goose-foot1 goose-grass1 goose-tongue4 ,shakespeare speaks of cuckoo-buds1 and there is cuckoo's-head1 cuckoo-flower1 and cuckoo-fruit1 besides the stork's-bill and crane's-bill4 ,bees are not without their contingent of names2 a popular name of the ,delphinium grandiflorum being the bee-larkspur1 from the resemblance of the petals1 which are studded with yellow hairs1 to the humble-bee whose head is buried in the recesses of the flower4 ,there is the bee-flower 7,ophrys apifera71 because the1 lip is in form and colour so like a bee1 that any one unacquainted therewith would take it for a living bee sucking of the flower4 ,in addition to the various classes of names already mentioned1 there are a rich and very varied assortment found in most counties throughout the country1 many of which have originated in the most amusing and eccentric way4 ,thus butter and eggs and eggs and bacon are applied to several plants1 from the two shades of yellow in the flower1 and butter-churn to the ,nuphar luteum1 from the shape of the fruit4 ,a popular term for ,nepeta glechoma is hen and chickens1 and cocks and hens for the ,plantago lanceolata4 ,a ,gloucestershire nickname for the ,plantago media is fire-leaves1 and the hearts'-ease has been honoured with all sorts of romantic names1 such as kiss me behind the garden gate2 and none so pretty is one of the popular names of the saxifrage4 ,among the names of the ,arum may be noticed parson in the pulpit1 cows and calves1 lords and ladies1 and wake-robin4 ,the potato has a variety of names1 such as leather-jackets1 blue-eyes1 and red-eyes4 ,a pretty name in ,devonshire for the ,veronica chamcaedrys is angel's-eyes3-- ,around her hat a wreath was twined ,of blossoms1 blue as southern skies2 ,i asked their name1 and she replied1 ,we call them angel's-eyes4#f ,in the northern counties the poplar1 on account of its bitter bark1 was termed the bitter-weed4#g ,oak1 ash1 and elm-tree1 ,the laird can hang for a' the three2 ,but fir1 saugh1 and bitter-weed1 ,the laird may flyte1 but make naething be'et4 ,according to the compilers of ,english ,plant ,names1 this name is assigned to no particular species of poplar1 nor have we met with it elsewhere4 ,the common ,solomon's seal 7,polygonatum multiflorum7 has been nicknamed ,david's harp1#h and1 appears to have arisen from the exact similarity of the outline of the bended stalk1 with its pendent bill-like blossoms1 to the drawings of monkish times in which ,king ,david is represented as seated before an instrument shaped like the half of a pointed arch1 from which are suspended metal bells1 which he strikes with two hammers4 ,in the neighbourhood of ,torquay1 fir-cones are designated oysters1 and in ,sussex the ,arabis is called snow-on-the-mountain1 and snow-in-summer4 ,a ,devonshire name for the sweet scabriosis is the mournful-widow1 and in some places the red valerian 7,centranthus ruber7 is known as scarlet-lightning4 ,a common name for ,achillaea ptarmica is sneezewort1 and the ,petasites vulgaris has been designated son before the father4 ,the general name for ,drosera rotundifolia is sun-dew1 and in ,gloucestershire the ,primula auricula is the tanner's-apron4 ,the ,viola tricolor is often known as three faces in a hood1 and the ,aconitum napellus as ,venus's chariot drawn by two doves4 ,the ,stellaria holostea is lady's white petticoat1 and the ,scandix pecten is old wife's darning-needles4 ,one of the names of the ,campion is plum-pudding1 and spittle of the stars has been applied to the ,nostoc commune4 ,without giving further instances of these odd plant names1 we would conclude by quoting the following extract from the preface of ,mr4 ,earle's charming little volume on ,english ,plant ,names1 a remark which1 indeed1 most equally applies to other sections of our subject beyond that of the present chapter3--,the fascination of plant names has its foundation in two instincts1 love of ,nature1 and curiosity about ,language4 ,plant names are often of the highest antiquity1 and more or less common to the whole stream of related nations4 ,could we penetrate to the original suggestive idea that called forth the name1 it would bring valuable information about the first openings of the human mind towards ,nature2 and the merest dream of such a discovery invests with a strange charm the words that could tell1 if we could understand1 so much of the forgotten infancy of the human race4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,dictionary of ,english ,plant ,names1 by ,j4 ,britten and ,robert ,holland4 #ahhf4 #b4 ,english ,plant ,names1 ,introduction1 p4 xiii4 #c4 ,see ,folkard's ,legends1 p4 #cji2 ,friend's ,flowers and ,flowerlore1 ii4 #dja-e4 #d4 ,see ,flower-lore1 p4 #gd4 #e4 ,friend's ,flower-lore1 ii4 #dbe4 #f4 ,garden1 ,june #bi1 #ahgb4 #g4 ,johnston's ,botany of ,eastern ,borders1 #ahec1 p4 #agg4 #h4 ,lady ,wilkinson's ,weeds and ,wild ,flowers1 p4 #bfi4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,plant ,,language4 ,plant language1 as expressive of the various traits of human character1 can boast of a world-wide and antique history4 ,it is not surprising that flowers1 the varied and lovely productions of nature's dainty handiwork1 should have been employed as symbolic emblems1 and most aptly indicative oftentimes of what words when even most wisely chosen can ill convey2 for as ,tennyson remarks3-- ,any man that walks the mead ,in bud1 or blade1 or bloom1 may find ,a meaning suited to his mind4 ,hence1 whether we turn to the pages of the ,sacred ,volume1 or to the early ,greek writings1 we find the symbolism of flowers most eloquently illustrated1 while ,persian poetry is rich in allusions of the same kind4 ,indeed1 as ,mr4 ,ingram has remarked in his ,flora ,symbolica1#a--;,every age and every clime has promulgated its own peculiar system of floral signs1 and it has been said that the language of flowers is as old as the days of ,adam2 having1 also1 thousands of years ago1 existed in the ,indian1 ,egyptian1 and ,chaldean civilisations which have long since passed away4 ,he further adds how the ,chinese1 whose1 chronicles antedate the historic records of all other nations1 seem to have had a simple but complete mode of communicating ideas by means of florigraphic signs2 whereas1 the monuments of the old ,assyrian and ,egyptian races bear upon their venerable surfaces a code of floral telegraphy whose hieroglyphical meaning is veiled or but dimly guessed at in our day4 ,the subject is an extensive one1 and also enters largely into the ceremonial use of flowers1 many of which were purposely selected for certain rites from their long-established symbolical character4 ,at the same time1 it must be remembered that many plants have had a meaning attached to them by poets and others1 who have by a license of their own made them to represent certain sentiments and ideas for which there is no authority save their own fancy4 ,hence in numerous instances a meaning1 wholly misguiding1 has been assigned to various plants1 and has given rise to much confusion4 ,this1 too1 it may be added1 is the case in other countries as well as our own4 ,furthermore1 as ,m4 de ,gubernatis observes1 there exist a great number of books which pretend to explain the language of flowers1 wherein one may occasionally find a popular or traditional symbol2 but1 as a rule1 these expressions are generally the wild fancies of the author himself4 ,hence1 in dealing with plant language1 one is confronted with a host of handbooks1 many of which are not only inaccurate1 but misleading4 ,but in enumerating the recognised and well-known plants that have acquired a figurative meaning1 it will be found that in a variety of cases this may be traced to their connection with some particular event in years past1 and not to some chance or caprice1 as some would make us believe4 ,the amaranth1 for instance1 which is the emblem of immortality1 received its name1 never-fading1 from the ,greeks on account of the lasting nature of its blossoms4 ,accordingly1 ,milton crowns with amaranth the angelic multitude assembled before the ,deity3-- ,to the ground1 ,with solemn adoration1 down they cast ,their crowns1 inwove with amaranth and gold4 ,immortal amaranth1 a flower which once ,in ,paradise1 fast by the tree of life1 ,began to bloom2 but soon1 for man's offence1 ,to heaven removed1 where first it grew1 there grows ,and flowers aloft1 shading the font of life1 c4 ,and in some parts of the ,continent churches are adorned at ,christmas-tide with the amaranth1 as a symbol of that immortality to which their faith bids them look4 ,grass1 from its many beneficial qualities1 has been made the emblem of usefulness2 and the ivy1 from its persistent habit of clinging to the heaviest support1 has been universally adopted as the symbol of confiding love and fidelity4 ,growing rapidly1 it iron clasps3-- ,the fissured stone with its entwining arms1 ,and embowers with leaves for ever green1 ,and berries dark4 ,according to a ,cornish tradition1 the beautiful ,iseult1 unable to endure the loss of her betrothed--the brave ,tristran--died of a broken heart1 and was buried in the same church1 but1 by order of the king1 the two graves were placed at a distance from each other4 ,soon1 however1 there burst forth from the tomb of ,tristran a branch of ivy1 and another from the grave of ,iseult2 these shoots gradually growing upwards1 until at last the lovers1 represented by the clinging ivy1 were again united beneath the vaulted roof of heaven4#b ,then1 again1 the cypress1 in floral language1 denotes mourning2 and1 as an emblem of woe1 may be traced to the familiar classical myth of ,cyparissus1 who1 sorrow-stricken at having skin his favourite stag1 was transformed into a cypress tree4 ,its ominous and sad character is the subject of constant allusion1 ,virgil having introduced it into the funeral rites of his heroes4 ,shelley speaks of the unwept youth whom no mourning maidens decked1 ,with weeping flowers1 or votive cypress wreath1 ,the love-couch of his everlasting sleep4 ,and ,byron describes the cypress as1 ,dark tree6 still sad when other's grief is fled1 ,the only constant mourner o'er the dead4 ,the laurel1 used for classic wreaths1 has long been regarded emblematical of renown1 and ,tasso thus addresses a laurel leaf in the hair of his mistress3-- ,o glad triumphant bough1 ,that now adornest conquering chiefs1 and now ,clippest the bows of over-ruling kings ,from victory to victory4 ,thus climbing on through all the heights of story1 ,from worth to worth1 and glory unto glory1 ,to finish all1 ,o gentle and royal tree1 ,thou reignest now upon that flourishing head1 ,at whose triumphant eyes love and our souls are led4 ,like the rose1 the myrtle is the emblem of love1 having been dedicated by the ,greeks and ,romans to ,venus1 in the vicinity of whose temples myrtle-groves were planted2 hence1 from time immemorial1 ,sacred to ,venus is the myrtle shade4 ,this will explain its frequent use in bridal ceremonies on the ,continent1 and its employment for the wedding wreath of the ,jewish damsel4 ,herrick1 mindful of its associations1 thus apostrophises ,venus3-- ,goddess1 ,i do love a girl1 ,ruby lipp'd and toothed like pearl2 ,if so be ,i may but prove ,lucky in this maid ,i love1 ,i will promise there shall be ,myrtles offered up to thee4 ,to the same goddess was dedicated the rose1 and its world-wide reputation as the flower of love1 in which character it has been extolled by poets in ancient and modern times1 needs no more than reference here4 ,the olive indicates peace1 and as an emblem was given to ,judith when she restored peace to the ,israelites by the death of ,holofernes4#c ,shakespeare1 in ,twelfth ,night 7,act i4 sc4 #e71 makes ,viola say3--,i bring no overture of war1 no taxation of homage2 ,i hold the olive in my hand2 my words are as full of peace as of matter4 ,similarly1 the palm1 which1 as the symbol of victory1 was carried before the conqueror in triumphal processions1 is generally regarded as denoting victory4 ,thus1 palm-branches were scattered in the path of ,christ upon ,his public entry into ,jerusalem2 and1 at the present day1 a palm-branch is embroidered on the lappet of the gown of a ,french professor1 to indicate that a ,university degree has been attained4#d ,some flowers have become emblematical from their curious characteristics4 ,thus1 the balsam is held to be expressive of impatience1 because its seed-pods when ripe curl up at the slightest touch1 and dart forth their seeds1 with great violence2 hence one of its popular names1 touch-me-not4 ,the wild anemone has been considered indicative of brevity1 because its fragile blossom is so quickly scattered to the wind and lost3-- ,the winds forbid the flowers to flourish long1 ,which owe to winds their name in ,grecian song4 ,the poppy1 from its somniferous effects1 has been made symbolic of sleep and oblivion2 hence ,virgil calls it the ,lethean poppy1 whilst our old pastoral poet1 ,william ,browne1 speaks of it as sleep-bringing poppy4 ,the heliotrope denotes devoted attachment1 from its having been supposed to turn continually towards the sun2 hence its name1 signifying the sun and to turn4 ,the classic heliotrope must not be confounded with the well-known ,peruvian heliotrope or cherry-pie1 a plant with small lilac-blue blossoms of a delicious fragrance4 ,it would seem that many of the flowers which had the reputation of opening and shutting at the sun's bidding were known as heliotropes1 or sunflowers1 or turnesol4 ,shakespeare alludes to the1 ,marigold1 that goes to bed with the sun1 ,and with him rises weeping4 ,and ,moore1 describing its faithful constancy1 says3-- ,the sunflower turns on her god when he sets ,the same look which she did when he rose4 ,such a flower1 writes ,mr4 ,ellacombe1 was to old writers the emblem of constancy in affection and sympathy in joy and sorrow1 though it was also the emblem of the fawning courtier1 who can only shine when everything is right4 ,anyhow1 the so-called heliotrope was the subject of constant symbolic allusion3-- ,the flower1 enamoured of the sun1 ,at his departure hangs her head and weeps1 ,and shrouds her sweetness up1 and keeps ,sad vigils1 like a cloistered nun1 ,till his reviving ray appears1 ,waking her beauty as he dries her tears4#e ,the aspen1 from its tremulous motion1 has been made symbolical of fear4 ,the restless movement of its leaves is produced by the peculiar form of the foot-stalks1 and1 indeed1 in some degree1 the whole tribe of poplars are subject to have their leaves agitated by the slightest breeze4#f ,another meaning assigned to the aspen in floral language is scandal1 from an old saying which affirmed that its tears were made from women's tongues--an allusion to which is made in the subjoined rhyme by ,p4 ,hannay in the year #afbb3-- ,the quaking aspen1 light and thin1 ,to the air quick passage gives2 ,resembling still ,the trembling ill ,of tongues of womankind1 ,which never rest1 ,but still are prest ,to wave with every wind4 ,the almond1 again1 is regarded as expressive of haste1 in reference to its hasty growth and early maturity2 while the evening primrose1 from the time of its blossoms expanding1 indicates silent love--refraining from unclosing her cup of paly gold until her lowly sisters are rocked into a balmy slumber4 ,the bramble1 from its manner of growth1 has been chosen as the type of lowliness2 and from the fierceness with which it grasps the passer-by with its straggling prickly stems1 as an emblem of remorse4 ,fennel was in olden times generally considered an inflammatory herb1 and hence to eat conger and fennel was to eat two high and hot things together1 which was an act of libertinism4 ,thus in #b ,henry ,,iv4 7,act ii4 sc4 #d71 ,falstaff says of ,poins1 ,he eats conger and fennel4 ,rosemary formerly had the reputation of strengthening the memory1 and on this account was regarded as a symbol of remembrance4 ,thus1 according to an old ballad3-- ,rosemary is for remembrance ,between us day and night1 ,wishing that ,i may always have ,you present in my sight4 ,and in ,hamlet1 where ,ophelia seems to be addressing ,laertes1 she says 7,act iv4 sc4 #e73-- ,there's rosemary1 that's for remembrance4 ,vervain1 from time immemorial1 has been the floral symbol of enchantment1 owing to its having been in ancient times much in request for all kinds of divinations and incantations4 ,virgil1 it may be remembered1 alludes to this plant as one of the charms used by an enchantress3-- ,bring running water1 bind those altars round ,with fillets1 with vervain strew the ground4 ,parsley1 according to floral language1 has a double signification1 denoting feasting and death4 ,on festive occasions the ,greeks wore wreaths of parsley1 and on many other occasions it was employed1 such as at the ,isthmian games4 ,on the other hand1 this plant was strewn over the bodies of the dead1 and decked their graves4 ,the weeping willow1 as ,mr4 ,ingram remarks1 is one of those natural emblems which bear their florigraphical meaning so palpably impressed that their signification is clear at first sight4 ,this tree has always been regarded as the symbol of sorrow1 and also of forsaken love4 ,in ,china it is employed in several rites1 having from a remote period been regarded as a token of immortality4 ,as a symbol of bitterness the aloe has long been in repute1 and as bitter as aloes is a proverbial expression1 doubtless derived from the acid taste of its juice4 ,eastern poets frequently speak of this plant as the emblem of bitterness2 a meaning which most fitly coincides with its properties4 ,the lily of the valley has had several emblems conferred upon it1 each of which is equally apposite4 ,thus in reference to the bright hopeful season of spring1 in which it blossoms1 it has been regarded as symbolical of the return of happiness1 whilst its delicate perfume has long been indicative of sweetness1 a characteristic thus beautifully described by ,keats3-- ,no flower amid the garden fairer grows ,than the sweet lily of the lowly vale1 ,the queen of flowers4 ,its perfect snow-white flower is the emblem of purity1 allusions to which we find numerously scattered in the literature of the past4 ,one of the emblems of the white poplar in floral language is time1 because its leaves appear always in motion1 and being of a dead blackish-green above1 and white below1 writes ,mr4 ,ingram1 they were deemed by the ancients to indicate the alternation of night and day4 ,again1 the plane-tree has been from early times made the symbol of genius and magnificence2 for in olden times philosophers taught beneath its branches1 which acquired for it a reputation as one of the seats of learning4 ,from its beauty and size it obtained a figurative meaning2 and the arbutus or strawberry-tree 7,arbutus unedo7 is the symbol of inseparable love1 and the narcissus denotes self-love1 from the story of ,narcissus1 who1 enamoured of his own beauty1 became spell-bound to the spot1 where he pined to death4 ,shelley describes it as one of the flowers growing with the sensitive plant in that garden where3-- ,the pied wind flowers and the tulip tall1 ,and narcissi1 the fairest among them all1 ,who gaze on their eyes in the stream's recess1 ,till they die at their own dear loveliness4 ,the sycamore implies curiosity1 from ,zacchaeus1 who climbed up into this tree to witness the triumphal entry of ,christ into ,jerusalem2 and from time immemorial the violet has been the emblem of constancy3-- ,violet is for faithfulness1 ,which in me shall abide1 ,hoping likewise that from your heart ,you will not let it hide4 ,in some cases flowers seem to have derived their symbolism from certain events associated with them4 ,thus the periwinkle signifies early recollections1 or pleasures of memory1 in connection with which ,rousseau tells us how1 as ,madame ,warens and himself were proceeding to ,charmattes1 she was struck by the appearance of some of these blue flowers in the hedge1 and exclaimed1 ,here is the periwinkle still in flower4 ,thirty years afterwards the sight of the periwinkle in flower carried his memory back to this occasion1 and he inadvertently cried1 ,ah1 there is the periwinkle4 ,incidents of the kind have originated many of the symbols found in plant language1 and at the same time invested them with a peculiar historic interest4 ,once more1 plant language1 it has been remarked1 is one of those binding links which connects the sentiments and feelings of one country with another2 although it may be1 in other respects1 these communities have little in common4 ,thus1 as ,mr4 ,ingram remarks in the introduction to his ,flora ,symbolica 7p4 #ab71 from the unlettered ,north ,american ,indian to the highly polished ,parisian2 from the days of dawning among the mighty ,asiatic races1 whose very names are buried in oblivion1 down to the present times1 the symbolism of flowers is everywhere and in all ages discovered permeating all strata of society4 ,it has been1 and still is1 the habit of many peoples to name the different portions of the year after the most prominent changes of the vegetable kingdom4 ,in the ,united ,states1 the language of flowers is said to have more votaries than in any other part of the world1 many works relative to which have been published in recent years4 ,indeed1 the subject will always be a popular one2 for further details illustrative of which the reader would do well to consult ,mr4 ,h4,g4 ,adams's useful work on the ,moral ,language and ,poetry of ,flowers1 not to mention the constant allusions scattered throughout the works of our old poets1 such as ,shakespeare1 ,chaucer1 and ,drayton4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,introduction1 p4 #ab4 #b4 ,folkard's ,plant ,legends1 p4 #chi4 #c4 ,see ,judith xv4 #ac4 #d4 ,flower-lore1 pp4 #aig-h4 #e4 ,plant-lore of ,shakespeare4 #f4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #afh4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,fabulous ,,plants4 ,the curious traditions of imaginary plants found amongst most nations have partly a purely mythological origin4 ,frequently1 too1 they may be attributed to the exaggerated accounts given by old travellers1 who1 influenced by a desire to make themselves famous1 have gone so far as to pretend that they saw these fancied objects4 ,anyhow1 from whatever source sprung1 these productions of ignorance and superstition have from a very early period been firmly credited4 ,but1 like the accounts given us of fabulous animals1 they have long ago been acknowledged as survivals of popular errors1 which owed their existence to the absence of botanical knowledge4 ,we have elsewhere referred to the great world tree1 and of the primitive idea of a human descent from trees4 ,indeed1 according to the early and uncultured belief of certain communities1 there were various kinds of animal-producing trees1 accounts of which are very curious4 ,among these may be mentioned the vegetable lamb1 concerning which olden writers have given the most marvellous description4 ,thus ,sir ,john ,maundeville1 who in his ,voyage and ,travel has recorded many marvellous sights which either came under his notice1 or were reported to him during his travels1 has not omitted to speak of this remarkable tree4 ,thus1 to quote his words3--,there groweth a manner of fruit as though it were gourdes2 and when they be ripe men cut them in two1 and men find within a little beast1 in flesh1 in bone1 and blood--as though it were a little lamb withouten wolle--and men eat both the fruit and the beast1 and that is a great marvel2 of that fruit ,i have eaten although it were wonderful2 but that ,i know well that ,god is marvellous in ,his works4 ,various accounts have been given of this wondrous plant1 and in ,parkinson's ,paradisus it is represented as one of the plants which grew in the ,garden of ,eden4 ,its local name is the ,scythian or ,tartarian ,lamb2 and1 as it grows1 it might at a short distance be taken for an animal rather than a vegetable production4 ,it is one of the genus ,polypodium2 root decumbent1 thickly clothed with a very soft close hoal1 of a deep yellow colour4 ,it is also called by the ,tartars ,barometz1 and a ,chinese nickname is ,rufous dog4 ,mr4 ,bell1 in his ,journey to ,ispahan1 thus describes a specimen which he saw3--,it seemed to be made by art to imitate a lamb4 ,it is said to eat up and devour all the grass and weeds within its reach4 ,though it may be thought that an opinion so very absurd could never find credit with people of the meanest understanding1 yet ,i have conversed with some who were much inclined to believe it2 so very prevalent is the prodigious and absurd with some part of mankind4 ,among the more sensible and experienced ,tartars1 ,i found they laughed at it as a ridiculous fable4 ,blood was said to flow from it when cut or injured1 a superstition which probably originated in the fact that the fresh root when cut yields a tenacious gum like the blood of animals4 ,dr4 ,darwin1 in his ,loves of the ,plants1 adopts the fable thus3-- ,e'en round the pole the flames of love aspire1 ,and icy bosoms feel the sacred fire1 ,cradled in snow1 and fanned by arctic air1 ,shines1 gentle ,barometz1 the golden hair2 ,rested in earth1 each cloven hoof descends1 ,and round and round her flexile neck she bends4 ,crops of the grey coral moss1 and hoary thyme1 ,or laps with rosy tongue the melting rime1 ,eyes with mute tenderness her distant dam1 ,or seems to bleat a vegetable lamb4 ,another curious fiction prevalent in olden times was that of the barnacle-tree1 to which ,sir ,john ,maundeville also alludes3--,in our country were trees that bear a fruit that becomes flying birds2 those that fell in the water lived1 and those that fell on the earth died1 and these be right good for man's meat4 ,as early as the twelfth century this idea was promulgated by ,giraldus ,cambrensis in his ,topographia ,hiberniae2 and ,gerarde in his ,herball1 or ,general ,history of ,plants1 published in the year #aeig1 narrates the following3--,there are found in the north parts of ,scotland1 and the isles adjacent1 called ,orcades1 certain trees1 whereon do grow small fishes1 of a white colour1 tending to russet1 wherein are contained little living creatures2 which shells1 in time of maturity1 do open1 and out of them grow those little living things which1 falling into the water1 do become fowls1 whom we call barnacles1 in the north of ,england brant-geese1 and in ,lancashire tree-geese2 but the others that do fall upon the land perish1 and do come to nothing4 ,but1 like many other popular fictions1 this notion was founded on truth1 and probably originated in mistaking the fleshy peduncle of the barnacle 7,lepas analifera7 for the neck of a goose1 the shell for its head1 and the tentacula for a tuft of feather4 ,there were many versions of this eccentric myth1 and according to one modification given by ,boce1 the oldest ,scottish historian1 these barnacle-geese are first produced in the form of worms in old trees1 and further adds that such a tree was cast on shore in the year #adhj1 when there appeared1 on its being sawn asunder1 a multitude of worms1 throwing themselves out of sundry holes and pores of the tree2 some of them were nude1 as they were new shapen2 some had both head1 feet1 and wings1 but they had no feathers2 some of them were perfect shapen fowls4 ,at last1 the people having this tree each day in more admiration1 brought it to the kirk of ,st4 ,andrew's1 beside the town of ,tyre1 where it yet remains to our day4 ,du ,bartas thus describes the various transformations of this bird3-- ,so1 slowe ,botes underneath him sees1 ,in th' ycie iles1 those goslings hatcht of trees2 ,whose fruitful leaves1 falling into the water1 ,are turn'd1 they say1 to living fowls soon after4 ,so1 rotten sides of broken ships do change ,to barnacles2 ,o transformation change1 ',twas first a green tree1 then a gallant hull1 ,lately a mushroom1 now a flying gull4 ,meyer wrote a treatise on this strange bird without father or mother1 and ,sir ,robert ,murray1 in the ,philosophical ,transactions1 says that1 these shells are hung at the tree by a neck1 longer than the shell1 of a filmy substance1 round and hollow and creased1 not unlike the windpipe of a chicken1 spreading out broadest where it is fastened to the tree1 from which it seems to draw and convey the matter which serves for the growth and vegetation of the shell and the little bird within it4 ,in every shell that ,i opened1 he adds1 ,i found a perfect sea-fowl2 the little bill like that of a goose1 the eyes marked2 the head1 neck1 breast1 wing1 tail1 and feet formed2 the feathers everywhere perfectly shaped1 and the feet like those of other water-fowl4 ,the ,chinese have a tradition of certain trees1 the leaves of which were finally changed into birds4 ,with this story may be compared that of the oyster-bearing tree1 which ,bishop ,fleetwood describes in his ,curiosities of ,agriculture and ,gardening1 written in the year #agjg4 ,the oysters as seen1 he says1 by the ,dominican ,du ,tertre1 at ,guadaloupe1 grew on the branches of trees1 and1 are not larger than the little ,english oysters1 that is to say1 about the size of a crown-piece4 ,they stick to the branches that hang in the water of a tree called ,paretuvier4 ,no doubt the seed of the oysters1 which is shed in the tree when they spawn1 cleaves to those branches1 so that the oysters form themselves there1 and grow bigger in process of time1 and by their weight bend down the branches into the sea1 and then are refreshed twice a day by the flux and reflux of it4 ,kircher speaks of a tree in ,chili1 the leaves of which brought forth a certain kind of worm1 which eventually became changed into serpents2 and describes a plant which grew in the ,molucca ,islands1 nicknamed catopa1 on account of its leaves when falling off being transformed into butterflies4 ,among some of the many other equally wonderful plants may be mentioned the stony wood1 which is thus described by ,gerarde3--,being at ,rugby1 about such time as our fantastic people did with great concourse and multitudes repair and run headlong unto the sacred wells of ,newnam ,regis1 in the edge of ,warwickshire1 as unto the ,waters of ,life1 which could cure all diseases4 ,he visited these healing-wells1 where he1 found growing over the same a fair ash-tree1 whose boughs did hang over the spring of water1 whereof some that were seare and rotten1 and some that of purpose were broken off1 fell into the water and were all turned into stone4 ,of these1 boughs1 or parts of the tree1 ,i brought into ,london1 which1 when ,i had broken into pieces1 therein might be seen that the pith and all the rest was turned into stones1 still remaining the same shape and fashion that they were of before they were in the water4 ,similarly1 ,sir ,john ,maundeville notices the ,dead ,sea fruit--fruit found on the apple-trees near the ,dead ,sea4 ,to quote his own words3-- ,there be full fair apples1 and fair of colour to behold2 but whoso breaketh them or cutteth them in two1 he shall find within them coals and cinders1 in token that by the wrath of ,god1 the city and the land were burnt and sunken into hell4 ,speaking of the many legendary tales connected with the apple1 may be mentioned the golden apples which ,hera received at her marriage with ,zeus1 and placed under the guardianship of the dragon ,ladon1 in the garden of the ,hesperides4 ,the northern ,iduna kept guarded the sacred apples which1 by a touch1 restored the aged gods to youth2 and according to ,sir ,j4 ,maundeville1 the apples of ,pyban fed the pigmies with their smell only4 ,this reminds us of the singing apple in the fairy romance1 which would persuade by its smell alone1 and enable the possessor to write poetry or prose1 and to display the most accomplished wit2 and of the singing tree in the ,arabian ,nights1 each leaf of which was musical1 all the leaves joining together in a delightful harmony4 ,but peculiarities of this kind are very varied1 and form an extensive section in ,plant-lore2--very many curious examples being found in old travels1 and related with every semblance of truth4 ,in some instances trees have obtained a fabulous character from being connected with certain events4 ,thus there was the bleeding tree4#a ,it appears that one of the indictments laid to the charge of the ,marquis of ,argyll was this3--,that a tree on which thirty-six of his enemies were hanged was immediately blasted1 and when hewn down1 a copious stream of blood ran from it1 saturating the earth1 and that blood for several years was emitted from the roots4 ,then there is the poet's tree1 which grows over the tomb of ,tan-,sein1 a musician at the court of ,mohammed ,akbar4 ,whoever chews a leaf of this tree was long said to be inspired with sweet melody of voice1 an allusion to which is made by ,moore1 in ,lalla ,kookh33--,his voice was sweet1 as if he had chewed the leaves of that enchanted tree which grows over the tomb of the musician ,tan-,sein4 ,the rare but occasional occurrence of vegetation in certain trees and shrubs1 happening to take place at the period of ,christ's birth1 gave rise to the belief that such trees threw out their leaves with a holy joy to commemorate that anniversary4 ,an oak of the early budding species for two centuries enjoyed such a notoriety1 having been said to shoot forth its leaves on old ,christmas ,day1 no leaf being seen either before or after that day during winter4 ,there was the famous ,glastonbury thorn1 and in the same locality a walnut tree was reported never to put forth its leaves before the feast of ,st4 ,barnabas1 the #aath ,june4 ,the monkish legend runs thus3 ,joseph of ,arimathaea1 after landing at no great distance from ,glastonbury1 walked to a hill about a mile from the town4 ,being weary he sat down here with his companions1 the hill henceforth being nicknamed ,weary-,all-,hill1 locally abbreviated into ,werral4 ,whilst resting ,joseph struck his staff into the ground1 which took root1 grew1 and blossomed every ,christmas ,day4 ,previous to the time of ,charles ,i a branch of this famous tree was carried in procession1 with much ceremony1 at ,christmas time1 but during the ,civil ,war the tree was cut down4 ,many plants1 again1 as the ,sesame of the ,arabian ,nights1 had the power of opening doors and procuring an entrance into caverns and mountain sides--a survival of which we find in the primrose or key-flower of ,german legend4 ,similarly1 other plants1 such as the golden-rod1 have been renowned for pointing to hidden springs of water1 and revealing treasures of gold and silver4 ,such fabulous properties have been also assigned to the hazel-branch1 popularly designated the divining-rod3-- ,some sorcerers do boast they have a rod1 ,gather'd with vows and sacrifice1 ,and1 borne aloft1 will strangely nod ,the hidden treasure where it lies4 ,with plants of the kind we may compare the wonder-working moonwort 7,botrychium lunaria71 which was said to open locks and to unshoe horses that trod on it1 a notion which ,du ,bartas thus mentions in his ,divine ,weekes-- ,horses that1 feeding on the grassy hills1 ,tread upon moonwort with their hollow heels1 ,though lately shod1 at night go barefoot home1 ,their maister musing where their shoes become4 ,o moonwort6 tell me where thou bid'st the smith1 ,hammer and pinchers1 thou unshodd'st them with4 ,alas6 what lock or iron engine is't1 ,that can thy subtle secret strength resist1 ,still the best farrier cannot set a shoe ,so sure1 but thou 7so shortly7 canst undo4 ,the blasting-root1 known in ,germany as spring-wurzel1 and by us as spring-wort1 possesses similar virtues1 for whatever lock is touched by it must yield4 ,it is no easy matter to find this magic plant1 but1 according to a piece of popular folk-lore1 it is obtained by means of the woodpecker4 ,when this bird visits its nest1 it must have been previously plugged up with wood1 to remove which it goes in search of the spring-wort4 ,on holding this before the nest the wood shoots out from the tree as if driven by the most violent force4 ,meanwhile1 a red cloth must be placed near the nest1 which will so scare the woodpecker that it will let the fabulous root drop4 ,there are several versions of this tradition4 ,according to ,pliny the bird is the raven2 in ,swabia it is the hoopoe1 and in ,switzerland the swallow4 ,in ,russia1 there is a plant growing in marshy land1 known as the rasir-trava1 which when applied to locks causes them to open instantly4 ,in ,iceland similar properties are ascribed to the herb-paris1 there known as lasa-grass4 ,according to a piece of ,breton lore1 the selago1 or cloth of gold1 cannot be cut with steel without the sky darkening and some disaster taking place3-- ,the herb of gold is cut2 a cloud ,across the sky hath spread its shroud ,to war4 ,on the other hand1 if properly gathered with due ceremony1 it conferred the power of understanding the language of beast or bird4#b ,as far back as the time of ,pliny1 we have directions for the gathering of this magic plant4 ,the person plucking it was to go barefoot1 with feet washed1 clad in white1 after having offered a sacrifice of bread and wine4 ,another plant which had to be gathered with special formalities was the magic mandragora4 ,it was commonly reported to shriek in such a hideous manner when pulled out of the earth that1 ,living mortals hearing them run mad4 ,hence1 various precautions were adopted4 ,according to ,pliny1 ,when they intended to take up the root of this plant1 they took the wind thereof1 and with a sword describing three circles about it1 they digged it up1 looking towards the west4 ,another old authority informs us that he ,who would take it up1 in common prudence should tie a dog to it to accomplish his purpose1 as if he did it himself1 he would shortly die4 ,moore gives this warning3-- ,the phantom shapes--oh1 touch them not ,that appal the maiden's sight1 ,look in the fleshy mandrake's stem1 ,that shrieks when plucked at night4 ,to quote one or two more illustrations1 we may mention the famous lily at ,lauenberg1 which is said to have sprung up when a poor and beautiful girl was spirited away out of the clutches of a dissolute baron4 ,it made its appearance annually1 an event which was awaited with much interest by the inhabitants of the ,hartz1 many of whom made a pilgrimage to behold it4 ,they returned to their homes1 it is said1 overpowered by its dazzling beauty1 and asserting that its splendour was so great that it shed beams of light on the valley below4 ,similarly1 we are told how the common break-fern flowers but once a year1 at midnight1 on ,michaelmas ,eve1 when it displays a small blue flower1 which vanishes at the approach of dawn4 ,according to a piece of folk-lore current in ,bohemia and the ,tyrol1 the fern-seed shines like glittering gold at the season1 so that there is no chance of missing its appearance1 especially as it has its sundry mystic properties which are described elsewhere4 ,professor ,mannhardt relates a strange legend current in ,mecklenburg to the effect that in a certain secluded and barren spot1 where a murder had been committed1 there grows up every day at noon a peculiarly-shaped thistle1 unlike any other of its kind4 ,on inspection there are to be seen human arms1 hands1 and heads1 and as soon as twelve heads have appeared1 the weird plant vanishes4 ,it is further added that on one occasion a shepherd happened to pass the mysterious spot where the thistle was growing1 when instantly his arms were paralysed and his staff became tinder4 ,accounts of these fabulous trees and plants have in years gone been very numerous1 and have not yet wholly died out1 surviving in the legendary tales of most countries4 ,in some instances1 too1 it would seem that certain trees like animals have gained a notoriety1 purely fabulous1 through trickery and credulity4 ,about the middle of the last century1 for instance1 there was the groaning-tree at ,badesly1 which created considerable sensation4 ,it appears that a cottager1 who lived in the village of ,badesly1 two miles from ,lymington1 frequently heard a strange noise behind his house1 like a person in extreme agony4 ,for about twenty months this tree was an object of astonishment1 and at last the owner of the tree1 in order to discover the cause of its supposed sufferings1 bored a hole in the trunk4 ,after this operation it ceased to groan1 it was rooted up1 but nothing appeared to account for its strange peculiarity4 ,stories of this kind remind us of similar wonders recorded by ,sir ,john ,maundeville1 as having been seen by him in the course of his ,eastern travels4 ,thus he describes a certain table of ebony or blackwood1 that once used to turn into flesh on certain occasions1 but whence now drops only oil1 which1 if kept above a year1 becomes good flesh and bone4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,laing's ,history of ,scotland1 #ahjj1 ii4 p4 ,,ii4 #b4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #df4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,doctrine ,,of ,,signatures4 ,the old medical theory1 which supposed that plants by their external character indicated the particular diseases for which ,nature had intended them as remedies1 was simply a development of the much older notion of a real connection between object and image4 ,thus1 on this principle1 it was asserted that the properties of substances were frequently denoted by their colour2 hence1 white was regarded as refrigerant1 and red as hot4 ,in the same way1 for disorders of the blood1 burnt purple1 pomegranate seeds1 mulberries1 and other red ingredients were dissolved in the patient's drink2 and for liver complaints yellow substances were recommended4 ,but this fanciful and erroneous notion led to serious errors in practice1 #a and was occasionally productive of the most fatal results4 ,although1 indeed1 ,pliny spoke of the folly of the magicians in using the catanance 7,greek3 katanhankae1 compulsion7 for love-potions1 on account of its shrinking in drying into the shape of the claws of a dead kite1 #b and so holding the patient fast2 yet this primitive idea1 after the lapse of centuries1 was as fully credited as in the early days when it was originally started4 ,throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries1 for instance1 it is noticed in most medical works1 and in many cases treated with a seriousness characteristic of the backward state of medical science even at a period so comparatively recent4 ,crollius wrote a work on the subject2 and ,langham1 in his ,garden of ,health1 published in the year #aegh1 accepted the doctrine4 ,coles1 in his ,art of ,simpling 7#afef71 thus describes it3-- ,though sin and ,satan have plunged mankind into an ocean of infirmities1 yet the mercy of ,god1 which is over all ,his workes1 maketh grasse to growe upon the mountains and herbes for the use of men1 and hath not only stamped upon them a distinct forme1 but also given them particular signatures1 whereby a man may read even in legible characters the use of them4 ,john ,ray1 in his treatise on ,the ,wisdom of ,god in ,creation1 was among the first to express his disbelief of this idea1 and writes3--,as for the signatures of plants1 or the notes impressed upon them as notices of their virtues1 some lay great stress upon them1 accounting them strong arguments to prove that some understanding principle is the highest original of the work of ,nature1 as indeed they were could it be certainly made to appear that there were such marks designedly set upon them1 because all that ,i find mentioned by authors seem to be rather fancied by men than designed by ,nature to signify1 or point out1 any such virtues1 or qualities1 as they would make us believe4 ,his views1 however1 are somewhat contradictory1 inasmuch as he goes on to say that1 the noxious and malignant plants do1 many of them1 discover something of their nature by the sad and melancholick visage of their leaves1 flowers1 or fruit4 ,and that ,i may not leave that head wholly untouched1 one observation ,i shall add relating to the virtues of plants1 in which ,i think there is something of truth--that is1 that there are of the wise dispensation of ,providence such species of plants produced in every country as are made proper and convenient for the meat and medicine of the men and animals that are bred and inhabit therein4 ,indeed1 however much many of the botanists of bygone centuries might try to discredit this popular delusion1 they do not seem to have been wholly free from its influence themselves4 ,some estimate1 also1 of the prominence which the doctrine of signatures obtained may be gathered from the frequent allusions to it in the literature of the period4 ,thus1 to take one illustration1 the euphrasia or eye-bright 7,euphrasia officinalis71 which was1 and is1 supposed to be good for the eye1 owing to a black pupil-like spot in its corolla1 is noticed by ,milton1 who1 it may be remembered1 represents the archangel as clearing the vision of our first parents by its means3-- ,then purged with euphrasy and rue ,his visual orbs1 for he had much to see4 ,spenser speaks of it in the same strain3-- ,yet euphrasie may not be left unsung1 ,that gives dim eyes to wander leagues around4 ,and ,thomson says3-- ,if she1 whom ,i implore1 ,urania1 deign ,with euphrasy to purge away the mists1 ,which1 humid1 dim the mirror of the mind4 ,with reference to its use in modern times1 ,anne ,pratt#c tells us how1 on going into a small shop in ,dover1 she saw a quantity of the plant suspended from the ceiling1 and was informed that it was gathered and dried as being good for weak eyes2 and in many of our rural districts ,i learn that the same value is still attached to it by the peasantry4 ,again1 it is interesting to observe how1 under a variety of forms1 this piece of superstition has prevailed in different parts of the world4 ,by virtue of a similar association of ideas1 for instance1 the gin-seng #d was said by the ,chinese and ,north ,american ,indians to possess certain virtues which were deduced from the shape of the root1 supposed to resemble the human body #e--;a plant with which may be compared our mandrake4 ,the ,romans of old had their rock-breaking plant called saxifraga or sassafras2 #f and we know in later times how the granulated roots of our white meadow saxifrage 7,saxifraga granulata71 resembling small stones1 were supposed to indicate its efficacy in the cure of calculous complaints4 ,hence one of its names1 stonebreak4 ,the stony seeds of the gromwell were1 also1 used in cases of stone--a plant formerly known as lichwale1 or1 as in a ,,ms4 of the fifteenth century1 lythewale1 stone-switch4 #g ,in accordance1 also1 with the same principle it was once generally believed that the seeds of ferns were of an invisible sort1 and hence1 by a transference of properties1 it came to be admitted that the possessor of fern-seed could likewise be invisible--a notion which obtained an extensive currency on the ,continent4 ,as special good-luck was said to attend the individual who succeeded in obtaining this mystic seed1 it was eagerly sought for--,midsummer ,eve being one of the occasions when it could be most easily procured4 ,thus ,grimm1 in his ,teutonic ,mythology1 #h relates how a man in ,westphalia was looking on ,midsummer night for a foal he had lost1 and happened to pass through a meadow just as the fern-seed was ripening1 so that it fell into his shoes4 ,in the morning he went home1 walked into the sitting-room and sat down1 but thought it strange that neither his wife nor any of the family took the least notice of him4 ,i have not found the foal1 said he4 ,thereupon everybody in the room started and looked alarmed1 for they heard his voice but saw him not4 ,his wife then called him1 thinking he must have hid himself1 but he only replied1 ,why do you call me8 ,here ,i am right before you4 ,at last he became aware that he was invisible1 and1 remembering how he had walked in the meadow on the preceding evening1 it struck him that he might possibly have fern-seed in his shoes4 ,so he took them off1 and as he shook them the fern-seed dropped out1 and he was no longer invisible4 ,there are numerous stories of this kind2 and1 according to ,dr4 ,kuhn1 one method for obtaining the fern-seed was1 at the summer solstice1 to shoot at the sun when it had attained its midday height4 ,if this were done1 three drops of blood would fall1 which were to be gathered up and preserved--this being the fern-seed4 ,in ,bohemia1 #i on old ,st4 ,john's ,night 7,july #h71 one must lay a communion chalice-cloth under the fern1 and collect the seed which will fall before sunrise4 ,among some of the scattered allusions to this piece of folk-lore in the literature of our own country1 may be mentioned one by ,shakespeare in ,i ,henry ,,iv4 7ii4 #a73-- ,gadshill4 ,we have the receipt of fern-seed1 we walk invisible----#aj ,chamberlain4 ,nay1 by my faith1 ,i think you are more beholding to the night than to fern-seed for your walking invisible4 ,in ,ben ,jonson's ,new ,inn 7i4 #a71 it is thus noticed3-- ,i had ,no medicine1 sir1 to go invisible1 ,no fern-seed in my pocket4 ,brand #aa was told by an inhabitant of ,heston1 in ,middlesex1 that when he was a young man he was often present at the ceremony of catching the fern-seed at midnight1 on the eve of ,st4 ,john ,baptist4 ,the attempt was frequently unsuccessful1 for the seed was to fall into a plate of its own accord1 and that too without shaking the plate4 ,it is unnecessary to add further illustrations on this point1 as we have had occasion to speak elsewhere of the sundry other magical properties ascribed to the fern-seed1 whereby it has been prominently classed amongst the mystic plants4 ,but1 apart from the doctrine of signatures1 it would seem that the fern-seed was also supposed to derive its power of making invisible from the cloud1 says ,mr4 ,kelly1 #ab that contained the heavenly fire from which the plant is sprung4 ,whilst speaking1 too1 of the fern-seed's property of making people invisible1 it is of interest to note that in the ,icelandic and ,pomeranian myths the schamir or raven-stone renders its possessor invisible2 and according to a ,north ,german tradition the luck-flower is enbued with the same wonderful qualities4 ,it is essential1 however1 that the flower be found by accident1 for he who seeks it never finds it4 ,in ,sweden hazel-nuts are reputed to have the power of making invisible1 and from their reputed magical properties have been1 from time immemorial1 in great demand for divination4 ,all those plants whose leaves bore a fancied resemblance to the moon were1 in days of old1 regarded with superstitious reverence4 ,the moon-daisy1 the type of a class of plants resembling the pictures of a full moon1 were exhibited1 says ,dr4 ,prior1 in uterine complaints1 and dedicated in pagan times to the goddess of the moon4 ,the moonwort 7,botrychium lunaria71 often confounded with the common honesty 7,lunaria biennis7 of our gardens1 so called from the semi-lunar shape of the segments of its frond1 was credited with the most curious properties1 the old alchemists affirming that it was good among other things for converting quicksilver into pure silver1 and unshoeing such horses as trod upon it4 ,a similar virtue was ascribed to the horse-shoe vetch 7,hippocrepis comosa71 so called from the shape of the legumes1 hence another of its mystic nicknames was unshoe the horse4 ,but referring to the doctrine of signatures in folk-medicine1 a favourite garden flower is ,solomon's seal 7,polygonatum multiflorum74 ,on cutting the roots transversely1 some marks are apparent not unlike the characters of a seal1 which to the old herbalists indicated its use as a seal for wounds4 #ac ,gerarde1 describing it1 tells us how1 the root of ,solomon's seal stamped1 while it is fresh and greene1 and applied1 taketh away in one night1 or two at the most1 any bruise1 black or blue spots1 gotten by falls1 or women's wilfulness in stumbling upon their hasty husbands' fists4 ,for the same reason it was called by the ,french herbalists l'herbe de la rupture4 ,the specific name of the tutsan #ad 7,hypericum androsoemum71 derived from the two ,greek words signifying man and blood1 in reference to the dark red juice which exudes from the capsules when bruised1 was once applied to external wounds1 and hence it was called balm of the warrior's wound1 or all-heal4 ,gerarde says1 ,the leaves laid upon broken skins and scabbed legs heal them1 and many other hurts and griefs1 whereof it took its name 'toute-saine' of healing all things4 ,the pretty plant1 herb-robert 7,geranium robertianum71 was supposed to possess similar virtues1 its power to arrest bleeding being indicated by the beautiful red hue assumed by the fading leaves1 on account of which property it was styled a stauncher of blood4 ,the garden ,jerusalem cowslip 7,pulmonaria offinalis7 owes its ,english name1 lungwort1 to the spotting of the leaves1 which were said to indicate that they would be efficacious in healing diseases of the lungs4 ,then there is the water-soldier 7,stratiotes aloides71 which from its sword-shaped leaves was reckoned among the appliances for gun-shot wounds4 ,another familiar plant which has long had a reputation as a vulnerary is the self-heal1 or carpenter's herb 7,prunella vulgaris71 on account of its corolla being shaped like a bill-hook4 ,again1 presumably on the doctrine of signatures1 the connection between roses and blood is very curious4 ,thus in ,france1 ,germany1 and ,italy it is a popular notion that if one is desirous of having ruddy cheeks1 he must bury a drop of his blood under a rose-bush4 #ae ,as a charm against haemorrhage of every kind1 the rose has long been a favourite remedy in ,germany1 and in ,westphalia the following formula is employed3 ,abek1 ,wabek1 ,fabek2 in ,christ's garden stand three red roses--one for the good ,god1 the other for ,god's blood1 the third for the angel ,gabriel3 blood1 ,i pray you1 cease to flow4 ,another version of this charm is the following #af3--,on the head of our ,lord ,god there bloom three roses3 the first is ,his virtue1 the second is ,his youth1 the third is ,his will4 ,blood1 stand thou in the wound still1 so that thou neither sore nor abscess givest4 ,turning to some of the numerous plants which on the doctrine of signatures were formerly used as specifics from a fancied resemblance1 in the shape of the root1 leaf1 or fruit1 to any particular part of the human body1 we are confronted with a list adapted for most of the ills to which the flesh is heir4 #ag ,thus1 the walnut was regarded as clearly good for mental cases from its bearing the signature of the whole head2 the outward green cortex answering to the pericranium1 the harder shell within representing the skull1 and the kernel in its figure resembling the cover of the brain4 ,on this account the outside shell was considered good for wounds of the head1 whilst the bark of the tree was regarded as a sovereign remedy for the ringworm4 #ah ,its leaves1 too1 when bruised and moistened with vinegar were used for ear-ache4 ,for scrofulous glands1 the knotty tubers attached to the kernel-wort 7,scrophularia nodosa7 have been considered efficacious4 ,the pith of the elder1 when pressed with the fingers1 doth pit and receive the impress of them thereon1 as the legs and feet of dropsical persons do1 ,therefore the juice of this tree was reckoned a cure for dropsy4 ,our ,lady's thistle 7,cardmis ,marianus71 from its numerous prickles1 was recommended for stitches of the side2 and nettle-tea is still a common remedy with many of our peasantry for nettle-rash4 ,the leaves of the wood-sorrel 7,oxalis acetosella7 were believed to preserve the heart from many diseases1 from their being broad at the ends1 cut in the middle1 and sharp towards the stalk4 ,similarly the heart-trefoil1 or clover 7,medicago maculata71 was so called1 because1 says ,coles in his ,art of ,simpling1 not only is the leaf triangular like the heart of a man1 but also because each leaf contains the perfect image of an heart1 and that in its proper colour--a flesh colour4 ,it defendeth the heart against the noisome vapour of the spleen4 ,another plant which1 on the same principle1 was reckoned as a curative for heart-disease1 is the heart's-ease1 a term meaning a cordial1 as in ,sir ,walter ,scott's ,antiquary 7chap1 xi471 try a dram to be eilding and claise1 and a supper and heart's-ease into the bargain4 ,the knot-grass 7,polygonum aviculare71 with its reddish-white flowers and trailing pointed stems1 was probably so called from some unrecorded character by the doctrine of signatures1 ,suggests ,mr4 ,ellacombe1 #ai that it would stop the growth of children4 ,thus ,shakespeare1 in his ,midsummer ,night's ,dream 7,act iii4 sc4 #b71 alludes to it as the hindering knot-grass1 and in ,beaumont and ,fletcher's ,coxcomb 7,act ii4 sc4 #b7 it is further mentioned3-- ,we want a boy extremely for this function1 ,kept under for a year with milk and knot-grass4 ,according to ,crollius1 the woody scales of which the cones of the pine-tree are composed resemble the fore-teeth2 hence pine-leaves boiled in vinegar were used as a garlic for the relief of toothache4 ,white-coral1 from its resemblance to the teeth1 was also in requisition1 because it keepeth children to heed their teeth1 their gums being rubbed therewith4 ,for improving the complexion1 an ointment made of cowslip-flowers was once recommended1 because1 as an old writer observes1 it taketh away the spots and wrinkles of the skin1 and adds beauty exceedingly4 ,mr4 ,burgess1 in his handy little volume on ,english ,wild ,flowers 7#ahfh1 #dg71 referring to the cowslip1 says1 the village damsels use it as a cosmetic1 and we know it adds to the beauty of the complexion of the town-immured lassie when she searches for and gathers it herself in the early spring morning4 ,some of the old herbalists speak of moss gathered from a skull as useful for disorders of the head1 and hence it was gathered and preserved4 ,the rupture-wort 7,herniaria glabra7 was so called from its fancied remedial powers1 and the scabious in allusion to the scaly pappus of its seeds1 which led to its use in leprous diseases4 ,the well-known fern1 spleen-wort 7,asplenium71 had this name applied to it from the lobular form of the leaf1 which suggested it as a remedy for diseases of the spleen4 ,another of its nicknames is miltwaste1 because3-- ,the finger-ferne1 which being given to swine1 ,it makes their milt to melt away in fine-- ,a superstition which seems to have originated in a curious statement made by ,vitruvius1 that in certain localities in the island of ,crete the flocks and herds were found without spleen from their browsing on this plant1 whereas in those districts in which it did not grow the reverse was the case4 #bj ,the yellow bark of the berberry-tree 7,berberis vulgaris71 #ba when taken as a decoction in ale1 or white wine1 is said to be a purgative1 and to have proved highly efficacious in the case of jaundice1 hence in some parts of the country it is known as the jaundice-berry4 ,turmeric1 too1 was formerly prescribed--a plant used for making a yellow dye2 #bb and celandine1 with its yellow juice1 was once equally in repute4 ,similar remedies we find recommended on the ,continent1 and in ,westphalia an apple mixed with saffron is a popular curative against jaundice4 #bc ,rhubarb1 too1 we are told1 by the doctrine of signatures1 was the life1 soul1 heart1 and treacle of the liver4 ,mr4 ,folkard #bd mentions a curious superstition which exists in the neighbourhood of ,orleans1 where a seventh son without a daughter intervening is called a ,marcon4 ,it is believed that1 the ,marcon's body is marked somewhere with a ,fleur-de-,lis1 and that if a patient suffering under king's-evil touch this ,fleur-de-,lis1 or if the ,marcon breathe upon him1 the malady will be sure to disappear4 ,as shaking is one of the chief characteristics of that tedious and obstinate complaint ague1 so there was a prevalent notion that the quaking-grass 7,briza media71 when dried and kept in the house1 acted as a most powerful deterrent4 ,for the same reason1 the aspen1 from its constant trembling1 has been held a specific for this disease4 ,the lesser celandine 7,ranunculus ficaria7 is known in many country places as the pilewort1 because its peculiar tuberous root was long thought to be efficacious as a remedial agent4 ,and ,coles1 in his ,art of ,simpling1 speaks of the purple marsh-wort 7,comarum palustre7 as an excellent remedy against the purples4 ,the common tormentil 7,tormentilla officinalis71 from the red colour of its root1 was nicknamed the blood-root1 and was said to be efficacious in dysentery2 while the bullock's-lungwort derives its name from the resemblance of its leaf to a dewlap1 and was on this account held as a remedy for the pneumonia of bullocks4#be ,such is the curious old folk-lore doctrine of signatures1 which in olden times was regarded with so much favour1 and for a very long time was recognised1 without any questioning1 as worthy of men's acceptation4 ,it is one of those popular delusions which scientific research has scattered to the winds1 having in its place discovered the true medicinal properties of plants1 by the aid of chemical analysis4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,pettigrew's ,medical ,superstitions1 #ahdd1 p4 #ah4 #b4 ,tylor's ,researches into the ,early ,history of ,mankind1 #ahfe1 p4 #abc2 ,chapiel's ,la ,doctrine des ,signatures1 ,paris1 #ahff4 #c4 ,flowering ,plants of ,great ,britain1 iv4 #aji2 see ,dr4 ,prior's ,popular ,names of ,british ,plants1 #ahgj-gb4 #d4 ,tylor's ,researches into the ,early ,history of ,mankind1 p4 #abc4 #e4 ,see ,porter ,smith's ,chinese ,materia ,medica1 p4 #ajc2 ,lockhart1 ,medical ,missionary in ,china1 #bnd edition1 p4 #ajg2 ,reports on ,trade at the ,treaty ,ports of ,china1 #ahfh1 p4 #fc4 #f4 ,fiske1 ,myths and ,mythmakers1 #ahgc1 p4 #dc4 #g4 ,dr4 ,prior's ,popular ,names of ,british ,plants1 p4 #acd4 #h4 ,see ,kelly's ,indo-,european ,tradition ,folk-lore1 #ahfc1 pp4 #aic-aih2 ,ralston's ,russian ,folk-,songs1 #ahgb1 p4 #ih4 #i4 ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 ,mr4 ,d4 ,conway1 ,frasers ,magazine1 ,nov4 #ahgj1 p4 #fjh4 #aj4 ,the receipt1 so called1 was the formula of magic words to be employed during the process4 ,see ,grindon's ,shakspere ,flora1 #ahhc1 p4 #bdb4 #aa4 ,popular ,antiquities1 #ahdi1 i4 #cae4 #ab4 ,indo-,european ,tradition and ,folk-lore1 p4 #aig4 #ac4 ,see ,dr4 ,prior's ,popular ,names of ,british ,plants1 p4 #acj2 ,phillips' ,flora ,historica1 i4 #afc4 #ad4 ,see ,sowerby's ,english ,botany1 #ahfd1 i41 p4 #add4 #ae4 ,see ,folk-lore of ,british ,plants1 ,dublin ,university ,magazine1 ,september #ahgc1 p4 #cah4 #ae4 ,see ,thorpe's ,northern ,mythology1 #aheb1 iii4 #afh4 #ag4 ,sketches of ,imposture1 ,deception1 and ,credulity1 #ahcg1 p4 #cjj4 #ah4 ,see ,phillips' ,pomarium ,britannicum1 #ahba1 p4 #cea4 #ai4 ,plant-lore of ,shakespeare1 #ahgh1 p4 #aja4 #bj4 ,see ,dr4 ,prior's ,popular ,names of ,british ,plants1 p4 #aed4 #ba4 ,hogg's ,vegetable ,kingdom1 p4 #cd4 #bb4 ,see ,friend's ,flowers and ,flower-lore1 ii4 #cee4 #bc4 ,mystic ,trees and ,flowers1 ,fraser's ,magazine1 ,november #ahgj1 p4 #eia4 #bd4 ,plant ,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #cda4 #be4 ,ibid41 pp1 #aej-afj4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,the ,,calendar4 ,a goodly array of plants have cast their attractions round the festivals of the year1 giving an outward beauty to the ceremonies and observances celebrated in their honour4 ,these vary in different countries1 although we frequently find the same flower almost universally adopted to commemorate a particular festival4 ,many plants1 again1 have had a superstitious connection1 having in this respect exercised a powerful influence among the credulous of all ages1 numerous survivals of which exist at the present day4 ,thus1 in ,westphalia1 it is said that if the sun makes its appearance on ,new ,year's ,day1 the flax will be straight2 and there is a belief current in ,hessia1 that an apple must not be eaten on ,new ,year's ,day1 as it will produce an abscess4 ,according to an old adage1 the laurestinus1 dedicated to ,st4 ,faine 7,january #a71 an ,irish abbess in the sixth century1 may be seen in bloom3-- ,whether the weather be snow or rain1 ,we are sure to see the flower of ,st4 ,faine2 ,rain comes but seldom and often snow1 ,and yet the viburnum is sure to blow4 ,and ,james ,montgomery notices this cheerful plant1 speaking of it as the1 ,fair tree of winter1 fresh and flowering1 ,when all around is dead and dry1 ,whose ruby buds1 though storms are lowering1 ,spread their white blossoms to the sky4 ,then there is the dead nettle1 which in ,italy is assigned to ,st4 ,vincent2 and the ,christmas rose 7,helleboris niger71 dedicated to ,st4 ,agnes 7#bast ,january71 is known in ,germany as the flower of ,st4 ,agnes1 and yet this flower has generally been regarded a plant of evil omen1 being coupled by ,campbell with the hemlock1 as growing by the witches' tower1 where it seems to weave1 ,round its dark vaults a melancholy bower1 ,for spirits of the dead at night's enchanted hour4 ,at ,candlemas it was customary1 writes ,herrick1 to replace the ,christmas evergreens with sprigs of box1 which were kept up till ,easter ,eve3-- ,down with the rosemary and bays1 ,down with the mistletoe1 ,instead of holly now upraise ,the greener box for show4 ,the snowdrop has been nicknamed the ,fair ,maid of ,february1 from its blossoming about this period1 when it was customary for young women dressed in white to walk in procession at the ,feast of the ,purification1 and1 according to the old adage3-- ,the snowdrop in purest white array1 ,first rears her head on ,candlemas ,day4 ,the dainty crocus is said to blow before the shrine at vernal dawn of ,st4 ,valentine4 ,and we may note here how county traditions affirm that in some mysterious way the vegetable world is affected by leap-year influences4 ,a piece of agricultural folk-lore current throughout the country tells us how all the peas and beans grow the wrong way in their pods1 the seeds being set in quite the contrary to what they are in other years4 ,the reason assigned for this strange freak of nature is that1 it is the ladies' year1 and they 7the peas and beans7 always lay the wrong way in leap year4 ,the leek is associated with ,st4 ,david's ,day1 the adoption of this plant as the national device of ,wales having been explained in various ways4 ,according to ,shakespeare it dates from the battle of ,cressy1 while some have maintained it originated in a victory obtained by ,cadwallo over the ,saxons1 #fdj1 when the ,welsh1 to distinguish themselves1 wore leeks in their hats4 ,it has also beeen suggested that ,welshmen beautify their hats with verdant leek1 from the custom of every farmer1 in years gone by1 contributing his leek to the common repast when they met at the ,cymortha or ,association1 and mutually helped one another in ploughing their land4 ,in ,ireland the shamrock is worn on ,st4 ,patrick's ,day4 ,old women1 with plenteous supplies of trefoil1 may be heard in every direction crying1 ,buy my shamrock1 green shamrocks1 while little children have ,patrick's crosses pinned to their sleeves1 a custom which is said to have originated in the circumstance that when ,st4 ,patrick was preaching the doctrine of the ,trinity he made use of the trefoil as a symbol of the great mystery4 ,several plants have been identified as the shamrock2 and in ,contributions towards a ,cybele ,hibernica1 #a is the following extensive note3--,trifolium repens1 ,dutch clover1 shamrock4--,this is the plant still worn as shamrock on ,st4 ,patrick's ,day1 though ,medicago lupulina is also sold in ,dublin as the shamrock4 ,edward ,lhwyd1 the celebrated antiquary1 writing in #afii to ,tancred ,robinson1 says1 after a recent visit to ,ireland3 ',their shamrug is our common clover' 7,phil4 ,trans41 ,no4 #cce74 ,threkeld1 the earliest writer on the wild plants of ,ireland1 gives ,seamar-oge 7young trefoil7 as the ,gaelic name for ,trifolium pratense album1 and expressly says this is the plant worn by the people in their hats on ,st4 ,patrick's ,day4 ,some1 again1 have advocated the claims of the wood-sorrel1 and others those of the speedwell1 whereas a correspondent of ,notes and ,queries 7#dth ,ser4 iii4 #bce7 says the ,trifolium filiforme is generally worn in ,cork1 the ,trifolium minus also being in demand4 ,it has been urged that the watercress was the plant gathered by the saint1 but this plant has been objected to on the ground that its leaf is not trifoliate1 and could not have been used by ,st4 ,patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the ,trinity4 ,on the other hand1 it has been argued that the story is of modern date1 and not to be found in any of the lives of that saint4 ,st4 ,patrick's cabbage also is a name for ,london ,pride1 from its growing in the ,west of ,ireland1 where the ,saint lived4 ,few flowers have been more popular than the daffodil or lent-lily1 or1 as it is sometimes called1 the lent-rose4 ,there are various corruptions of this name to be found in the ,west of ,england1 such as lentils1 lent-a-lily1 lents1 and lent-cocks2 the last name doubtless referring to the custom of cock-throwing1 which was allowed in ,lent1 boys1 in the absence of live cocks1 having thrown sticks at the flower4 ,according also to the old rhyme3-- ,then comes the daffodil beside ,our ,lady's smock at our ,lady's tide4 ,in ,catholic countries ,lent cakes were flavoured with the herb-tansy1 a plant dedicated to ,st4 ,athanasius4 ,in ,silesia1 on ,mid-,lent ,sunday1 pine boughs1 bound with variegated paper and spangles1 are carried about by children singing songs1 and are hung over the stable doors to keep the animals from evil influences4 ,palm ,sunday receives its ,english and the greater part of its foreign names from the old practice of bearing palm-branches1 in place of which the early catkins of the willow or yew have been substituted1 sprigs of box being used in ,brittany4 ,stow1 in his ,survey of ,london1 tells us that3--,in the weeke before ,easter had ye great shows made for the fetching in of a twisted tree or with1 as they termed it1 out of the wodes into the king's house1 and the like into every man's house of honour of worship4 ,this anniversary has also been nicknamed ,fig ,sunday1 from the old custom of eating figs2 while in ,wales it is popularly known as ,flowering ,sunday1 because persons assemble in the churchyard and spread fresh flowers upon the graves of their friends and relatives4 ,in ,germany1 on ,palm ,sunday1 the palm is credited with mystic virtues2 and if as many twigs1 as there are women of a family1 be thrown on a fire--each with a name inscribed on it--the person whose leaf burns soonest will be the first to die4 ,on ,good ,friday1 in the ,north of ,england1 an herb pudding was formerly eaten1 in which the leaves of the passion-dock 7,polygonum bistorta7 formed the principal ingredient4 ,in ,lancashire fig-sue is made1 a mixture consisting of sliced figs1 nutmeg1 ale1 and bread4 ,wreaths of elder are hung up in ,germany after sunset on ,good ,friday1 as charms against lightning2 and in ,swabia a twig of hazel cut on this day enables the possessor to strike an absent person4 ,in the ,tyrol1 too1 the hazel must be cut on ,good ,friday to be effectual as a divining-rod4 ,a ,bohemian charm against fleas is curious4 ,during ,holy ,week a leaf of palm must be placed behind a picture of the ,virgin1 and on ,easter morning taken down with this formula3 ,depart1 all animals without bones4 ,if this rite is observed there will be no more fleas in the house for the remainder of the year4 ,of the flowers associated with ,eastertide may be mentioned the garden daffodil and the purple pasque flower1 another name for the anemone 7,anemone pulsatilla71 in allusion to the ,passover and ,paschal ceremonies4 ,white broom is also in request1 and indeed all white flowers are dedicated to this festival4 ,on ,easter ,day the ,bavarian peasants make garlands of coltsfoot and throw them into the fire2 and in the district of ,lechrain every household brings to the sacred fire which is lighted at ,easter a walnut branch1 which1 when partially burned1 is laid on the hearth-fire during tempests as a charm against lightning4 ,in ,slavonian regions the palm is supposed to specially protect the locality where it grows from inclement weather and its hurtful effects2 while1 in ,pomerania1 the apple is eaten against fevers4 ,in ,bareuth young girls go at midnight on ,easter ,day to a fountain silently1 and taking care to escape notice1 throw into the water little willow rings with their friends' names inscribed thereon1 the person whose ring sinks the quickest being the first to die4 ,in years past the milkwort 7,polygala vulgaris71 from being carried in procession during ,rogation ,week1 was known by such names as the rogation-flower1 gang-flower1 procession-flower1 and cross-flower1 a custom noticed by ,gerarde1 who tells us how1 the maidens which use in the countries to walke the procession do make themselves garlands and nosegaies of the milkwort4 ,on ,ascension ,day the ,swiss make wreaths of the edelweisse1 hanging them over their doors and windows2 another plant selected for this purpose being the amaranth1 which1 like the former1 is considered an emblem of immortality4 ,in our own country may be mentioned the well-dressing of ,tissington1 near ,dovedale1 in ,derbyshire1 the wells in the village having for years past been most artistically decorated with the choicest flowers4 #b ,formerly1 on ,st4 ,george's ,day 7,april #bc71 blue coats were worn by people of fashion4 ,hence1 the harebell being in bloom1 was assigned to the saint3-- ,on ,st4 ,george's ,day1 when blue is worn1 ,the blue harebells the fields adorn4 ,flowers have always entered largely into the ,may ,day festival2 and many a graphic account has been bequeathed us of the enthusiasm with which both old and young went a-,maying soon after midnight1 breaking down branches from the trees1 which1 decorated with nosegays and garlands of flowers1 were brought home soon after sunrise and placed at the doors and windows4 ,shakespeare 7,henry ,,viii41 v4 #d71 alluding to the custom1 says3-- ',tis as much impossible1 ,unless we sweep them from the doors with cannons1 ,to scatter 'em1 as 'tis to make 'em sleep ,on ,may ,day morning4 ,accordingly1 flowers were much in demand1 many being named from the month itself1 as the hawthorn1 known in many places as ,may-bloom and ,may-tree1 whereas the lily of the valley is nicknamed ,may-lily4 ,again1 in ,cornwall lilac is termed ,may-flower1 and the narrow-leaved elm1 which is worn by the peasant in his hat or button-hole1 is called ,may4 ,similarly1 in ,germany1 we find the term ,may-bloom applied to such plants as the king-cup and lily of the valley4 ,in ,north ,america1 says the author of ,flower-lore1 the podophyllum is called ,may-apple1 and the fruit of the ,passiflora incarnata ,may-hops4 ,the chief uses of these ,may-flowers were for the garlands1 the decoration of the ,maypole1 and the adornment of the home3-- ,to get sweet setywall 7red valerian71 ,the honeysuckle1 the harlock1 ,the lily1 and the lady-smock1 ,to deck their summer hall4 ,but one plant was carefully avoided--the cuckoo flower4#c ,as in other floral rites1 the selection of plants varies on the ,continent1 branches of the elder being carried about in ,savoy1 and in ,austrian ,silesia the ,maypole is generally made of fir4 ,according to an ,italian proverb1 the universal lover is one who hangs every door with ,may4 ,various plants are associated with ,whitsuntide1 and according to ,chaucer1 in his ,romaunt of the ,rose3-- ,have hatte of floures fresh as ,may1 ,chapelett of roses of ,whitsunday1 ,for sich array be costeth but lite4 ,in ,italy the festival is designated ,pasqua ,rosata1 from falling at a time when roses are in bloom1 while in ,germany the peony is the ,pentecost rose4 ,herrick tells us it was formerly the practice to use birch and spring-flowers for decorative purposes at ,whitsuntide3-- ,when yew is out then birch comes in1 ,and ,may-flowers beside1 ,both of a fresh and fragrant kinne1 ,to honour ,whitsontide4 ,at this season1 too1 box-boughs were gathered to deck the large open fire-places then in fashion1 and the guelder rose was dedicated to the festival4 ,certain flower-sermons have been preached in the city at ,whitsuntide1 as1 for instance1 that at ,st4 ,james's ,church1 ,mitre ,court1 ,aldgate1 and another at ,st4 ,leonard's ,church1 ,shoreditch1 known as the ,fairchild ,lecture4 ,turning to the ,continent1 it is customary in ,hanover on ,whit-,monday to gather the lily of the valley1 and at the close of the day there is scarcely a house without a large bouquet1 while in ,germany the broom is a favourite plant for decorations4 ,in ,russia1 at the completion of ,whitsuntide1 young girls repair to the banks of the ,neva and cast in wreaths of flowers in token of their absent friends4 ,certain flowers1 such as the rose1 lavender1 woodruff1 and box were formerly in request for decking churches on ,st4 ,barnabas' ,day1 the officiating clergy having worn wreaths of roses4 ,among the allusions to the usage may be mentioned the following entries in the churchwarden's accounts of ,st4 ,mary-at-,hill1 ,london1 in the reigns of ,edward ,,iv4 and ,henry ,,vii43--,for rose garlondis and woodrolf garlondis on ,st4 ,barnabe ,daye1 xj'd4 ,item1 for two doss 7dozen87 di bocse 7box7 garlands for prestes and clerkes on ,st4 ,barnabe ,day1 j's4 v'd4 ,st4 ,barnabas' thistle 7,centaurea solstitialis7 derived its name from flowering at the time of the saint's festival1 and we are told how3-- ,when ,st4 ,barnaby bright smiles night and day1 ,poor ragged robin blooms in the hay4 ,to ,trinity ,sunday belong the pansy1 or herb-trinity and trefoil1 hence the latter has been used for decorations on this anniversary4 ,in commemoration of the ,restoration of ,charles ,,ii41 oak leaves and gilded oak apples have been worn2 oak branches having been in past years placed over doors and windows4 ,stowe1 in his ,survey of ,london1 speaks of the old custom of hanging up ,st4 ,john's wort over the doors of houses1 along with green birch or pine1 white lilies1 and other plants4 ,the same practice has existed very largely on the ,continent1 ,st4 ,john's wort being still regarded as an effective charm against witchcraft4 ,indeed1 few plants have been in greater request on any anniversary1 or been invested with such mystic virtues4 ,fennel1 another of the many plants dedicated to ,st4 ,john1 was hung over doors and windows on his night in ,england1 numerous allusions to which occur in the literature of the past4 ,and in connection with this saint we are told how3-- ,the scarlet lychnis1 the garden's pride1 ,flames at ,st4 ,john the ,baptist's tyde4 ,hemp was also in demand1 many forms of divination having been practised by means of its seed4 ,according to a belief in ,iceland1 the trijadent 7,spiraea ulmaria7 will1 if put under water on this day1 reveal a thief2 floating if the thief be a woman1 and sinking if a man4 ,in the ,harz1 on ,midsummer night1 branches of the fir-tree are decorated with flowers and coloured eggs1 around which the young people dance1 singing rhymes4 ,the ,bolognese1 who regard garlic as the symbol of abundance1 buy it at the festival as a charm against poverty during the coming year4 ,the ,bohemian1 says ,mr4 ,conway1 thinks he can make himself shot-proof for twenty-four hours by finding on ,st4 ,john's ,day pine-cones on the top of a tree1 taking them home1 and eating a single kernel on each day that he wishes to be invulnerable4 ,in ,sicily it is customary1 on ,midsummer ,eve1 to fell the highest poplar1 and with shouts to drag it through the village1 while some beat a drum4 ,around this poplar1 says ,mr4 ,folkard1#d symbolising the greatest solar ascension and the decline which follows it1 the crowd dance1 and sing an appropriate refrain2 and he further mentions that1 at the commencement of the ,franco-,german ,war1 he saw sprigs of pine stuck on the railway carriages bearing the ,german soldiers into ,france4 ,in ,east ,prussia1 the sap of dog-wood1 absorbed in a handkerchief1 will fulfil every wish2 and a ,brandenburg remedy for fever is to lie naked under a cherry-tree on ,st4 ,john's ,day1 and to shake the dew on one's back4 ,elsewhere we have alluded to the flowering of the fern on this anniversary1 and there is the ,bohemian idea that its seed shines like glittering gold4 ,corpus ,christi ,day was1 in olden times1 observed with much ceremony1 the churches being decorated with roses and other choice garlands1 while the streets through which the procession passed were strewn with flowers4 ,in ,north ,wales1 flowers were scattered before the door2 and a particular fern1 termed ,rhedyn ,mair1 or ,mary's fern--probably the maiden-hair--was specially used for the purpose4 ,we may mention here that the daisy 7,bellis perennis7 was formerly known as herb-,margaret or ,marguerite1 and was erroneously supposed to have been named after the virtuous ,st4 ,margaret of ,antioch3-- ,maid ,margarete1 that was so meek and mild2 ,whereas it1 in all probability1 derives its name from ,st4 ,margaret of ,cortona4 ,according to an old legend it is stated3-- ,there is a double flouret1 white and red1 ,that our lasses call herb-,margaret1 ,in honour of ,cortona's penitent1 ,whose contrite soul with red remorse was rent2 ,while on her penitence kind heaven did throw ,the white of purity1 surpassing snow2 ,so white and red in this fair flower entwine1 ,which maids are wont to scatter at her shrine4 ,again1 of the rainy saint1 ,st4 ,swithin1 we are reminded that3-- ,against ,st4 ,swithin's hastie showers1 ,the lily white reigns queen of the flowers-- ,a festival around which so much curious lore has clustered4 ,in former years ,st4 ,margaret's ,day 7,july #bj7 was celebrated with many curious ceremonies1 and1 according to a well-known couplet in allusion to the emblem of the vanquished dragon1 which appears in most pictures of ,st4 ,margaret3-- ,poppies a sanguine mantle spread ,for the blood of the dragon that ,margaret shed4 ,archdeacon ,hare says the ,sweet-,william1 designated the painted lady1 was dedicated to ,saint ,william 7,june #be71 the term sweet being a substitution for saint4 ,this seems doubtful1 and some would corrupt the word sweet from the ,french oeillet1 corrupted to ,willy1 and thence to ,william4 ,mr4 ,king1 however1 considers that the small red pink 7,dianthus prolifer71 found wild in the neighbourhood of ,rochester1 is perhaps the original ,saint ,sweet-,william1 for1 he adds1 the word saint has only been dropped since days which saw the demolition of ,st4 ,william's shrine in the cathedral4 ,this is but a conjecture1 it being uncertain whether the masses of bright flowers which form one of the chief attractions of old-fashioned gardens commemorate ,st4 ,william of ,rochester1 ,st4 ,william of ,york1 or1 likeliest perhaps of the three1 ,st4 ,william of ,aquitaine1 the half soldier1 half monk1 whose fame was so widely spread throughout the south of ,europe4 ,roses were said to fade on ,st4 ,mary ,magdalene's ,day 7,july #bj71 to whom we find numerous flowers dedicated1 such as the maudlin1 a nickname of the costmary1 either in allusion to her love of scented ointment1 or to its use in uterine affections1 over which she presided as the patroness of unchaste women1 and maudlin-wort1 another name for the moon-daisy4 ,but1 as ,dr4 ,prior remarks1 it should1 be observed that the monks in the ,middle ,ages mixed up with the story of the ,magdalene that of another ,st4 ,mary1 whose early life was passed in a course of debauchery4 ,a ,german piece of folk-lore tells us that it is dangerous to climb a cherry-tree on ,st4 ,james's ,night1 as the chance of breaking one's neck will be great1 this day being held unlucky4 ,on this day is kept ,st4 ,christopher's anniversary1 after whom the herb-christopher is named1 a species of aconite1 according to ,gerarde4 ,but1 as ,dr4 ,prior adds1 the name is applied to many plants which have no qualities in common1 some of these being the meadow-sweet1 fleabane1 osmund-fern1 herb-impious1 everlasting-flower1 and baneberry4 ,throughout ,august1 during the ingathering of the harvest1 a host of customs have been kept up from time immemorial1 which have been duly noticed by ,brand1 while towards the close of the month we are reminded of ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,day by the gaudy sunflower1 which has been nicknamed ,st4 ,bartholomew's star1 the term star having been often used as an emblematical representation of brilliant virtues or any sign of admiration4 ,it is1 too1 suggested by ,archdeacon ,hare that the filbert may owe its name to ,st4 ,philbert1 whose festival was on the #bbnd ,august4 ,the passion-flower has been termed ,holy ,rood flower1 and it is the ecclesiastical emblem of ,holy ,cross ,day1 for1 according to the familiar couplet3-- ,the passion-flower long has blow'd ,to betoken us signs of the ,holy ,rood4 ,then there is the ,michaelmas ,day1 which3-- ,among dead weeds1 ,bloom for ,st4 ,michael's valorous deeds1 and the golden star lily1 termed ,st4 ,jerome's lily4 ,on ,st4 ,luke's ,day1 certain flowers1 as we have already noticed1 have been in request for love divinations2 and on the ,continent the chestnut is eaten on the festival of ,st4 ,simon1 in ,piedmont on ,all ,souls' ,day1 and in ,france on ,st4 ,martin's1 when old women assemble beneath the windows and sing a long ballad4 ,hallowe'en has its use among divinations1 at which time various plants are in request1 and among the observance of ,all ,souls' ,day was blessing the beans4 ,it would appear1 too1 that in days gone by1 on the eve of ,all ,saints' ,day1 heath was specially burnt by way of a bonfire3-- ,on ,all ,saints' ,day bare is the place where the heath is burnt2 ,the plough is in the furrow1 the ox at work4 ,from the shape of its flower1 the trumpet-flowered wood-sorrel has been called ,st4 ,cecilia's flower1 whose festival is kept on ,november #bb4 ,the ,nigella damascena1 popularly known as love-in-a-mist1 was designated ,st4 ,catherine's flower1 from its persistent styles1 writes ,dr4 ,prior1#e resembling the spokes of her wheel4 ,there was also the ,catherine-pear1 to which ,gay alludes in his ,pastorals1 where ,sparabella1 on comparing herself with her rival1 says3-- ,her wan complexion's like the withered leek1 ,while ,catherine-pears adorn my ruddy cheek4 ,herb-,barbara1 or ,st4 ,barbara's cress 7,barbarea vulgaris71 was so called from growing and being eaten about the time of her festival 7,december #d74 ,coming to ,christmas1 some of the principal evergreens used in this country for decorative purposes are the ivy1 laurel1 bay1 arbor vitae1 rosemary1 and holly2 mistletoe1 on account of its connection with ,druidic rites1 having been excluded from churches4 ,speaking of the holly1 ,mr4 ,conway remarks that1 it was to the ancient races of the north a sign of the life which preserved nature through the desolation of winter1 and was gathered into pagan temples to comfort the sylvan spirits during the general death4 ,he further adds that it is a singular fact that it is used by the wildest ,indians of the ,pacific coast in their ceremonies of purification4 ,the ashen-faggot was in request for the ,christmas fire1 the ceremonies relating to which are well known4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,by ,d4 ,moore and ,a4,g4 ,moore1 #ahff4 #b4 ,see ,journal of the ,arch4 ,assoc41 #ahcb1 vii4 #bjf4 #c4 ,see ,british ,popular ,customs4 #d4 ,plant ,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #ejd4 #e4 ,popular ,names of ,british ,plants1 #ahgi1 p4 #bjd4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,children',s ,,rhymes ,,and ,,games4 ,children are more or less observers of nature1 and frequently far more so than their elders4 ,this1 perhaps1 is in a great measure to be accounted for from the fact that childhood is naturally inquisitive1 and fond of having explained whatever seems in any way mysterious4 ,such especially is the case in the works of nature1 and in a country ramble with children their little voices are generally busy inquiring why this bird does this1 or that plant grows in such a way--a variety of questions1 indeed1 which unmistakably prove that the young mind instinctively seeks after knowledge4 ,hence1 we find that the works of nature enter largely into children's pastimes2 a few specimens of their rhymes and games associated with plants we quote below4 ,in ,lincolnshire1 the butter-bur 7,petasites vulgaris7 is nicknamed bog-horns1 because the children use the hollow stalks as horns or trumpets1 and the young leaves and shoots of the common hawthorn 7,cratoegus oxyacantha71 from being commonly eaten by children in spring1 are known as bread and cheese2 while the ladies-smock 7,cardamine pratensis7 is termed bread and milk1 from the custom1 it has been suggested1 of country people having bread and milk for breakfast about the season when the flower first comes in4 ,in the ,north of ,england this plant is known as cuckoo-spit1 because almost every flower stem has deposited upon it a frothy patch not unlike human saliva1 in which is enveloped a pale green insect4 ,few north-country children will gather these flowers1 believing that it is unlucky to do so1 adding that the cuckoo has spit upon it when flying over4 #a ,the fruits of the mallow are popularly termed by children cheeses1 in allusion to which ,clare writes3-- ,the sitting down when school was o'er1 ,upon the threshold of the door1 ,picking from mallows1 sport to please1 ,the crumpled seed we call a cheese4 ,a ,buckinghamshire name with children for the deadly nightshade 7,atropa belladonna7 is the naughty-man's cherry1 an illustration of which we may quote from ,curtis's ,flora ,londinensis3--,on ,keep ,hill1 near ,high ,wycombe1 where we observed it1 there chanced to be a little boy4 ,i asked him if he knew the plant4 ,he answered ',yes2 it was naughty-man's cherries4' ,in the ,north of ,england the broad-dock 7,rumex obtusifolius71 when in seed1 is known by children as curly-cows1 who milk it by drawing the stalks through their fingers4 ,again1 in the same locality1 children speaking of the dead-man's thumb1 one of the popular names of the ,orchis mascula1 tell one another with mysterious awe that the root was once the thumb of some unburied murderer4 ,in one of the ,roxburghe ,ballads the phrase is referred to3-- ,then round the meadows did she walke1 ,catching each flower by the stalke1 ,suche as within the meadows grew1 ,as dead-man's thumbs and harebell blue4 ,it is to this plant that ,shakespeare doubtless alludes in ,hamlet 7,act iv4 sc4 #g71 where3-- ,long purples ,that liberal shepherds give a grosser name1 ,but our cold maids do dead-men's fingers call them4 ,in the south of ,scotland1 the name doudle1 says ,jamieson1 is applied to the root of the common reed-grass 7,phragmites communis71 which is found1 partially decayed1 in morasses1 and of which the children in the south of ,scotland make a sort of musical instrument1 similar to the oaten pipes of the ancients4 ,in ,yorkshire1 the water-scrophularia 7,scrophularia aquatica71 is in children's language known as fiddle-wood1 so called because the stems are by children stripped of their leaves1 and scraped across each other fiddler-fashion1 when they produce a squeaking sound4 ,this juvenile music is the source of infinite amusement among children1 and is carried on by them with much enthusiasm in their games4 ,likewise1 the spear-thistle 7,carduus lanceolatus7 is designated ,marian in ,scotland1 while children blow the pappus from the receptacle1 saying3-- ,marian1 ,marian1 what's the time of day1 ,one o'clock1 two o'clock--it's time we were away4 ,in ,cheshire1 when children first see the heads of the ribwort plantain 7,plantago lanceolata7 in spring1 they repeat the following rhyme3-- ,chimney sweeper all in black1 ,go to the brook and wash your back1 ,wash it clean1 or wash it none2 ,chimney sweeper1 have you done83-- ,being in all probability a mode of divination for insuring good luck4 ,another name for the same plant is cocks1 from children fighting the flower-stems one against another4 ,the common hazel-nut 7,corylus avellana7 is frequently nicknamed the cob-nut1 and was so called from being used in an old game played by children4 ,an old name for the devil's-bit 7,scabiosa succisa71 in the northern counties1 and in ,scotland1 is curl-doddy1 from the resemblance of the head of flowers to the curly pate of a boy1 this nickname being often used by children who thus address the plant3-- ,curly-doddy1 do my biddin'1 ,soop my house1 and shoal my widden'4 ,in ,ireland1 children twist the stalk1 and as it slowly untwists in the hand1 thus address it3-- ,curl-doddy on the midden1 ,turn round an' take my biddin'4 ,in ,cumberland1 the ,primula farinosa1 commonly known as bird's-eye1 is called by children bird-een4 ,the lockety-gowan and bonny bird-een ,are the fairest flowers that ever were seen4 ,and in many places the ,leontodon taraxacum is designated blow-ball1 because children blow the ripe fruit from the receptacle to tell the time of day and for various purposes of divination4 ,thus in the ,sad ,shepherd1 page #h1 it is said3-- ,her treading would not bend a blade of grass1 ,or shake the downy blow-ball from his stalk4 ,in ,scotland1 one of the popular names of the ,angelica sylvestris is aik-skeiters1 or hear-skeiters1 because children shoot oats through the hollow stems1 as peas are shot through a pea-shooter4 ,then there is the goose-grass 7,galium aparine71 variously called goose-bill1 beggar's-lice1 scratch-weed1 and which has been designated blind-tongue1 because children with the leaves practise phlebotomy upon the tongue of those playmates who are simple enough to endure it1 a custom once very general in ,scotland4 #b ,the catkins of the willow are in some counties known as goslings1 or goslins1--children1 says ,halliwell1 #c sometimes playing with them by putting them in the fire and singeing them brown1 repeating verses at the same time4 ,one of the names of the heath-pea 7,lathyrus macrorrhizus7 is liquory-knots1 and school-boys in ,berwickshire so call them1 for when dried their taste is not unlike that of the real liquorice4 #d ,again1 a children's name of common henbane 7,hyoscyamus niger7 is loaves of bread1 an allusion to which is made by ,clare in his ,shepherd's ,calendar3-- ,hunting from the stack-yard sod ,the stinking henbane's belted pod1 ,by youth's warm fancies sweetly led ,to christen them his loaves of bread4 ,a ,worcestershire name for a horse-chestnut is the oblionker tree4 ,according to a correspondent of ,notes and ,queries 7#eth ,ser4 x4 #agg71 in the autumn1 when the chestnuts are falling from their trunks1 boys thread them on string and play a cob-nut game with them4 ,when the striker is taking aim1 and preparing for a shot at his adversary's nut1 he says3-- ,oblionker6 ,my first conker 7conquer74 ,the word oblionker apparently being a meaningless invention to rhyme with the word conquer1 which has by degrees become applied to the fruit itself4 ,the wall peniterry 7,parietaria officinalis7 is known in ,ireland as peniterry1 and is thus described in ,father ,connell1 by the ,o',hara ,family 7chap1 xii473-- ,a weed called1 locally at least1 peniterry1 to which the suddenly terrified schoolboy idler might run in his need1 grasping it hard and threateningly1 and repeating the following 'words of power'3-- ',peniterry1 peniterry1 that grows by the wall1 ,save me from a whipping1 or ,i'll pull you roots and all4' ,johnston1 who has noticed so many odd superstitions1 tells us that the tuberous ground-nut 7,bunium flexuosum71 which has various nicknames1 such as lousy1 loozie1 or lucie arnut1 is dug up by children who eat the roots1 but they are hindered from indulging to excess by a cherished belief that the luxury tends to generate vermin in the head4 #e ,an old rhyme often in years past used by country children when the daffodils made their annual appearance in early spring1 was as follows3-- ,daff-a-down-dill ,has now come to town1 ,in a yellow petticoat ,and a green gown4 ,a name for the shepherd's purse is mother's-heart1 and in the eastern ,border district1 says ,johnston1 children have a sort of game with the seed-pouch4 ,they hold it out to their companions1 inviting them to take a haud o' that4 ,it immediately cracks1 and then follows a triumphant shout1 ,you've broken your mother's heart4 ,in ,northamptonshire1 children pick the leaves of the herb called pick-folly1 one by one1 repeating each time the words1 ,rich man1 poor man1 beggar-man1 thief1 c41 fancying that the one which comes to be named at the last plucking will prove the conditions of their future partners4 ,variations of this custom exist elsewhere1 and a correspondent of ,science ,gossip 7#ahgf1 xi4 #id74 writes3--,i remember when at school at ,birmingham that my playmates manifested a very great repugnance to this plant4 ,very few of them would touch it1 and it was known to us by the two bad names1 haughty-man's plaything1 and pick your mother's heart out4 ,in ,hanover1 as well as in the ,swiss canton of ,st4 ,gall1 the same plant is offered to uninitiated persons with a request to pluck one of the pods4 ,should he do so the others exclaim1 ,you have stolen a purse of gold from your father and mother4 ,it is interesting to find1 writes ,mr4 ,britten in the ,folk-lore ,record 7i4 #aei71 that a common tropical weed1 ,ageratum conyzoides1 is employed by children in ,venezuela in a very similar manner4 ,the compilers of the ,dictionary of ,plant ,names consider that the double 7garden7 form of ,saxifraga granulata1 designated pretty maids1 may be referred to in the old nursery rhyme3-- ,mary1 ,mary1 quite contrary1 ,how does your garden grow8 ,cockle-shells1 and silver bells1 ,and pretty maids all in a row4 ,the old-man's-beard 7,clematis vitalba7 is in many places popularly known as smoke-wood1 because our village-boys smoke pieces of the wood as they do of rattan cane2 hence1 it is sometimes called smoke-wood1 and smoking-cane4 #f ,the children of ,galloway play at hide-and-seek with a little black-topped flower which is known by them as the ,davie-drap1 meantime repeating the following rhyme3-- ,within the bounds of this ,i hap ,my black and bonnie ,davie-drap3 ,wha is he1 the cunning ane1 ,to me my ,davie-drap will fin'8 ,this plant1 it has been suggested1 #g being the cuckoo grass 7,luzula campestris71 which so often figures in children's games and rhymes4 ,once more1 there are numerous games played by children in which certain flowers are introduced1 as in the following1 known as the three flowers1 played in ,scotland1 and thus described in ,chambers's ,popular ,rhymes1 p4 #abg3--;,a group of lads and lasses being assembled round the fire1 two leave the party and consult together as to the names of three others1 young men or girls1 whom they designate as the red rose1 the pink1 and the gillyflower4 ,the two young men then return1 and having selected a member of the fairer group1 they say to her3-- ',my mistress sent me unto thine1 ,wi' three young flowers baith fair and fine3-- ,the pink1 the rose1 and the gillyflower1 ,and as they here do stand1 ,whilk will ye sink1 whilk will ye swim1 ,and whilk bring hame to land8' ,the maiden must choose one of the flowers named1 on which she passes some approving epithet1 adding1 at the same time1 a disapproving rejection of the other two1 as in the following terms3 ',i will sink the pink1 swim the rose1 and bring hame the gillyflower to land4' ,the young men then disclose the names of the parties upon whom they had fixed those appellations respectively1 when it may chance she has slighted the person to whom she is most attached1 and contrariwise4 ,games of this kind are very varied1 and still afford many an evening's amusement among the young people of our country villages during the winter evenings4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,journal of ,horticulture1 #ahgf1 p4 #cee4 #b4 ,johnston's ,botany of ,eastern ,borders4 #c4 ,dictionary of ,archaic and ,provincial ,words4 #d4 ,johnston's ,botany of ,eastern ,borders1 p4 #eg4 #e4 ,botany of ,eastern ,borders1 p4 #he4 #f4 ,english ,botany1 ed4 ,i1 iii4 p4 #c4 #g4 ,dictionary of ,plant ,names 7,britten and ,holland71 p4 #ade4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,sacred ,,plants4 ,closely allied with plant-worship is the sacred and superstitious reverence which1 from time immemorial1 has been paid by various communities to certain trees and plants4 ,in many cases this sanctity originated in the olden heathen mythology1 when every flower was the emblem of a god2 every tree the abode of a nymph4 ,from their association1 too1 with certain events1 plants frequently acquired a sacred character1 and occasionally their specific virtues enhanced their veneration4 ,in short1 the large number of sacred plants found in different countries must be attributed to a variety of causes1 illustrations of which are given in the present chapter4 ,thus going back to mythological times1 it may be noticed that trees into which persons were metamorphosed became sacred4 ,the laurel was sacred to ,apollo in memory of ,daphne1 into which tree she was changed when escaping from his advances3-- ,because thou canst not be ,my mistress1 ,i espouse thee for my tree2 ,be thou the prize of honour and renown1 ,the deathless poet and the poet's crown2 ,thou shalt the ,roman festivals adorn1 ,and1 after poets1 be by victors won4 ,but it is unnecessary to give further instances of such familiar stories1 of which early history is full4 ,at the same time it is noteworthy that many of these plants which acquired a sanctity from heathen mythology still retain their sacred character--a fact which has invested them with various superstitions1 in addition to having caused them to be selected for ceremonial usage and homage in modern times4 ,thus the pine1 with its mythical origin and heathen associations1 is an important tree on the ,continent1 being surrounded with a host of legends1 most of which1 in one shape or another1 are relics of early forms of belief4 ,the sacred character of the oak still survives in modern folk-lore1 and a host of flowers which grace our fields and hedges have sacred associations from their connection with the heathen gods of old4 ,thus the anemone1 poppy1 and violet were dedicated to ,venus2 and to ,diana all flowers growing in untrodden dells and shady nooks1 uncontaminated by the tread of man1 more especially belonged4 ,the narcissus and maidenhair were sacred to ,proserpina1 and the willow to ,ceres4 ,the pink is ,jove's flower1 and of the flowers assigned to ,juno may be mentioned the lily1 crocus1 and asphodel4 ,passing on to other countries1 we find among the plants most conspicuous for their sacred character the well-known lotus of the ,east 7,nelunibium speciosum71 around which so many traditions and mythological legends have clustered4 ,according to a ,hindu legend1 from its blossom ,brahma came forth3-- ,a form ,cerulean fluttered o'er the deep2 ,brightest of beings1 greatest of the great1 ,who1 not as mortals steep ,their eyes in dewy sleep1 ,but heavenly pensive on the lotus lay1 ,that blossom'd at his touch1 and shed a golden ray4 ,hail1 primal blossom6 hail1 empyreal gem1 ,kemel1 or ,pedma1 #a or whate'er high name ,delight thee1 say4 ,what four-formed godhead came1 ,with graceful stole and beamy diadem1 ,forth from thy verdant stem4 #b ,buddha1 too1 whose symbol is the lotus1 is said to have first appeared floating on this mystic flower1 and1 indeed1 it would seem that many of the ,eastern deities were fond of resting on its leaves2 while in ,china1 the god ,pazza is generally represented as occupying this position4 ,hence the lotus has long been an object of worship1 and as a sacred plant holds a most distinguished place1 for it is the flower of the1 ,old ,hindu mythologies1 wherein ,the lotus1 attribute of ,ganga--embling ,the world's great reproductive power--was held ,in veneration4 ,we may mention here that the lotus1 known also as the sacred bean of ,egypt1 and the rose-lily of the ,nile1 as far back as four thousand years ago was held in high sanctity by the ,egyptian priests1 still retaining its sacred character in ,china1 ,japan1 and ,asiatic ,russia4 ,another famous sacred plant is the soma or moon-plant of ,india1 the ,asclepias acida1 a climbing plant with milky juice1 which ,windischmann has identified with the tree of life which grew in paradise4 ,its milk juice was said to confer immortality1 the plant itself never decaying2 and in a hymn in the ,rig ,veda the soma sacrifice is thus described3-- ,we've quaffed the soma bright ,and are immortal grown1 ,we've entered into light ,and all the gods have known4 ,what mortal can now harm1 ,or foeman vex us more8 ,through thee beyond alarm1 ,immortal ,god6 we soar4 ,then there is the peepul or bo-tree 7,ficus religiosa71 which is held in high veneration by the followers of ,buddha1 in the vicinity of whose temples it is generally planted4 ,one of these trees in ,ceylon is said to be of very great antiquity1 and according to ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,tennant1 to it kings have even dedicated their dominions in testimony of their belief that it is a branch of the identical fig-tree under which ,gotama ,buddha reclined when he underwent his apotheosis4 ,the peepul-tree is highly venerated in ,java1 and by the ,buddhists of ,thibet is known as the bridge of safety1 over which mortals pass from the shores of this world to those of the unseen one beyond4 ,occasionally confounded with this peepul is the banyan 7,ficus indica71 which is another sacred tree of the ,indians4 ,under its shade ,vishnu is said to have been born2 and by the ,chinese1 ,buddha is represented as sitting beneath its leaves to receive the homage of the god ,brahma4 ,another sacred tree is the deodar 7,cedrus deodara71 a species of cedar1 being the ,devadara1 or tree-god of the ,shastras1 which in so many of the ancient ,hindu hymns is depicted as the symbol of power and majesty4 #c ,the aroka1 or ,saraca indica1 is said to preserve chastity1 and is dedicated to ,kama1 the ,indian god of love1 while with the negroes of ,senegambia the baobab-tree is an object of worship4 ,in ,borneo the nipa-palm is held in veneration1 and the ,mexican ,indians have their moriche-palm 7,mauritia flexuosa74 ,the ,tamarindus ,indica is in ,ceylon dedicated to ,siva1 the god of destruction2 and in ,thibet1 the jambu or rose-apple is believed to be the representative of the divine amarita-tree which bears ambrosia4 ,the pomegranate1 with its mystic origin and early sacred associations1 was long reverenced by the ,persians and ,jews1 an old tradition having identified it as the forbidden fruit given by ,eve to ,adam4 ,again1 as a sacred plant the basil has from time immemorial been held in high repute by the ,hindus1 having been sacred to ,vishnu4 ,indeed it is worshipped as a deity itself1 and is invoked as the goddess ,tulas for the protection of the human frame4 ,it is further said that the heart of ,vishnu1 the husband of the ,tulas1 is agitated and tormented whenever the least sprig is broken of a plant of ,tulas1 his wife4 ,among further flowers holding a sacred character may be mentioned the henna1 the ,egyptian privet 7,lawsonia alba71 the flower of paradise1 which was pronounced by ,mahomet as chief of the flowers of this world and the next1 the wormwood having been dedicated to the goddess ,iris4 ,by the aborigines of the ,canary ,islands1 the dragon-tree 7,dracoena draco7 of ,orotava was an object of sacred reverence2 #d and in ,burmah at the present day the eugenia is held sacred4 #e ,it has been remarked that the life of ,christ may be said to fling its shadow over the whole vegetable world4 #f ,from this time the trees and the flowers which had been associated with heathen rites and deities1 began to be connected with holier names1 and not unfrequently with the events of the crucifixion itself4 ,thus1 upon the ,virgin ,mary a wealth of flowers was lavished1 all white ones1 having been considered typical of her purity and holiness1 and consecrated to her festivals4 #g ,indeed1 not only1 were the finer flowers wrested from the classic ,juno and ,diana1 and from the ,freyja and ,bertha of northern lands given to her1 but lovely buds of every hue were laid upon her shrines4 #h ,one species1 for instance1 of the maiden-hair fern1 known also as ,our ,lady's hair1 is designated in ,iceland ,freyja's hair1 and the rose1 often styled ,frau rose1 or ,mother rose1 the favourite flower of ,hulda1 was transferred to the ,virgin4 ,on the other hand1 many plants bearing the name of ,our ,lady1 were1 writes ,mr4 ,folkard1 in ,puritan times1 replaced by the name of ,venus1 thus recurring to the ancient nomenclature2 ',our ,lady's comb' becoming ',venus's comb4' ,but the two flowers which were specially connected with the ,virgin were the lily and the rose4 ,accordingly1 in ,italian art1 a vase of lilies stands by the ,virgin's side1 with three flowers crowning three green stems4 ,the flower is generally the large white lily of our gardens1 the pure white petals signifying her spotless body1 and the golden anthers within typifying her soul sparkling with divine light4 #i ,the rose1 both red and white1 appears at an early period as an emblem of the ,virgin1 and was specially so recognised by ,st4 ,dominic when he instituted the devotion of the rosary1 with direct reference to her4 #aj ,among other flowers connected with the ,virgin ,mary may be mentioned the flowering-rod1 according to which ,joseph was chosen for her husband1 because his rod budded into flower1 and a dove settled upon the top of it4 ,in ,tuscany a similar legend is attached to the oleander1 and elsewhere the white campanula has been known as the little staff of ,st4 ,joseph1 while a ,german name for the white double daffodill is ,joseph's staff4 ,then there is ,our ,lady's bed-straw1 which filled the manger on which the infant ,jesus was laid2 while of the plant said to have formed the ,virgin's bed may be mentioned the thyme1 woodroof1 and groundsel4 ,the white-spotted green leaves of ,our ,lady's thistle were caused by some drops of her milk falling upon them1 and in ,cheshire we find the same idea connected with the pulmonaria or lady's milk sile1 the word sile being a provincialism for soil1 or stain4 ,a ,german tradition makes the common fern 7,polypodium vulgare7 to have sprung from the ,virgin's milk4 ,numerous flowers have been identified with her dress1 such as the marigold1 termed by ,shakespeare ,mary-bud1 which she wore in her bosom4 ,the cuckoo-flower of our meadows is ,our ,lady's smock1 which ,shakespeare refers to in those charming lines in ,love's ,labour's ,lost1 where3-- ,when daisies pied and violets blue1 ,and lady's smocks all silver white1 ,and cuckoo-buds of yellow hue ,do paint the meadows with delight1 ,the cuckoo then on every tree ,mocks married men1 for thus sings he1 ,cuckoo4 ,and one of the finest of our orchids is ,our ,lady's slipper4 ,the ribbon grass is ,our ,lady's garters1 and the dodder supplies her laces4 ,in the same way many flowers have been associated with the ,virgin herself4 ,thus1 there is ,our ,lady's tresses1 and a popular name for the maiden-hair fern and quaking-grass is ,virgin's hair4 ,the lilies of the valley are her tears1 and a ,german nickname for the lungwort is ,our ,lady's milk-wort4 ,the ,anthlyllis vulneraria is ,our ,lady's fingers1 and the kidney-wort has been designated lady's navel4 ,certain orchids1 from the peculiar form of their hand-shaped roots1 have been popularly termed ,our ,lady's hands1 a name given in ,france to the dead-nettle4 ,of the many other plants dedicated to the ,virgin may be mentioned the snowdrop1 popularly known as the fair maid of ,february1 opening its floweret at the time of ,candlemas4 ,according to an old monkish tradition it blooms at this time1 in memory of the ,virgin having taken the child ,jesus to the temple1 and there presented her offering4 ,a further reason for the snowdrop's association with the ,virgin originated in the custom of removing her image from the altar on the day of the ,purification1 and strewing over the vacant place with these emblems of purity4 ,the bleeding nun 7,cyclamen europoeum7 was consecrated to the ,virgin1 and in ,france the spearmint is termed ,our ,lady's mint4 ,in ,germany the costmary 7,costaminta vulgaris7 is ,our ,lady's balsam1 the white-flowered wormwood the smock of our ,lady1 and in olden days the iris or fleur-de-lis was held peculiarly sacred4 ,the little pink is lady's cushion1 and the campanula is her looking-glass4 ,then there is ,our ,lady's comb1 with its long1 fragile seed-vessels resembling the teeth of a comb1 while the cowslip is ,our ,lady's bunch of keys4 ,in ,france1 the digitalis supplies her with gloves1 and in days gone by the ,convallaria polygonatum was the ,lady's seal4 ,according to some old writers1 the black briony went by this name1 and ,hare gives this explanation3--',our ,lady's seal' 7,sigillum marioe7 is among the names of the black briony1 owing to the great efficacy of its roots when spread in a plaster and applied as it were to heal up a scar or bruise4 ,formerly a species of primula was known as lady's candlestick1 and a ,wiltshire nickname for the common convolvulus is lady's nightcap1 ,canterbury bells in some places supplying this need4 ,the harebell is lady's thimble1 and the plant which affords her a mantle is the ,alchemilla vulgaris1 with its grey-green leaf covered with a soft silky hair4 ,this is the ,maria ,stakker of ,iceland1 which when placed under the pillow produces sleep4 ,once more1 the strawberry is one of the fruits that has been dedicated to her2 and a species of nut1 popularly known as the molluka bean1 is in many parts called the ,virgin ,mary's nut4 ,the cherry-tree1 too1 has long been consecrated to the ,virgin from the following tradition3-- ,being desirous one day of refreshing herself with some cherries which she saw hanging upon a tree1 she requested ,joseph to gather some for her4 ,but he hesitated1 and mockingly said1 ,let the father of thy child present them to you4 ,but these words had been no sooner uttered than the branch of the cherry-tree inclined itself of its own accord to the ,virgin's hand4 ,there are many other plants associated in one way or another with the ,virgin1 but the instances already given are representative of this wide subject4 ,in connection1 too1 with her various festivals1 we find numerous plants2 and as the author of ,flower-lore remarks1 to the ,madonna were assigned the white iris1 blossoming almond-tree1 narcissus1 and white lily1 all appropriate to the ,annunciation4 ,the flowers appropriate to the ,visitation of ,our ,lady were1 in addition to the lily1 roses red and white1 while to the ,feast of ,assumption is assigned the ,virgin's bower1 worthy to be so called1 writes ,gerarde1 by reason of the goodly shadow which the branches make with their thick bushing and climbing1 as also for the beauty of the flowers1 and the pleasant scent and savour of the same4 ,many plants have been associated with ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 from his having been the forerunner of ,christ4 ,thus1 the common plant which bears his name1 ,st4 ,john's wort1 is marked with blood-like spots1 known as the blood of ,st4 ,john1 making their appearance on the day he was beheaded4 ,the scarlet lychnis1 popularly nicknamed the great candlestick1 was commonly said to be lighted up for his day4 ,the carob tree has been designated ,st4 ,john's bread1 from a tradition that it supplied him with food in the wilderness2 and currants1 from beginning to ripen at this time1 have been nicknamed berries of ,st4 ,john4 ,the artemisia was in ,germany ,st4 ,john's girdle1 and in ,sicily was applied to his beard4 ,in connection with ,christ's birth it may be noted that the early painters represent the ,angel ,gabriel with either a sceptre or spray of the olive tree1 while in the later period of ,italian art he has in his hand a branch of white lilies4#aa ,the star which pointed out the place of ,his birth has long been immortalised by the ,ornithogalum umbellatum1 or ,star of ,bethlehem1 which has been thought to resemble the pictures descriptive of it2 in ,france there is a pretty legend of the rose-coloured sainfoin4 ,when the infant ,jesus was lying in the manger the plant was found among the grass and herbs which composed his bed4 ,but suddenly it opened its pretty blossom1 that it might form a wreath around ,his head4 ,on this account it has been held in high repute4 ,hence the practice in ,italy of decking mangers at ,christmas time with moss1 sow-thistle1 cypress1 and holly4 #ab ,near the city of ,on there was shown for many centuries the sacred fig-tree1 under which the ,holy ,family rested during their ,flight into ,egypt1 and a ,bavarian tradition makes the tree under which they found shelter a hazel4 ,a ,german legend1 on the other hand1 informs us that as they took their flight they came into a thickly-wooded forest1 when1 on their approach1 all the trees1 with the exception of the aspen1 paid reverential homage4 ,the disrespectful arrogance of the aspen1 however1 did not escape the notice of the ,holy ,child1 who thereupon pronounced a curse against it1 whereupon its leaves began to tremble1 and have done so ever since3-- ,once as our ,saviour walked with men below1 ,his path of mercy through a forest lay2 ,and mark how all the drooping branches show ,what homage best a silent tree may pay4 ,only the aspen stood erect and free1 ,scorning to join the voiceless worship pure1 ,but see6 ,he cast one look upon the tree1 ,struck to the heart she trembles evermore4 ,the rose of ,jericho has long been regarded with special reverence1 having first blossomed at ,christ's birth1 closed at ,his crucifixion1 and opened again at the resurrection4 ,at the flight into ,egypt it is reported to have sprung up to mark the footsteps of the sacred family1 and was consequently designated ,mary's rose4 ,the pine protected them from ,herod's soldiers1 while the juniper opened its branches and offered a welcome shelter1 although it afterwards1 says an old legend1 furnished the wood for the cross4 ,but some trees were not so thoughtful1 for the brooms and the chick-peas rustled and crackled1 and the flax bristled up4 ,according to another old legend we are informed that by the fountain where the ,virgin ,mary washed the swaddling-clothes of her sacred infant1 beautiful bushes sprang up in memory of the event4 ,among the many further legends connected with the ,virgin may be mentioned the following connected with her death3--,the story runs that she was extremely anxious to see her ,son again1 and that whilst weeping1 an angel appeared1 and said1 ,hail1 ,o ,mary6 ,i bring thee here a branch of palm1 gathered in paradise2 command that it be carried before thy bier in the day of thy death1 for in three days thy soul shall leave thy body1 and thou shalt enter into paradise1 where thy ,son awaits thy coming4 ,the angel then departed1 but the palm-branch shed a light from every leaf1 and the apostles1 although scattered in different parts of the world1 were miraculously caught up and set down at the ,virgin's door4 ,the sacred palm-branch she then assigned to the care of ,st4 ,john1 who carried it before her bier at the time of her burial4 #ac ,the trees and flowers associated with the crucifixion are widely represented1 and have given rise to many a pretty legend4 ,several plants are said to owe their dark-stained blossoms to the blood-drops which trickled from the cross2 amongst these being the wood-sorrel1 the spotted persicaria1 the arum1 the purple orchis1 which is known in ,cheshire as ,gethsemane1 and the red anemone1 which has been termed the blood-drops of ,christ4 ,a ,flemish legend1 too1 accounts in the same way for the crimson-spotted leaves of the rood-selken4 ,the plant which has gained the unenviable notoriety of supplying the crown of thorns has been variously stated as the boxthorn1 the bramble1 the buckthorns1 #ad and barberry1 while ,mr4 ,conway quotes an old tradition1 which tells how the drops of blood that fell from the crown of thorns1 composed of the rose-briar1 fell to the ground and blossomed to roses4 #ae ,some again maintain that the wild hyssop was employed1 and one plant which was specially signalled out in olden times is the auberpine or white-thorn4 ,in ,germany holly is ,christ-thorn1 and according to an ,eastern tradition it was the prickly rush1 but as ,mr4 ,king #af remarks1 the belief of the ,east has been tolerably constant to what was possibly the real plant employed1 the nabk 7,zizyphus spina-,christi71 a species of buckthorn4 ,the negroes of the ,west ,indies say that1 a branch of the cashew tree was used1 and that in consequence one of the bright golden petals of the flower became black and blood-stained4 ,then again1 according to a ,swedish legend1 the dwarf birch tree afforded the rod with which ,christ was scourged1 which accounts for its stunted appearance2 while another legend tells us it was the willow with its drooping branches4 ,rubens1 together with the earlier ,italian painters1 depict the reed-mace #ag or bulrush 7,typha latifolia7 as the rod given to ,him to carry2 a plant still put by ,catholics into the hands of statues of ,christ4 ,but in ,poland1 where the plant is difficult to procure1 the flower-stalk of the leek is substituted4 ,the mournful tree which formed the wood of the cross has always been a disputed question1 and given rise to a host of curious legends4 ,according to ,sir ,john ,maundeville1 it was composed of cedar1 cypress1 palm1 and olive1 while some have instituted in the place of the two latter the pine and the box2 the notion being that those four woods represented the four quarters of the globe4 ,foremost amongst the other trees to which this distinction has been assigned1 are the aspen1 poplar1 oak1 elder1 and mistletoe4 ,hence is explained the gloomy shivering of the aspen leaf1 the trembling of the poplar1 and the popular antipathy to utilising elder twigs for fagots4 ,but it is probable that the respect paid to the elder has its roots in the old heathenism of the north1 and to this day1 in ,denmark1 it is said to be protected by a being called the elder-mother1 so that it is not safe to damage it in any way4 #ah ,the mistletoe1 which exists now as a mere parasite1 was before the crucifixion a fine forest tree2 its present condition being a lasting monument of the disgrace it incurred through its ignominious use4 #ai ,a further legend informs us that when the ,jews were in search of wood for the cross1 every tree1 with the exception of the oak1 split itself to avoid being desecrated4 ,on this account1 ,grecian woodcutters avoid the oak1 regarding it as an accursed tree4 ,the bright blue blossoms of the speedwell1 which enliven our wayside hedges in spring-time1 are said to display in their markings a representation of the kerchief of ,st ,veronica1 imprinted with the features of ,christ4 #bj ,according to an old tradition1 when our ,lord was on ,his way to ,calvary1 bearing ,his ,cross1 ,he happened to pass by the door of ,veronica1 who1 beholding the drops of agony on ,his brow1 wiped ,his face with a kerchief or napkin4 ,the sacred features1 however1 remained impressed upon the linen1 and from the fancied resemblance of the blossom of the speedwell to this hallowed relic1 the plant was named ,veronica4 ,a plant closely connected by tradition with the crucifixion is the passion-flower4 ,as soon as the early ,spanish settlers in ,south ,america first glanced on it1 they fancied they had discovered not only a marvellous symbol of ,christ's passion1 but received an assurance of the ultimate triumph of ,christianity4 ,jacomo ,bosio1 who obtained his knowledge of it from certain ,mexican ,jesuits1 speaks of it as the flower of the five wounds1 and has given a very minute description of it1 showing how exactly every part is a picture of the mysteries of the ,passion4 ,it would seem1 he adds1 as if the ,creator of the world had chosen it to represent the principal emblems of ,his ,son's ,passion2 so that in due season it might assist1 when its marvels should be explained to them1 in the condition of the heathen people1 in whose country it grew4 ,in ,brittany1 vervain is popularly termed the herb of the cross1 and when gathered with a certain formula is efficacious in curing wounds4 #ba ,in legendary lore1 much uncertainty exists as to the tree on which ,judas hanged himself4 ,according to ,sir ,john ,maundeville1 there it stood in the vicinity of ,mount ,sion1 the tree of eldre1 that ,judas henge himself upon1 for despeyr1 a legend which has been popularly received4 ,shakespeare1 in his ,love's ,labour's ,lost1 says ,judas was hanged on an elder1 and the story is further alluded to in ,piers ,plowman's vision3-- ,judas1 he japed ,with ,jewen silver1 ,and sithen on an eller1 ,hanged himselve4 ,gerarde makes it the wild carob1 a tree which1 as already stated1 was formerly known as ,st4 ,john's bread1 from a popular belief that the ,baptist fed upon it while in the wilderness4 ,a ,sicilian tradition identifies the tree as a tamarisk1 and a ,russian proverb1 in allusion to the aspen1 tells us there is an accursed tree which trembles without even a breath of wind4 ,the fig1 also1 has been mentioned as the ill-fated tree1 and some traditions have gone so far as to say that it was the very same one as was cursed by our ,lord4 ,as might be expected1 numerous plants have become interwoven with the lives of the saints1 a subject on which many works have been written4 ,hence it is unnecessary to do more than briefly note some of the more important items of sacred lore which have been embodied in many of the early ,christian legends4 ,the yellow rattle has been assigned to ,st4 ,peter1 and the ,primula veris1 from its resemblance to a bunch of keys1 is ,st4 ,peter's wort4 ,many flowers1 too1 from the time of their blossoming1 have been dedicated to certain saints1 as the square ,st4 ,john's wort 7,hypericum quadrangulare71 which is also known as ,st4 ,peter's wort2 while in ,germany wall-barley is termed ,peter's corn4 ,of the many legends connected with the cherry we are reminded that on one occasion ,christ gave one to ,st4 ,peter1 at the same time reminding him not to despise little things4 ,st4 ,james is associated with several plants--the ,st4 ,james' wort 7,senecio ,jacoboea71 either from its having been much used for the diseases of horses1 of which the saint was the patron1 or owing to its blossoming on his festival4 ,the same name was applied to the shepherd's purse and the rag-weed4 ,incidentally1 too1 in our chapter on the calendar we have alluded to many flowers associated with the saints1 and spoken of the customs observed in their honour4 ,similarly the later saints had particular flowers dedicated to their memory2 and1 indeed1 a complete catalogue of flowers has been compiled--one for each day in the year--the flower in many cases having been selected because it flowered on the festival of that saint4 ,thus the common bean was dedicated to ,st4 ,ignatius1 and the blue hyacinth to ,st4 ,dorothy1 while to ,st4 ,hilary the barren strawberry has been assigned4 ,st4 ,anne is associated with the camomile1 and ,st4 ,margaret with the ,virginian dragon's head4 ,then there is ,st4 ,anthony's turnips and ,st4 ,barbara's cress--the ,saints' ,floral ,directory1 in ,hone's ,every-,day ,book1 giving a fuller and more extensive list4 ,but the illustrations we have already given are sufficient to show how fully the names of the saints have been perpetuated by so many of our well-known plants not only being dedicated to1 but named after them1 a fact which is perhaps more abundantly the case on the ,continent4 ,then1 as it has been remarked1 flowers have virtually become the timepieces of our religious calendar1 reminding us of the various festivals1 as in succession they return1 in addition to immortalising the history and events which such festivals commemorate4 ,in many cases1 too1 it should be remembered1 the choice of flowers for dedication to certain saints originated either in their medical virtues or in some old tradition which was supposed to have specially singled them out for this honour4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,sanscrit for lotus4 #b4 ,hindu poem1 translated by ,sir ,william ,jones4 #c4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #aah4 #d4 ,folkard's ,plant ,legends1 p4 #bde4 #e4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #abj4 #f4 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bca4 #g4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #b4 #h4 ,ibid4 #i4 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bce4 #aj4 ,ibid41 p4 #bci4 #aa4 ,flower-lore4 #ab4 ,folkard's ,plant ,legends1 p4 #dd4 #ac4 ,folkard's ,plant ,legends1 p4 #cie4 #ad4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #ac4 #ae4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #gad4 #af4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #ad4 #ag4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #ad4 #ah4 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bcc2 ,flower-lore1 p4 #ae4 #ai4 ,see ,baring-,gould's ,myths of the ,middle ,ages4 #bj4 ,flower-lore1 p4 #ab4 #ba4 ,see chapter on ,folk-,medicine4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,plant ,,superstitions4 ,the superstitious notions which1 under one form or another1 have clustered round the vegetable kingdom1 hold a prominent place in the field of folk-lore4 ,to give a full and detailed account of these survivals of bygone beliefs1 would occupy a volume of no mean size1 so thickly scattered are they among the traditions and legendary lore of almost every country4 ,only too frequently1 also1 we find the same superstition assuming a very different appearance as it travels from one country to another1 until at last it is almost completely divested of its original dress4 ,repeated changes of this kind1 whilst not escaping the notice of the student of comparative folk-lore1 are apt to mislead the casual observer who1 it may be1 assigns to them a particular home in his own country1 whereas probably they have travelled1 before arriving at their modern destination1 thousands of miles in the course of years4 ,there is said to be a certain mysterious connection between certain plants and animals4 ,thus1 swine when affected with the spleen are supposed to resort to the spleen-wort1 and according to ,coles1 in his ,art of ,simpling1 the ass does likewise1 for he tells us that1 if the asse be oppressed with melancholy1 he eates of the herbe asplemon or mill-waste1 and eases himself of the swelling of the spleen4 ,one of the popular names of the common sow-thistle 7,sonchus oleraceus7 is hare's-palace1 from the shelter it is supposed to afford the hare4 ,according to the ,grete ,herbale1 if the hare come under it1 he is sure that no beast can touch hym4 ,topsell also1 in his ,natural ,history1 alludes to this superstition3--,when hares are overcome with heat1 they eat of an herb called ,latuca leporina1 that is1 hare's-lettuce1 hare's-house1 hare's-palace2 and there is no disease in this beast the cure whereof she does not seek for in this herb4 ,the hound's-tongue 7cynoglossum7 has been reputed to have the magical property of preventing dogs barking at a person1 if laid beneath the feet2 and ,gerarde says that wild goats or deer1 when they be wounded with arrows1 do shake them out by eating of this plant1 and heal their wounds4 ,bacon in his ,natural ,history alludes to another curious idea connected with goats1 and says1 ,there are some tears of trees1 which are combed from the beards of goats2 for when the goats bite and crop them1 especially in the morning1 the dew being on1 the tear cometh forth1 and hangeth upon their beards2 of this sort is some kind of laudanum4 ,the columbine was once known as ,herba leonis1 from a belief that it was the lion's favourite plant1 and it is said that when bears were half-starved by hybernating--having remained for days without food--they were suddenly restored by eating the arum4 ,there is a curious tradition in ,piedmont1 that if a hare be sprinkled with the juice of henbane1 all the hares in the neighbourhood will run away as if scared by some invisible power4 ,gerarde also alludes to an old belief that cats1 ,are much delighted with catmint1 for the smell of it is so pleasant unto them1 that they rub themselves upon it1 and swallow or tumble in it1 and also feed on the branches very greedily4 ,and according to an old proverb they have a liking for the plant maram3-- ,if you set it1 the cats will eat it2 ,if you sow it1 the cats won't know it4 ,equally fond1 too1 are cats of valerian1 being said to dig up the roots and gnaw them to pieces1 an allusion to which occurs in ,topsell's ,four-footed ,beasts 7#afeh-ha73--,the root of the herb valerian 7commonly called ,phu7 is very like to the eye of a cat1 and wheresoever it groweth1 if cats come thereunto they instantly dig it up for the love thereof1 as ,i myself have seen in mine own garden1 for it smelleth moreover like a cat4 ,then there is the moonwort1 famous for drawing the nails out of horses' shoes1 and hence known by the rustic name of unshoe the horse2 while the mouse-ear was credited with preventing the horses being hurt when shod4 ,we have already alluded to the superstitions relating to birds and plants1 but may mention another relating to the celandine4 ,one of the well-known names of this plant is swallow-wort1 so termed1 says ,gerarde1 not1 because it first springeth at the coming in of the swallows1 or dieth when they go away1 for it may be found all the year1 but because some hold opinion that with this herbe the darns restore eyesight to their young ones1 when their eye be put out4 ,coles strengthens the evidence in favour of this odd notion by adding3 ,it is known to such as have skill of nature1 what wonderful care she hath of the smallest creatures1 giving to them a knowledge of medicine to help themselves1 if haply diseases annoy them4 ,the swallow cureth her dim eyes with celandine2 the wesell knoweth well the virtue of herb-grace2 the dove the verven2 the dogge dischargeth his mawe with a kind of grasse1 c4 ,in ,italy cumin is given to pigeons for the purpose of taming them1 and a curious superstition is that of the divining-rod1 with its versatile sensibility to water1 ore1 treasure and thieves1 and one whose history is apparently as remote as it is widespread4 ,francis ,lenormant1 in his ,chaldean ,magic1 mentions the divining-rods used by the ,magi1 wherewith they foretold the future by throwing little sticks of tamarisk-wood1 and adds that divination by wands was known and practised in ,babylon1 and that this was even the most ancient mode of divination used in the time of the ,accadians4 ,among the ,hindus1 even in the ,vedic period1 magic wands were in use1 and the practice still survives in ,china1 where the peach-tree is in demand4 ,tracing its antecedent history in this country1 it appears that the ,druids were in the habit of cutting their divining-rods from the apple-tree2 and various notices of this once popular fallacy occur from time to time1 in the literature of bygone years4 ,the hazel was formerly famous for its powers of discernment1 and it is still held in repute by the ,italians4 ,occasionally1 too1 as already noticed1 the divining-rod was employed for the purpose of detecting the locality of water1 as is still the case in ,wiltshire4 ,an interesting case was quoted some years ago in the ,quarterly ,review 7xxii4 #bgc74 ,a certain ,lady ,n----is here stated to have convinced ,dr4 ,hutton of her possession of this remarkable gift1 and by means of it to have indicated to him the existence of a spring of water in one of his fields adjoining the ,woolwich ,college1 which1 in consequence of the discovery1 he was enabled to sell to the college at a higher price4 ,this power ,lady ,n----repeatedly exhibited before credible witnesses1 and the ,quarterly ,review of that day considered the fact indisputable4 ,the divining-rod has long been in repute among ,cornish miners1 and ,pryce1 in his ,mineralogia ,cornubiensis1 says that many mines have been discovered by this means2 but1 after giving a minute account of cutting1 tying1 and using it1 he rejects it1 because1 ,cornwall is so plentifully stored with tin and copper lodes1 that some accident every week discovers to us a fresh vein4 ,billingsley1 in his ,agricultural ,survey of the ,county of ,cornwall1 published in the year #agig1 speaks of the belief of the ,mendip miners in the efficacy of the mystic rod3--,the general method of discovering the situation and direction of those seams of ore 7which lie at various depths1 from five to twenty fathoms1 in a chasm between two inches of solid rock7 is by the help of the divining-rod1 vulgarly called josing2 and a variety of strong testimonies are adduced in supporting this doctrine4 ,so confident are the common miners of the efficacy1 that they scarcely ever sink a shaft but by its direction2 and those who are dexterous in the use of it1 will mark on the surface the course and breadth of the vein2 and after that1 with the assistance of the rod1 will follow the same course twenty times following blindfolded4 ,anecdotes of the kind are very numerous1 for there are few subjects in folk-lore concerning which more has been written than on the divining-rod1 one of the most exhaustive being that of ,mr4 ,baring-,gould in his ,curious ,myths of the ,middle ,ages4 ,the literature1 too1 of the past is rich in allusions to this piece of superstition1 and ,swift in his ,virtues of ,sid ,hamet the ,magician's ,rod 7#agaj7 thus refers to it3-- ,they tell us something strange and odd ,about a certain magic rod ,that1 bending down its top1 divines ,whene'er the soil has golden mines2 ,where there are none1 it stands erect1 ,scorning to show the least respect4 ,as ready was the wand of ,sid ,to bend where golden mines were hid4 ,in ,scottish hills found precious ore1 ,where none e'er looked for it before2 ,and by a gentle bow divined1 ,how well a ,cully's purse was lined2 ,to a forlorn and broken rake1 ,stood without motion like a stake4 ,de ,quincey has several amusing allusions to this fallacy1 affirming that he had actually seen on more than one occasion the process applied with success1 and declared that1 in spite of all science or scepticism might say1 most of the tea-kettles in the ,vale of ,wrington1 ,north ,somersetshire1 are filled by rhabdomancy4 ,but it must be admitted that the phenomena of the divining-rod and table-turning are of precisely the same character1 both being referable to an involuntary muscular action resulting from a fixedness of idea4 ,moreover1 it should be remembered that experiments with the divining-rod are generally made in a district known to be metalliferous1 and therefore the chances are greatly in favour of its bending over or near a mineral lode4 ,on the other hand1 it is surprising how many people of culture have1 at different times1 in this and other countries1 displayed a lamentable weakness in partially accepting this piece of superstition4 ,of the many anecdotes related respecting it1 we may quote an amusing one in connection with the celebrated botanist1 ,linnaeus3--,when he was on one of his voyages1 hearing his secretary highly extol the virtues of his divining-wand1 he was willing to convince him of its insufficiency1 and for that purpose concealed a purse of one hundred ducats under a ranunculus1 which grew up by itself in a meadow1 and bid the secretary find it if he could4 ,the wand discovered nothing1 and ,linnaeus' mark was soon trampled down by the company who were present1 so that when he went to finish the experiment by fetching the gold himself1 he was utterly at a loss where to find it4 ,the man with the wand assisted him1 and informed him that it could not lie in the way they were going1 but quite the contrary1 so pursued the direction of the wand1 and actually dug out the gold4 ,linnaeus thereupon added that such another experiment would be sufficient to make a proselyte of him4 #a ,in #afei1 the ,jesuit1 ,gaspard ,schott1 tells us that this magic rod was at this period used in every town in ,germany1 and that he had frequently had opportunities of seeing it used in the discovery of hidden treasure4 ,he further adds3--,i searched with the greatest care into the question whether the hazel rod had any sympathy with gold and silver1 and whether any natural property set it in motion4 ,in like manner1 ,i tried whether a ring of metal1 held suspended by a thread in the midst of a tumbler1 and which strikes the hours1 is moved by any similar force4 ,but many of the mysterious effects of these so-called divining-rods were no doubt due to clever imposture4 ,in the year #agij1 ,plunet1 a native of ,dauphin1 claimed a power over the divining-rod which attracted considerable attention in ,italy4 ,but when carefully tested by scientific men in ,padua1 his attempts to discover buried metals completely failed2 and at ,florence he was detected trying to find out by night what he had secreted to test his powers on the morrow4 ,the astrologer ,lilly made sundry experiments with the divining-rod1 but was not always successful2 and the ,jesuit1 ,kircher1 tried the powers of certain rods which were said to have sympathetic influences for particular metals1 but they never turned on the approach of these4 ,once more1 in the ,shepherd's ,calendar1 we find a receipt to make the ,mosaic wand to find hidden treasure without the intervention of a human operator3--,cut a hazel wand forked at the upper end like a ,y4 ,peel off the rind1 and dry it in a moderate heat1 then steep it in the juice of wake-robin or nightshade1 and cut the single lower end sharp2 and where you suppose any rich mine or hidden treasure is near1 place a piece of the same metal you conceive is hid1 or in the earth1 to the top of one of the forks by a hair1 and do the like to the other end2 pitch the sharp single end lightly to the ground at the going down of the sun1 the moon being in the increase1 and in the morning at sunrise1 by a natural sympathy1 you will find the metal inclining1 as it were pointing1 to the places where the other is hid4 ,according to a ,tuscany belief1 the almond will discover treasures2 and the golden rod has long had the reputation in ,england of pointing to hidden springs of water1 as well as to treasures of gold and silver4 ,similarly1 the spring-wort and primrose--the key-flower--revealed the hidden recesses in mountains where treasures were concealed1 and the mystic fern-seed1 termed wish-seed1 was supposed in the ,tyrol to make known hidden gold2 and1 according to a ,lithuanian form of this superstition1 one who secures treasures by this means will be pursued by adders1 the guardians of the gold4 ,plants of this kind remind us of the magic sesame which1 at the command of ,ali ,baba1 in the story of the ,forty ,thieves1 gave him immediate admission to the secret treasure-cave4 ,once more1 among further plants possessing the same mystic property may be mentioned the sow-thistle1 which1 when invoked1 discloses hidden treasures4 ,in ,sicily a branch of the pomegranate tree is considered to be a most effectual means of ascertaining the whereabouts of concealed wealth4 ,hence it has been invested with an almost reverential awe1 and has been generally employed when search has been made for some valuable lost property4 ,in ,silesia1 ,thuringia1 and ,bohemia the mandrake is1 in addition to its many mystic properties1 connected with the idea of hidden treasures4 ,numerous plants are said to be either lucky or the reverse1 and hence have given rise to all kinds of odd beliefs1 some of which still survive in our midst1 having come down from a remote period4 ,there is in many places a curious antipathy to uprooting the house-leek1 some persons even disliking to let it blossom1 and a similar prejudice seems to have existed against the cuckoo-flower1 for1 if found accidentally inverted in a ,may garland1 it was at once destroyed4 ,in ,prussia it is regarded as ominous for a bride to plant myrtle1 although in this country it has the reputation of being a lucky plant4 ,according to a ,somersetshire saying1 ,the flowering myrtle is the luckiest plant to have in your window1 water it every morning1 and be proud of it4 ,we may note here that there are many odd beliefs connected with the myrtle4 ,speaking to a lady1 says a correspondent of the ,athenaeum 7,feb4 #e1 #ahdh71 of the difficulty which ,i had always found in getting a slip of myrtle to grow1 she directly accounted for my failure by observing that perhaps ,i had not spread the tail or skirt of my dress1 and looked proud during the time ,i was planting it4 ,it is a popular belief in ,somersetshire that unless a slip of myrtle is so planted1 it will never take root4 ,the deadly nightshade is a plant of ill omen1 and ,gerarde describing it says1 if you will follow my counsel1 deal not with the same in any case1 and banish it from your gardens1 and the use of it also1 being a plant so furious and deadly2 for it bringeth such as have eaten thereof into a dead sleep1 wherein many have died4 ,there is a strong prejudice to sowing parsley1 and equally a great dislike to transplanting it1 the latter notion being found in ,south ,america4 ,likewise1 according to a ,devonshire belief1 it is highly unlucky to plant a bed of lilies of the valley1 as the person doing so will probably die in the course of the next twelve months4 ,the withering of plants has long been regarded ominous1 and1 according to a ,welsh superstition1 if there are faded leaves in a room where a baby is christened it will soon die4 ,of the many omens afforded by the oak1 we are told that the change of its leaves from their usual colour gave more than once fatal premonition of coming misfortunes during the great civil wars2 and ,bacon mentions a tradition that if the oak-apple1 broken1 be full of worms1 it is a sign of a pestilent year4 ,in olden times the decay of the bay-tree was considered an omen of disaster1 and it is stated that1 previous to the death of ,nero1 though the winter was very mild1 all these trees withered to the roots1 and that a great pestilence in ,padua was preceded by the same phenomenon4 #b ,shakespeare speaks of this superstition3-- ',tis thought the king is dead2 we will not stay1 ,the bay-trees in our county are all withered4 ,lupton1 in his ,notable ,things1 tells us that1 ,if a fir-tree be touched1 withered1 or burned with lightning1 it signifies that the master or mistress thereof shall shortly die4 ,it is difficult1 as we have already noted in a previous chapter1 to discover why some of our sweetest and fairest spring-flowers should be associated with ill-luck4 ,in the western counties1 for instance1 one should never take less than a handful of primroses or violets into a farmer's house1 as neglect of this rule is said to affect the success of the ducklings and chickens4 ,a correspondent of ,notes and ,queries 7,i4 ,ser4 vii4 #bja7 writes3--,my gravity was sorely tried by being called on to settle a quarrel between two old women1 arising from one of them having given one primrose to her neighbour's child1 for the purpose of making her hens hatch but one egg out of each set of eggs1 and it was seriously maintained that the charm had been successful4 ,in the same way it is held unlucky to introduce the first snowdrop of the year into a house1 for1 as a ,sussex woman once remarked1 ,it looks for all the world like a corpse in its shroud4 ,we may repeat1 too1 again the familiar adage3-- ,if you sweep the house with blossomed broom in ,may1 ,you are sure to sweep the head of the house away4 ,and there is the common superstition that where roses and violets bloom in autumn1 it is indicative of some epidemic in the following year2 whereas1 if a white rose put forth unexpectedly1 it is believed in ,germany to be a sign of death in the nearest house2 and in some parts of ,essex there is a current belief that sickness or death will inevitably ensue if blossoms of the whitethorn be brought into a house2 the idea in ,norfolk being that no one will be married from the house during the year4 ,another ominous sign is that of plants shedding their leaves1 or of their blossoms falling to pieces4 ,thus the peasantry in some places affirm that the dropping of the leaves of a peach-tree betokens a murrain2 and in ,italy it is held unlucky for a rose to do so4 ,a well-known illustration of this superstition occurred many years ago in the case of the unfortunate ,miss ,bay1 who was murdered at the piazza entrance of ,covent ,garden by ,hackman 7,april #aggi71 the following account of which we quote from the ,life and ,correspondence of ,m4 ,g4 ,lewis3-- ,when the carriage was announced1 and she was adjusting her dress1 ,mr4 ,lewis happened to make some remark on a beautiful rose which ,miss ,kay wore in her bosom4 ,just as the words were uttered the flower fell to the ground4 ,she immediately stooped to regain it1 but as she picked it up1 the red leaves scattered themselves on the carpet1 and the stalk alone remained in her hand4 ,the poor girl1 who had been depressed in spirits before1 was evidently affected by this incident1 and said1 in a slightly faltering voice1 ',i trust ,i am not to consider this as an evil omen6' ,but soon rallying1 she expressed to ,mr4 ,lewis1 in a cheerful tone1 her hope that they would meet again after the theatre--a hope1 alas6 which it was decreed should not be realised4 ,according to a ,german belief1 one who throws a rose into a grave will waste away4 ,there is a notion prevalent in ,dorsetshire that a house wherein the plant bergamot is kept will never be free from sickness2 and in ,norfolk it is said to be unlucky to take into a house a bunch of the grass called maiden-hair1 or1 as it is also termed1 dudder-grass4 ,among further plants of ill omen may be mentioned the bluebell 7,campanula rotundifolia71 which in certain parts of ,scotland was called ,the aul' man's bell1 and was regarded with a sort of dread1 and commonly left unpulled4 ,in ,cumberland1 about ,cockermouth1 the red campion 7,lychnis diurna7 is called mother-die1 and young people believe that if plucked some misfortune will happen to their parents4 ,a similar belief attaches to the herb-robert 7,geranium robertianum7 in ,west ,cumberland1 where it is nicknamed ,death come quickly2 and in certain parts of ,yorkshire there is a notion that if a child gather the germander speedwell 7,veronica chamoedrys71 its mother will die during the year4 ,herrick has a pretty allusion to the daffodil3-- ,when a daffodil ,i see ,hanging down her head t'wards me1 ,guess ,i may what ,i must be3 ,first1 ,i shall decline my head2 ,secondly1 ,i shall be dead2 ,lastly1 safely buried4 ,in ,germany1 the marigold is with the greatest care excluded from the flowers with which young women test their love-affairs2 and in ,austria it is held unlucky to pluck the crocus1 as it draws away the strength4 ,an ash leaf is still frequently employed for invoking good luck1 and in ,cornwall we find the old popular formula still in use3-- ,even ash1 ,i do thee pluck1 ,hoping thus to meet good luck2 ,if no good luck ,i get from thee1 ,i shall wish thee on the tree4 ,and there is the following well-known couplet3-- ,with a four-leaved clover1 a double-leaved ash1 and a green-topped leave1 ,you may go before the queen's daughter without asking leave4 ,but1 on the other hand1 the finder of the five-leaved clover1 it is said1 will have bad luck4 ,in ,scotland #c it was formerly customary to carry on the person a piece of torch-fir for good luck--a superstition which1 ,mr4 ,conway remarks1 is found in the gold-mines of ,california1 where the men tip a cone with the first gold they discover1 and keep it as a charm to ensure good luck in future4 ,nuts1 again1 have generally been credited with propitious qualities1 and have accordingly been extensively used for divination4 ,in some mysterious way1 too1 they are supposed to influence the population1 for when plentiful1 there is said to be a corresponding increase of babies4 ,in ,russia the peasantry frequently carry a nut in their purses1 from a belief that it will act as a charm in their efforts to make money4 ,sternberg1 in his ,northamptonshire ,glossary 7#afc71 says that the discovery of a double nut1 presages well for the finder1 and unless he mars his good fortune by swallowing both kernels1 is considered an infallible sign of approaching 'luck4' ,the orthodox way in such cases consists in eating one1 and throwing the other over the shoulder4 ,the ,icelanders have a curious idea respecting the mountain-ash1 affirming that it is an enemy of the juniper1 and that if one is planted on one side of a tree1 and the other on the other1 they will split it4 ,it is also asserted that if both are kept in the same house it will be burnt down2 but1 on the other hand1 there is a belief among some sailors that if rowan-tree be used in a ship1 it will sink the vessel unless juniper be found on board4 ,in the ,tyrol1 the ,osmunda regalis1 called the blooming fern1 is placed over the door for good teeth2 and ,mr4 ,conway1 too1 in his valuable papers1 to which we have been often indebted in the previous chapters1 says that there are circumstances under which all flowers are injurious4 ,they must not be laid on the bed of a sick person1 according to a ,silesian superstition2 and in ,westphalia and ,thuringia1 no child under a year old must be permitted to wreathe itself with flowers1 or it will soon die4 ,flowers1 says a common ,german saying1 must in no case be laid on the mouth of a corpse1 since the dead man may chew them1 which would make him a ',nachzehrer1' or one who draws his relatives to the grave after him4 ,in ,hungary1 the burnet saxifrage 7,pimpinella saxifraga7 is a mystic plant1 where it is popularly nicknamed ,chaba's salve1 there being an old tradition that it was discovered by ,king ,chaba1 who cured the wounds of fifteen thousand of his men after a bloody battle fought against his brother4 ,in ,hesse1 it is said that with knots tied in willow one may slay a distant enemy2 and the ,bohemians have a belief that seven-year-old children will become beautiful by dancing in the flax4 ,but many superstitions have clustered round the latter plant1 it having in years gone by been a popular notion that it will only flower at the time of day on which it was originally sown4 ,to spin on ,saturday is said in ,germany to bring ill fortune1 and as a warning the following legend is among the household tales of the peasantry3--,two old women1 good friends1 were the most industrious spinners in their village1 ,saturday finding them as engrossed in their work as on the other days of the week4 ,at length one of them died1 but on the ,saturday evening following she appeared to the other1 who1 as usual1 was busy at her wheel1 and showing her burning hand1 said3-- ',see what ,i in hell have won1 ,because on ,saturday eve ,i spun4' ,flax1 nevertheless1 is a lucky plant1 for in ,thuringia1 when a young woman gets married1 she places flax in her shoes as a charm against poverty4 ,it is supposed1 also1 to have health-giving virtues2 for in ,germany1 when an infant seems weakly and thrives slowly1 it is placed naked upon the turf on ,midsummer day1 and flax-seed is sprinkled over it2 the idea being that as the flax-seed grows so the infant will gradually grow stronger4 ,of the many beliefs attached to the ash-tree1 we are told in the ,north of ,england that if the first parings of a child's nails be buried beneath its roots1 it will eventually turn out1 to use the local phrase1 a top-singer1 and there is a popular superstition that wherever the purple honesty 7,lunaria biennis7 flourishes1 the cultivators of the garden are noted for their honesty4 ,the snapdragon1 which in years gone by was much cultivated for its showy blossoms1 was said to have a supernatural influence1 and amongst other qualities to possess the power of destroying charms4 ,many further illustrations of this class of superstition might easily be added1 so thickly interwoven are they with the history of most of our familiar wild-flowers4 ,one further superstition may be noticed1 an allusion to which occurs in ,henry ,v4 7,act i4 sc4 i73-- ,the strawberry grows underneath the nettle1 ,and wholesome berries thrive and ripen best ,neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality2 ,it having been the common notion that plants were affected by the neighbourhood of other plants to such an extent that they imbibed each other's virtues and faults4 ,accordingly sweet flowers were planted near fruit-trees1 with the idea of improving the flavour of the fruit2 and1 on the other hand1 evil-smelling trees1 like the elder1 were carefully cleaned away from fruit-trees1 lest they should become tainted4 #d ,further superstitions have been incidentally alluded to throughout the present volume1 necessarily associated as they are with most sections of plant folk-lore4 ,it should also be noticed that in the various folk-tales which have been collected together in recent years1 many curious plant superstitions are introduced1 although1 to suit the surroundings of the story1 they have only too frequently been modified1 or the reverse4 ,at the same time1 embellishments of the kind are interesting1 as showing how familiar these traditionary beliefs were in olden times to the story-teller1 and how ready he was to avail himself of them4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,baring-,gerald's ,curious ,myths of the ,middle ,ages4 #b4 ,ingram's ,florica ,symbolica1 p4 #cbf4 #c4 ,stewart's ,popular ,superstitions of the ,highlanders4 #d4 ,see ,ellacombe's ,plant-lore of ,shakespeare1 p4 #cai4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,plants ,,in ,,folk-,,medicine4 ,from the earliest times plants have been most extensively used in the cure of disease1 although in days of old it was not so much their inherent medicinal properties which brought them into repute as their supposed magical virtues4 ,oftentimes1 in truth1 the only merit of a plant lay in the charm formula attached to it1 the due utterance of which ensured relief to the patient4 ,originally there can be no doubt that such verbal forms were prayers1 since dwindled into mystic sentences4 #a ,again1 before a plant could work its healing powers1 due regard had to be paid to the planet under whose influence it was supposed to be2 #b for ,aubrey mentions an old belief that if a plant be not gathered according to the rules of astrology1 it hath little or no virtue in it4 ,hence1 in accordance with this notion1 we find numerous directions for the cutting and preparing of certain plants for medicinal purposes1 a curious list of which occurs in ,culpepper's ,british ,herbal and ,family ,physician4 ,this old herbalist1 who was a strong believer in astrology1 tells us that such as are of this way of thinking1 and none else1 are fit to be physicians4 ,but he was not the only one who had strict views on this matter1 as the literature of his day proves--astrology1 too1 having held a prominent place in most of the gardening books of the same period4 ,michael ,drayton1 who has chronicled so many of the credulities of his time1 referring to the longevity of antediluvian men1 writes3-- ,besides1 in medicine1 simples had the power ,that none need then the planetary hour ,to help their workinge1 they so juiceful were4 ,the adder's-tongue1 if plucked during the wane of the moon1 was a cure for tumours1 and there is a ,swabian belief that one1 who on ,friday of the full moon pulls up the amaranth by the root1 and folding it in a white cloth1 wears it against his naked breast1 will be made bullet-proof4 #c ,consumptive patients1 in olden times1 were three times passed1 ,through a circular wreath of woodbine1 cut during the increase of the ,march moon1 and let down over the body from head to foot4 #d ,in ,france1 too1 at the present day1 the vervain is gathered under the different changes of the moon1 with secret incantations1 after which it is said to possess remarkable curative properties4 ,in ,cornwall1 the club-moss1 if properly gathered1 is considered good against all diseases of the eye4 ,the mode of procedure is this3--,on the third day of the moon1 when the thin crescent is seen for the first time1 show it the knife with which the moss is to be cut1 and repeat this formula3-- ',as ,christ healed the issue of blood1 ,do thou cut what thou cuttest for good4' ,at sundown1 the operator1 after carefully washing his hands1 is to cut the club-moss kneeling4 ,it is then to be wrapped in a white cloth1 and subsequently boiled in water taken from the spring nearest to its place of growth4 ,this may be used as a fomentation1 or the club-moss may be made into an ointment with the butter from the milk of a new cow4 #e ,some plants have1 from time immemorial1 been much in request from the season or period of their blooming1 beyond which fact it is difficult to account for the virtues ascribed to them4 ,thus1 among the ,romans1 the first anemone of the year1 when gathered with this form of incantation1 ,i gather thee for a remedy against disease1 was regarded as a preservative from fever2 a survival of which belief still prevails in our own country3-- ,the first spring-blown anemone she in his doublet wove1 ,to keep him safe from pestilence wherever he should rove4 ,on the other hand1 in some countries there is a very strong prejudice against the wild anemone1 the air being said to be so tainted by them1 that they who inhale it often incur severe sickness4 #f ,similarly we may compare the notion that flowers blooming out of season have a fatal significance1 as we have noted elsewhere4 ,the sacred associations attached to many plants have invested them1 at all times1 with a scientific repute in the healing art1 instances of which may be traced up to a very early period4 ,thus1 the peony1 which1 from its mythical divine origin1 was an important flower in the primitive pharmacopoeia1 has even in modern times retained its reputation2 and to this day ,sussex mothers put necklaces of beads turned from the peony root around their children's necks1 to prevent convulsions and to assist them in their teething4 ,when worn on the person1 it was long considered1 too1 a most effectual remedy for insanity1 and ,culpepper speaks of its virtues in the cure of the falling sickness4 #g ,the thistle1 sacred to ,thor1 is another plant of this kind1 and indeed instances are very numerous4 ,on the other hand1 some plants1 from their great virtues as all-heals1 it would seem1 had such names as ,angelica and ,archangel bestowed on them4 #h ,in later times many plants became connected with the name of ,christ1 and with the events of the crucifixion itself--facts which occasionally explain their mysterious virtues4 ,thus the vervain1 known as the holy herb1 and which was one of the sacred plants of the ,druids1 has long been held in repute1 the subjoined rhyme assigning as the reason3-- ,all hail1 thou holy herb1 vervin1 ,growing on the ground2 ,on the ,mount of ,calvary ,there wast thou found2 ,thou helpest many a grief1 ,and staunchest many a wound4 ,in the name of sweet ,jesu1 ,i lift thee from the ground4 ,to quote one or two further instances1 a popular recipe for preventing the prick of a thorn from festering is to repeat this formula3-- ,christ was of a virgin born1 ,and he was pricked with a thorn1 ,and it did neither bell nor swell1 ,and ,i trust in ,jesus this never will4 ,in ,cornwall1 some years ago1 the following charm was much used1 forms of which may occasionally be heard at the present day3-- ,happy man that ,christ was born1 ,he was crowned with a thorn2 ,he was pierced through the skin1 ,for to let the poison in4 ,but ,his five wounds1 so they say1 ,closed before ,he passed away4 ,in with healing1 out with thorn1 ,happy man that ,christ was born4 ,another version used in the ,north of ,england is this3-- ,unto the ,virgin ,mary our ,saviour was horn1 ,and on his head he wore a crown of thorn2 ,if you believe this true1 and mind it well1 ,this hurt will never fester nor swell4 ,the ,angelica sylvestris was popularly known as ,holy ,ghost1 from the angel-like properties therein having been considered good against poisons1 pestilent agues1 or the pestilence4 ,cockayne1 in his ,saxon ,leechdoms1 mentions an old poem descriptive of the virtues of the mugwort3-- ,thou hast might for three1 ,and against thirty1 ,for venom availest ,for plying vile things4 ,so1 too1 certain plants of the saints acquired a notoriety for specific virtues2 and hence ,st4 ,john's wort1 with its leaves marked with blood-like spots1 which appear1 according to tradition1 on the anniversary of his decollation1 is still the wonderful herb that cures all sorts of wounds4 ,herb-bennet1 popularly designated ,star of the earth1 a name applied to the avens1 hemlock1 and valerian1 should properly be1 says ,dr4 ,prior1 ,st4 ,benedict's herb1 a name assigned to such plants as were supposed to be antidotes1 in allusion to a legend of this saint1 which represents that upon his blessing a cup of poisoned wine which a monk had given to destroy him1 the glass was shivered to pieces4 ,in the same way1 herb-gerard was called from ,st4 ,gerard1 who was formerly invoked against gout1 a complaint for which this plant was once in high repute4 ,st4 ,james's wort was so called from its being used for the diseases of horses1 of which this great pilgrim-saint was the patron4 ,it is curious in how many unexpected ways these odd items of folk-lore in their association with the saints meet us1 showing that in numerous instances it is entirely their association with certain saints that has made them of medical repute4 ,some trees and plants have gained a medical notoriety from the fact of their having a mystical history1 and from the supernatural qualities ascribed to them4 ,but1 as ,bulwer-,lytton has suggested in his ,strange ,story1 the wood of certain trees to which magical properties are ascribed may in truth possess virtues little understood1 and deserving of careful investigation4 ,thus1 among these1 the rowan would take its place1 as would the common hazel1 from which the miner's divining-rod is always cut4 #i ,an old-fashioned charm to cure the bite of an adder was to lay a cross formed of two pieces of hazel-wood on the ground1 repeating three times this formula #aj3-- ,underneath this hazelin mote1 ,there's a braggotty worm with a speckled throat1 ,nine double is he2 ,now from nine double to eight double ,and from eight double to seven double-ell4 ,the mystical history of the apple accounts for its popularity as a medical agent1 although1 of course1 we must not attribute all the lingering rustic cures to this source4 ,thus1 according to an old ,devonshire rhyme1 ,eat an apple going to bed1 ,make the doctor beg his bread4 ,its juice has long been deemed potent against warts1 and a ,lincolnshire cure for eyes affected by rheumatism or weakness is a poultice made of rotten apples4 ,the oak1 long famous for its supernatural strength and power1 has been much employed in folk-medicine4 ,a ,german cure for ague is to walk round an oak and say3-- ,good evening1 thou good one old2 ,i bring thee the warm and the cold4 ,similarly1 in our own country1 oak-trees planted at the junction of cross-roads were much resorted to by persons suffering from ague1 for the purpose of transferring to them their complaint1 #aa and elsewhere allusion has already been made to the practice of curing sickly children by passing through a split piece of oak4 ,a ,german remedy for gout is to take hold of an oak1 or of a young shoot already felled1 and to repeat these words3-- ,oak-shoot1 ,i to thee complain1 ,all the torturing gout plagues me2 ,i cannot go for it1 ,thou canst stand it4 ,the first bird that flies above thee1 ,to him give it in his flight1 ,let him take it with him in the air4 ,another plant1 which from its mystic character has been used for various complaints1 is the elder4 ,in ,bohemia1 three spoonsful of the water which has been used to bathe an invalid are poured under an elder-tree2 and a ,danish cure for toothache consists in placing an elder-twig in the mouth1 and then sticking it in a wall1 saying1 ,depart1 thou evil spirit4 ,the mysterious origin and surroundings of the mistletoe have invested it with a widespread importance in old folk-lore remedies1 many of which are1 even now-a-days1 firmly credited2 a reputation1 too1 bestowed upon it by the ,druids1 who styled it all-heal1 as being an antidote for all diseases4 ,culpepper speaks of it as good for the grief of the sinew1 itch1 sores1 and toothache1 the biting of mad dogs and venomous beasts2 while ,sir ,thomas ,browne alludes to its virtues in cases of epilepsy4 ,in ,france1 amulets formed of mistletoe were much worn2 and in ,sweden1 a finger-ring made of its wood is an antidote against sickness4 ,the mandrake1 as a mystic plant1 was extensively sold for medicinal purposes1 and in ,kent may be occasionally found kept to cure barrenness2 #ab and it may be remembered that ,la ,fontaine's fable1 ,la ,mandragore1 turns upon its supposed power of producing children4 ,how potent its effects were formerly held may be gathered from the very many allusions to its mystic properties in the literature of bygone years4 ,columella1 in his well-known lines1 says3-- ,whose roots show half a man1 whose juice ,with madness strikes4 ,shakespeare speaks of it as an opiate1 and on the ,continent it was much used for amulets4 ,again1 certain plants seem to have been specially in high repute in olden times from the marvellous influence they were credited with exercising over the human frame2 consequently they were much valued by both old and young2 for who would not retain the vigour of his youth1 and what woman would not desire to preserve the freshness of her beauty8 ,one of the special virtues of rosemary1 for instance1 was its ability to make old folks young again4 ,a story is told of a gouty and crooked old queen1 who sighed with longing regret to think that her young dancing-days were gone1 so3-- ,of rosmaryn she took six pownde1 ,and grounde it well in a stownde1 ,and then mixed it with water1 in which she bathed three times a day1 taking care to anoint her head with gode balm afterwards4 ,in a very short time her old flesh fell away1 and she became so young1 tender1 and fresh1 that she began to look out for a husband4 #ac ,the common fennel 7,foeniculum vulgare7 was supposed to give strength to the constitution1 and was regarded as highly restorative4 ,longfellow1 in his ,goblet of ,life1 apparently alludes to our fennel3-- ,above the lowly plant it towers1 ,the fennel1 with its yellow flowers2 ,and in an earlier age than ours ,was gifted with the wondrous powers ,lost vision to restore4 ,it gave new strength and fearless mood1 ,and gladiators1 fierce and rude1 ,mingled it in their daily food1 ,and he who battled and subdued1 ,the wreath of fennel wore4 ,the lady's-mantle1 too 7,alchemilla vulgaris71 was once in great request1 for1 according to ,hoffman1 it had the power of restoring feminine beauty1 however faded1 to its early freshness2 and the wild tansy 7,tanacetum vulgare71 laid to soak in buttermilk for nine days1 had the reputation of making the complexion very fair4 #ad ,similarly1 also1 the great burnet saxifrage was said to remove freckles2 and according to the old herbalists1 an infusion of the common centaury 7,erythroea centaurium7 possessed the same property4 #ae ,the hawthorn1 too1 was in repute among the fair sex1 for1 according to an old piece of proverbial lore3-- ,the fair maid who1 the first of ,may1 ,goes to the fields at break of day1 ,and washes in dew from the hawthorn tree1 ,will ever after handsome be2 ,and the common fumitory1 was used when gathered in wedding hours1 and boiled in water1 milk1 and whey1 as a wash for the complexion of rustic maids4 #af ,in some parts of ,france the water-hemlock 7nanthe crocata71 known with us as the dead-tongue1 from its paralysing effects on the organs of voice1 was used to destroy moles2 and the yellow toad-flax 7,linaria vulgaris7 is described as cleansing the skin wonderfully of all sorts of deformity4 ,another plant of popular renown was the knotted figwort 7,scrophularia nodosa71 for ,gerarde censures divers who doe rashly teach that if it be hanged about the necke1 or else carried about one1 it keepeth a man in health4 ,coles1 speaking of the mugwort 7,artemisia vulgaris71 says that1 if a footman take mugwort and put it in his shoes in the morning1 he may go forty miles before noon and not be weary2 but as far back as the time of ,pliny its remarkable properties were known1 for he says1 ,the wayfaring man that hath the herb tied about him feeleth no weariness at all1 and he can never be hurt by any poisonous medicine1 by any wild beast1 neither yet by the sun itself4 ,the far-famed betony was long credited with marvellous medicinal properties1 and hence the old saying which recommends a person when ill to sell his coat and buy betony4 ,a species of thistle was once believed to have the curious virtue of driving away melancholy1 and was hence termed the melancholy thistle4 ,according to ,dioscorides1 the root borne about one doth expel melancholy and remove all diseases connected therewith1 but it was to be taken in wine4 ,on the other hand1 certain plants have been credited at most periods with hurtful and injurious properties4 ,thus1 there is a popular idea that during the flowering of the bean more cases of lunacy occur than at any other season4 #ag ,it is curious to find the apple--such a widespread curative--regarded as a bane1 an illustration of which is given by ,mr4 ,conway4 #ah ,in ,swabia it is said that an apple plucked from a graft on the whitethorn will1 if eaten by a pregnant woman1 increase her pains4 ,on the ,continent1 the elder1 when used as a birch1 is said to check boys' growth1 a property ascribed to the knot-grass1 as in ,beaumont and ,fletcher's ,coxcomb 7,act ii4 sc4 #b73-- ,we want a boy extremely for this function1 ,kept under for a year with milk and knot-grass4 ,the cat-mint1 when chewed1 created quarrelsomeness1 a property said by the ,italians to belong to the rampion4 ,occasionally much attention in folk-medicine has been paid to lucky numbers2 a remedy1 in order to prove efficacious1 having to be performed in accordance with certain numerical rules4 ,in ,devonshire1 poultices must be made of seven different kinds of herbs1 and a cure for thrush is this3--,three rushes are taken from any running stream1 passed separately through the mouth of the infant1 and then thrown back into the water4 ,as the current bears them away1 so1 it is believed1 will the thrush leave the child4 ,similarly1 in ,brandenburg1 if a person is afflicted with dizziness1 he is recommended to run after sunset1 naked1 three times through a field of flax2 after doing so1 the flax will at once take the dizziness to itself4 ,a ,sussex cure for ague is to eat sage leaves1 fasting1 nine mornings in succession2 while ,flemish folk-lore enjoins any one who has the ague to go early in the morning to an old willow1 make three knots in one of its branches1 and say ,good morrow1 old one2 ,i give thee the cold2 good morrow1 old one4 ,a very common cure for warts is to tie as many knots on a hair as there are warts1 and to throw the hair away2 while an ,irish charm is to give the patient nine leaves of dandelion1 three leaves being eaten on three successive mornings4 ,indeed1 the efficacy of numbers is not confined to any one locality2 and ,mr4 ,folkard #ai mentions an instance in ,cuba where1 thirteen cloves of garlic at the end of a cord1 worn round the neck for thirteen days1 are considered a safeguard against jaundice4 ,it is necessary1 however1 that the wearer1 in the middle of the night of the thirteenth day1 should proceed to the corner of two streets1 take off his garlic necklet1 and1 flinging it behind him1 run home without turning round to see what has become of it4 ,similarly1 six knots of elderwood are employed in a ,yorkshire incantation to ascertain if beasts are dying from witchcraft4 #bj ,in ,thuringia1 on the extraction of a tooth1 the person must eat three daisies to be henceforth free from toothache4 ,in ,cornwall #ba bramble leaves are made use of in cases of scalds and inflammatory diseases4 ,nine leaves are moistened with spring-water1 and these are applied to the burned or diseased parts4 ,while this is being done1 for every bramble leaf the following charm is repeated three times3-- ,there came three angels out of the east1 ,one brought fire and two brought frost2 ,out fire and in frost1 ,in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,of the thousand and one plants used in popular folk-medicine we can but give a few illustrations1 so numerous are these old cures for the ills to which flesh is heir4 ,thus1 for deafness1 the juice of onion has been long recommended1 and for chilblains1 a ,derbyshire cure is to thrash them with holly1 while in some places the juice of the leek mixed with cream is held in repute4 ,to exterminate warts a host of plants have been recommended2 the juice of the dandelion being in favour in the ,midland counties1 whereas in the ,north1 one has but to hang a snail on a thorn1 and as the poor creature wastes away the warts will disappear4 ,in ,leicestershire the ash is employed1 and in many places the elder is considered efficacious4 ,another old remedy is to prick the wart with a gooseberry thorn passed through a wedding-ring2 and according to a ,cornish belief1 the first blackberry seen will banish warts4 ,watercress laid against warts was formerly said to drive them away4 ,a rustic specific for whooping-cough in ,hampshire is to drink new milk out of a cup made of the variegated holly2 while in ,sussex the excrescence found on the briar1 and popularly known as robin red-breast's cushion1 is in demand4 ,in consumption and diseases of the lungs1 ,st4 ,fabian's nettle1 the crocus1 the betony1 and horehound1 have long been in request1 and sea-southern-wood or mugwort1 occasionally corrupted into muggons1 was once a favourite prescription in ,scotland4 ,a charming girl1 whom consumption had brought to the brink of the grave1 was lamented by her lover1 whereupon a good-natured mermaid sang to him3-- ,wad ye let the bonnie ,may die in your hand1 ,and the mugwort flowering i' the land8 ,thereupon1 tradition says1 he administered the juice of this life-giving plant to his fair lady-love1 who arose and blessed the bestower for the return of health4 ,water in which peas have been boiled is given for measles1 and a ,lincolnshire recipe for cramp is cork worn on the person4 ,a popular cure for ringworm in ,scotland is a decoction of sun-spurge 7,euphorbia helioscopia71 or1 as it is locally termed1 mare's milk4 ,in the ,west of ,england to bite the first fern seen in spring is an antidote for toothache1 and in certain parts of ,scotland the root of the yellow iris chopped up and chewed is said to afford relief4 ,some1 again1 recommend a double hazel-nut to be carried in the pocket1 #bb and the elder1 as a ,danish cure1 has already been noticed4 ,various plants were1 in days gone by1 used for the bites of mad dogs and to cure hydrophobia4 ,angelica1 madworts1 and several forms of lichens were favourite remedies4 ,the root of balaustrium1 with storax1 cypress-nuts1 soot1 olive-oil1 and wine was the receipt1 according to ,bonaventura1 of ,cardinal ,richelieu4 ,among other popular remedies were beetroot1 box leaves1 cabbage1 cucumbers1 black currants1 digitalis1 and euphorbia4 #bc ,a ,russian remedy was ,genista sentoria1 and in ,greece rose-leaves were used internally and externally as a poultice4 ,horse-radish1 crane's-bill1 strawberry1 and herb-gerard are old remedies for gout1 and in ,westphalia apple-juice mixed with saffron is administered for jaundice2 while an old remedy for boils is dock-tea4 ,for ague1 cinquefoil and yarrow were recommended1 and tansy leaves are worn in the shoe by the ,sussex peasantry2 and in some places common groundsel has been much used as a charm4 ,angelica was in olden times used as an antidote for poisons4 ,the juice of the arum was considered good for the plague1 and ,gerarde tells us that ,henry ,,viii4 was1 wont to drink the distilled water of broom-flowers against surfeits and diseases thereof arising4 ,an ,irish recipe for sore-throat is a cabbage leaf tied round the throat1 and the juice of cabbage taken with honey was formerly given as a cure for hoarseness or loss of voice4 #bd ,agrimony1 too1 was once in repute for sore throats1 cancers1 and ulcers2 and as far back as the time of ,pliny the almond was given as a remedy for inebriety4 ,for rheumatism the burdock was in request1 and many of our peasantry keep a potato in their pocket as charms1 some1 again1 carrying a chestnut1 either begged or stolen4 ,as an antidote for fevers the carnation was prescribed1 and the cowslip1 and the hop1 have the reputation of inducing sleep4 ,the dittany and plantain1 like the golden-rod1 nicknamed wound-weed1 have been used for the healing of wounds1 and the application of a dock-leaf for the sting of a nettle is a well-known cure among our peasantry1 having been embodied in the old familiar adage3-- ,nettle out1 dock in-- ,dock remove the nettle-sting1 ,of which there are several versions2 as in ,wiltshire1 where the child uses this formula3-- ,out 'ettle ,in dock4 ,dock shall ha'a a new smock1 ',ettle zbant ,ha' nanun4 ,the young tops of the common nettle are still made by the peasantry into nettle-broth1 and1 amongst other directions enjoined in an old ,scotch rhyme1 it is to be cut in the month of ,june1 ere it's in the blume3-- ,cou' it by the auld wa's1 ,cou' it where the sun ne'er fa' ,stoo it when the day daws1 ,cou' the nettle early4 ,the juice of fumitory is said to clear the sight1 and the kennel-wort was once a popular specific for the king's-evil4 ,as disinfectants1 wormwood and rue were much in demand2 and hence ,tusser says3-- ,what savour is better1 if physicke be true1 ,for places infected1 than wormwood and rue8 ,for depression1 thyme was recommended1 and a ,manx preservative against all kinds of infectious diseases is ragwort4 ,the illustrations we have given above show in how many ways plants have been in demand as popular curatives4 ,and although an immense amount of superstition has been interwoven with folk-medicine1 there is a certain amount of truth in the many remedies which for centuries have been1 with more or less success1 employed by the peasantry1 both at home and abroad4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,see ,tylor's ,primitive ,culture1 ii4 #b4 ,see ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #afd4 #c4 ,mystic ,trees and ,shrubs1 p4 #gag4 #d4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore1 p4 #cgi4 #e4 ,hunt's ,popular ,romances of the ,west of ,england1 #ahga1 p4 #dae #f4 ,folkard's ,plant-lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #baf4 #g4 ,see ,black's ,folk-medicine1 #ahhc1 p4#aie4 #h4 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bde4 #i4 ,sacred ,trees and ,flowers1 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bdd4 #aj4 ,folkard's ,plant ,legends1 #cfd4 #aa4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #eia4 #ab4 ,mystic ,trees and ,plants2 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #gjh4 #ac4 ,reliquiae ,antiquse1 ,wright and ,halliwell1 i4 #aie2 ,quarterly ,review1 #ahfc1 cxiv4 #bda4 #ad4 ,coles1 ,the ,art of ,simpling1 #afef4 #ae4 ,anne ,pratt's ,flowering ,plants of ,great ,britain1 iv4 #i4 #af4 ,black's ,folk-medicine1 p4 #bja4 #ag4 ,folkard's ,plant-,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #bdh4 #ah4 ,fraser's ,magazine1 #ahgj1 p4 #eia4 #ai4 ,plant-,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #cdi4 #bj4 ,black's ,folk-medicine1 p4 #ahe4 #ba4 ,see ,hunt's ,popular ,romances of the ,west of ,england4 #bb4 ,black's ,folk-medicine1 p4 #aic4 #bc4 ,rabies or ,hydrophobia1 ,t4 ,m4 ,dolan1 #ahgi1 p4 #bch4 #bd4 ,black's ,folk-medicine1 p4 #aic4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,plants ,,and ,,their ,,legendary ,,history4 ,many of the legends of the plant-world have been incidentally alluded to in the preceding pages4 ,whether we review their mythological history as embodied in the traditionary stories of primitive times1 or turn to the existing legends of our own and other countries in modern times1 it is clear that the imagination has at all times bestowed some of its richest and most beautiful fancies on trees and flowers4 ,even1 too1 the rude and ignorant savage has clothed with graceful conceptions many of the plants which1 either for their grandeur or utility1 have attracted his notice4 ,the old idea1 again1 of metamorphosis1 by which persons under certain peculiar cases were changed into plants1 finds a place in many of the modern plant-legends4 ,thus there is the well-known story of the wayside plantain1 commonly termed way-bread1 which1 on account of its so persistently haunting the track of man1 has given rise to the ,german story that it was formerly a maiden who1 whilst watching by the wayside for her lover1 was transformed into this plant4 ,but once in seven years it becomes a bird1 either the cuckoo1 or the cuckoo's servant1 the dinnick1 as it is popularly called in ,devonshire1 the ,german wiedhopf which is said to follow its master everywhere4 ,this story of the plantain is almost identical with one told in ,germany of the endive or succory4 ,a patient girl1 after waiting day by day for her betrothed for many a month1 at last1 worn out with watching1 sank exhausted by the wayside and expired4 ,but before many days had passed1 a little flower with star-like blossoms sprang up on the spot where the broken-hearted maiden had breathed her final sigh1 which was henceforth known as the ,wegewarte1 the watcher of the road4 ,mr4 ,folkard quotes an ancient ballad of ,austrian ,silesia which recounts how a young girl mourned for seven years the loss of her lover1 who had fallen in war4 ,but when her friends tried to console her1 and to procure for her another lover1 she replied1 ,i shall cease to weep only when ,i become a wild-flower by the wayside4 ,by the ,north ,american ,indians1 the plantain or way-bread is the white man's foot1 to which ,longfellow1 in speaking of the ,english settlers1 alludes in his ,hiawatha3-- ,wheresoe'er they move1 before them ,swarms the stinging fly1 the ,ahmo1 ,swarms the bee1 the honey-maker2 ,wheresoe'er they tread1 beneath them ,springs a flower unknown among us1 ,springs the white man's foot in blossom4 ,between certain birds and plants there exists many curious traditions1 as in the case of the nightingale and the rose4 ,according to a piece of ,persian folklore1 whenever the rose is plucked1 the nightingale utters a plaintive cry1 because it cannot endure to see the object of its love injured4 ,in a legend told by the ,persian poet ,attar1 we are told how all the birds appeared before ,solomon1 and complained that they were unable to sleep from the nightly wailings of the nightingale4 ,the bird1 when questioned as to the truth of this statement1 replied that his love for the rose was the cause of his grief4 ,hence this supposed love of the nightingale for the rose has been frequently the subject of poetical allusion4 ,lord ,byron speaks of it in the ,giaour3-- ,the rose o'er crag or vale1 ,sultana of the nightingale1 ,the maid for whom his melody1 ,his thousand songs are heard on high1 ,blooms blushing to her lover's tale1 ,his queen1 the garden queen1 his rose1 ,unbent by winds1 unchilled by snows4 ,thackeray1 too1 has given a pleasing rendering of this favourite legend3-- ,under the boughs ,i sat and listened still1 ,i could not have my fill4 ',how comes1' ,i said1 'such music to his bill8 ,tell me for whom he sings so beautiful a trill4' ',once ,i was dumb1' then did the bird disclose1 ',but looked upon the rose1 ,and in the garden where the loved one grows1 ,i straightway did begin sweet music to compose4' ,mrs4 ,browning1 in her ,lay of the ,early ,rose1 alludes to this legend1 and ,moore in his ,lalla ,rookh asks3-- ,though rich the spot ,with every flower this earth has got1 ,what is it to the nightingale1 ,if there his darling rose is not8 ,but the rose is not the only plant for which the nightingale is said to have a predilection1 there being an old notion that its song is never heard except where cowslips are to be found in profusion4 ,experience1 however1 only too often proves the inaccuracy of this assertion4 ,we may also quote the following note from ,yarrell's ,british ,birds 7#dth ed41 i4 #caf73--,walcott1 in his ',synopsis of ,british ,birds' 7vol4 ii4 #bbh71 says that the nightingale has been observed to be met with only where the cowslip grows kindly1 and the assertion receives a partial approval from ,montagu2 but whether the statement be true or false1 its converse certainly cannot be maintained1 for ,mr4 ,watson gives the cowslip 7,primula veris7 as found in all the 'provinces' into which he divides ,great ,britain1 as far north as ,caithness and ,shetland1 where we know that the nightingale does not occur4 ,a correspondent of ,notes and ,queries 7#eth ,ser4 ix4 #dib7 says that in ,east ,sussex1 on the borders of ,kent1 the cowslip is quite unknown1 but nightingales are as common as blackberries there4 ,a similar idea exists in connection with hops2 and1 according to a tradition current in ,yorkshire1 the nightingale made its first appearance in the neighbourhood of ,doncaster when hops were planted4 ,but this1 of course1 is purely imaginary1 and in ,hargrove's ,history of ,knaresborough 7#ahcb7 we read3 ,in the opposite wood1 called ,birkans ,wood 7opposite to the ,abbey ,house71 during the summer evenings1 the nightingale3-- ',sings darkling1 and1 in shadiest covert hid1 ,tunes her nocturnal lay4' ,of the numerous stories connected with the origin of the mistletoe1 one is noticed by ,lord ,bacon1 to the effect that a certain bird1 known as the missel-bird1 fed upon a particular kind of seed1 which1 through its incapacity to digest1 it evacuated whole1 whereupon the seed1 falling on the boughs of trees1 vegetated and produced the mistletoe4 ,the magic springwort1 which reveals hidden treasures1 has a mysterious connection with the woodpecker1 to which we have already referred4 ,among further birds which are in some way or other connected with plants is the eagle1 which plucks the wild lettuce1 with the juice of which it smears its eyes to improve its vision2 while the hawk was supposed1 for the same purpose1 to pluck the hawk-bit4 ,similarly1 writes ,mr4 ,folkard1 #a pigeons and doves made use of vervain1 which was termed pigeon's-grass4 ,once more1 the cuckoo1 according to an old proverbial rhyme1 must eat three meals of cherries before it ceases its song2 and it was formerly said that orchids sprang from the seed of the thrush and the blackbird4 ,further illustrations might be added1 whereas some of the many plants named after well-known birds are noticed elsewhere4 ,an old ,alsatian belief tells us that bats possessed the power of rendering the eggs of storks unfruitful4 ,accordingly1 when once a stork's egg was touched by a bat it became sterile2 and in order to preserve it from the injurious influence1 the stork placed in its nest some branches of the maple1 which frightened away every intruding bat4 #b ,there is an amusing legend of the origin of the bramble3--,the cormorant was once a wool merchant4 ,he entered into partnership with the bramble and the bat1 and they freighted a large ship with wool4 ,she was wrecked1 and the firm became bankrupt4 ,since that disaster the bat skulks about till midnight to avoid his creditors1 the cormorant is for ever diving into the deep to discover its foundered vessel1 while the bramble seizes hold of every passing sheep to make up his loss by stealing the wool4 ,returning to the rose1 we may quote one or two legendary stories relating to its origin4 ,thus ,sir ,john ,mandeville tells us how when a holy maiden of ,bethlehem1 blamed with wrong and slandered1 was doomed to death by fire1 she made her prayers to our ,lord that ,he would help her1 as she was not guilty of that sin2 whereupon the fire was suddenly quenched1 and the burning brands became red roseres1 and the brands that were not kindled became white roseres full of roses4 ,and these were the first roseres and roses1 both white and red1 that ever any man soughte4 ,henceforth1 says ,mr4 ,king1#c the rose became the flower of martyrs4 ,it was a basket full of roses that the martyr ,saint ,dorothea sent to the notary of ,theophilus from the garden of ,paradise2 and roses1 says the romance1 sprang up all over the field of ,ronce-vaux1 where ,roland and the douze pairs had stained the soil with their blood4 ,the colour of the rose has been explained by various legends1 the ,turks attributing its red colour to the blood of ,mohammed4 ,herrick1 referring to one of the old classic stories of its divine origin1 writes3-- ,tis said1 as ,cupid danced among the gods1 he down the nectar flung1 ,which1 on the white rose being shed1 made it for ever after red4 ,a pretty origin has been assigned to the moss-rose 7,rosa muscosa73-- ,the angel who takes care of flowers1 and sprinkles upon them the dew in the still night1 slumbered on a spring day in the shade of a rosebush1 and when she awoke she said1 ',most beautiful of my children1 ,i thank thee for thy refreshing odour and cooling shade2 could you now ask any favour1 how willingly would ,i grant it6' ',adorn me then with a new charm1' said the spirit of the rose-bush2 and the angel adorned the loveliest of flowers with the simple moss4 ,a further ,roumanian legend gives another poetic account of the rose's origin4 ,it is early morning1 and a young princess comes down into her garden to bathe in the silver waves of the sea4 ,the transparent whiteness of her complexion is seen through the slight veil which covers it1 and shines through the blue waves like the morning star in the azure sky4 ,she springs into the sea1 and mingles with the silvery rays of the sun1 which sparkle on the dimples of the laughing waves4 ,the sun stands still to gaze upon her2 he covers her with kisses1 and forgets his duty4 ,once1 twice1 thrice has the night advanced to take her sceptre and reign over the world2 twice had she found the sun upon her way4 ,since that day the lord of the universe has changed the princess into a rose2 and this is why the rose always hangs her head and blushes when the sun gazes on her4 ,there are a variety of rose-legends of this kind in different countries1 the universal popularity of this favourite blossom having from the earliest times made it justly in repute2 and according to the ,hindoo mythologists1 ,pagoda ,sin1 one of the wives of ,vishnu1 was discovered in a rose--a not inappropriate locality4 ,like the rose1 many plants have been extensively associated with sacred legendary lore1 a circumstance which frequently explains their origin4 ,a pretty legend1 for instance1 tells us how an angel was sent to console ,eve when mourning over the barren earth4 ,now1 no flower grew in ,eden1 and the driving snow kept falling to form a pall for earth's untimely funeral after the fall of man4 ,but as the angel spoke1 he caught a flake of falling snow1 breathed on it1 and bade it take a form1 and bud and blow4 ,ere it reached the ground it had turned into a beautiful flower1 which ,eve prized more than all the other fair plants in ,paradise2 for the angel said to her3-- ,this is an earnest1 ,eve1 to thee1 ,that sun and summer soon shall be4 ,the angel's mission ended1 he departed1 but where he had stood a ring of snowdrops formed a lovely posy4 ,this legend reminds us of one told by the poet ,shiraz1 respecting the origin of the forget-me-not3--,it was in the golden morning of the early world1 when an angel sat weeping outside the closed gates of ,eden4 ,he had fallen from his high estate through loving a daughter of earth1 nor was he permitted to enter again until she whom he loved had planted the flowers of the forget-me-not in every corner of the world4 ,he returned to earth and assisted her1 and they went hand in hand over the world planting the forget-me-not4 ,when their task was ended1 they entered ,paradise together2 for the fair woman1 without tasting the bitterness of death1 became immortal like the angel1 whose love her beauty had won1 when she sat by the river twining the forget-me-not in her hair4 ,this is a more poetic legend than the familiar one given in ,mill's ,history of ,chivalry1 which tells how the lover1 when trying to pick some blossoms of the myosotis for his lady-love1 was drowned1 his last words as he threw the flowers on the bank being ,forget me not4 ,another legend1 already noticed1 would associate it with the magic spring-wort1 which revealed treasure-caves hidden in the mountains4 ,the traveller enters such an opening1 but after filling his pockets with gold1 pays no heed to the fairy's voice1 ,forget not the best1 i4e41 the spring-wort1 and is severed in twain by the mountain clashing together4 ,in speaking of the various beliefs relative to plant life in a previous chapter1 we have enumerated some of the legends which would trace the origin of many plants to the shedding of human blood1 a belief which is a distinct survival of a very primitive form of belief1 and enters very largely into the stories told in classical mythology4 ,the dwarf elder is said to grow where blood has been shed1 and it is nicknamed in ,wales ,plant of the blood of man1 with which may be compared its ,english name of death-wort4 ,it is much associated in this country with the ,danes1 and tradition says that wherever their blood was shed in battle1 this plant afterwards sprang up2 hence its names of ,dane-wort1 ,dane-weed1 or ,dane's-blood4 ,one of the bell-flower tribe1 the clustered bell-flower1 has a similar legend attached to it2 and according to ,miss ,pratt1 in the village of ,bartlow there are four remarkable hills1 supposed to have been thrown up by the ,danes as monumental memorials of the battle fought in #ajjf between ,canute and ,edmund ,ironside4 ,some years ago the clustered bell-flower was largely scattered about these mounds1 the presence of which the cottagers attributed to its having sprung from the ,dane's blood1 under which name the flower was known in the neighbourhood4 ,the rose-coloured lotus or melilot is1 from the legend1 said to have been sprung from the blood of a lion slain by the ,emperor ,adrian2 and1 in short1 folk-lore is rich in stories of this kind4 ,some legends are of a more romantic kind1 as that which explains the origin of the wallflower1 known in ,palestine as the blood-drops of ,christ4 ,in bygone days a castle stood near the river ,tweed1 in which a fair maiden was kept prisoner1 having plighted her troth and given her affection to a young heir of a hostile clan4 ,but blood having been shed between the chiefs on either side1 the deadly hatred thus engendered forbade all thoughts of a union4 ,the lover tried various stratagems to obtain his fair one1 and at last succeeded in gaining admission attired as a wandering troubadour1 and eventually arranged that she should effect her escape1 while he awaited her arrival with an armed force4 ,but this plan1 as told by ,herrick1 was unsuccessful3-- ,up she got upon a wall1 ,attempted down to slide withal2 ,but the silken twist untied1 ,she fell1 and1 bruised1 she died4 ,love1 in pity to the deed1 ,and her loving luckless speed1 ,twined her to this plant we call ,now the 'flower of the wall4' ,the tea-tree in ,china1 from its marked effect on the human constitution1 has long been an agent of superstition1 and been associated with the following legend1 quoted by ,schleiden4 ,it seems that a devout and pious hermit having1 much against his will1 been overtaken by sleep in the course of his watchings and prayers1 so that his eyelids had closed1 tore them from his eyes and threw them on the ground in holy wrath4 ,but his act did not escape the notice of a certain god1 who caused a tea-shrub to spring out from them1 the leaves of which exhibit1 the form of an eyelid bordered with lashes1 and possess the gift of hindering sleep4 ,sir ,george ,temple1 in his ,excursions in the ,mediterranean1 mentions a legend relative to the origin of the geranium4 ,it is said that the prophet ,mohammed having one day washed his shirt1 threw it upon a mallow plant to dry2 but when it was afterwards taken away1 its sacred contact with the mallow was found to have changed the plant into a fine geranium1 which now for the first time came into existence4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,plant-,lore ,legends and ,lyrics4 #b4 ,folkard's ,plant ,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #dcj4 #c4 ,sacred ,trees and ,flowers1 ,quarterly ,review1 cxiv4 #bci4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,mystic ,,plants4 ,the mystic character and history of certain plants meet us in every age and country4 ,the gradual evolution of these curious plants of belief must1 no doubt1 partly be ascribed to their mythical origin1 and in many cases to their sacred associations2 while1 in some instances1 it is not surprising that1 any plant which produced a marked effect upon the human constitution should become an object of superstition4 #a ,a further reason why sundry plants acquired a mystic notoriety was their peculiar manner of growth1 which1 through not being understood by early botanists1 caused them to be invested with mystery4 ,hence a variety of combinations have produced those mystic properties of trees and flowers which have inspired them with such superstitious veneration in our own and other countries4 ,according to ,mr4 ,conway1 the apple1 of all fruits1 seems to have had the widest and most mystical history4 ,thus1 ,aphrodite bears it in her hand as well as ,eve2 the serpent guards it1 the dragon watches it4 ,it is the healing fruit of the ,arabian tribes4 ,azrael1 the ,angel of ,death1 accomplishes his mission by holding it to the nostrils1 and in the prose ,edda it is written1 ',iduna keeps in a box apples which the gods1 when they feel old age approaching1 have only to taste to become young again4' ,indeed1 the legendary mythical lore connected with the apple is most extensive1 a circumstance which fully explains its mystic character4 ,further1 as ,mr4 ,folkard points out1#b in the popular tales of all countries the apple is represented as the principal magical fruit1 in support of which he gives several interesting illustrations4 ,thus1 ,in the ,german folk-tale of ',the ,man of ,iron1' a princess throws a golden apple as a prize1 which the hero catches three times1 and carries off and wins4 ,and in a ,french tale1 ,a singing apple is one of the marvels which ,princess ,belle-,etoile and her brothers and her cousin bring from the end of the world4 ,the apple figures in many an ,italian tale1 and holds a prominent place in the ,hungarian story of the ,iron ,ladislas4#c ,but many of these so-called mystic trees and plants have been mentioned in the preceding pages in their association with lightning1 witchcraft1 demonology1 and other branches of folk-lore1 although numerous other curious instances are worthy of notice1 some of which are collected together in the present chapter4 ,thus the nettle and milfoil1 when carried about the person1 were believed to drive away fear1 and were1 on this account1 frequently worn in time of danger4 ,the laurel preserved from misfortune1 and in olden times we are told how the superstitious man1 to be free from every chance of ill-luck1 was wont to carry a bay leaf in his mouth from morning till night4 ,one of the remarkable virtues of the fruit of the balm was its prolonging the lives of those who partook of it to four or five hundred years1 and ,albertus ,magnus1 summing up the mystic qualities of the heliotrope1 gives this piece of advice3--,gather it in ,august1 wrap it in a bay leaf with a wolf's tooth1 and it will1 if placed under the pillow1 show a man who has been robbed where are his goods1 and who has taken them4 ,also1 if placed in a church1 it will keep fixed in their places all the women present who have broken their marriage vow4 ,it was formerly supposed that the cucumber had the power of killing by its great coldness1 and the larch was considered impenetrable by fire2 ,evelyn describing it as a goodly tree1 which is of so strange a composition that 'twill hardly burn4 ,in addition to guarding the homestead from ill1 the hellebore was regarded as a wonderful antidote against madness1 and as such is spoken of by ,burton1 who introduces it among the emblems of his frontispiece1 in his ,anatomie of ,melancholy3-- ,borage and hellebore fill two scenes1 ,sovereign plants to purge the veins ,of melancholy1 and cheer the heart ,of those black fumes which make it smart2 ,to clear the brain of misty fogs1 ,which dull our senses and ,soul clogs2 ,the best medicine that e'er ,god made ,for this malady1 if well assay'd4 ,but1 as it has been observed1 our forefathers1 in strewing their floors with this plant1 were introducing a real evil into their houses1 instead of an imaginary one1 the perfume having been considered highly pernicious to health4 ,in the many curious tales related of the mystic henbane may be quoted one noticed by ,gerarde1 who says3 ,the root boiled with vinegar1 and the same holden hot in the mouth1 easeth the pain of the teeth4 ,the seed is used by mountebank tooth-drawers1 which run about the country1 to cause worms to come forth of the teeth1 by burning it in a chafing-dish of coles1 the party holding his mouth over the fume thereof2 but some crafty companions1 to gain money1 convey small lute-strings into the water1 persuading the patient that those small creepers came out of his mouth or other parts which he intended to cure4 ,shakespeare1 it may be remembered1 alludes to this superstition in ,much ,ado ,about ,nothing 7,act iii4 sc4 #b71 where ,leonato reproaches ,don ,pedro for sighing for the toothache1 which he adds is but a tumour or a worm4 ,the notion is still current in ,germany1 where the following incantation is employed3-- ,pear tree1 ,i complain to thee ,three worms sting me4 ,the henbane1 too1 according to a ,german belief1 is said to attract rain1 and in olden times was thought to produce sterility4 ,some critics have suggested that it is the plant referred to in ,macbeth by ,banquo 7,act i4 sc4 #c73-- ,have we eaten of the insane root ,that takes the reason prisoner8 ,although others think it is the hemlock4 ,anyhow1 the henbane has long been in repute as a plant possessed of mysterious attributes1 and ,douce quotes the subjoined passage3--,henbane1 called insana1 mad1 for the use thereof is perillous1 for if it be eate or dronke1 it breedeth madness1 or slowe lykeness of sleepe4 ,in days gone by1 when the mandrake was an object of superstitious veneration by reason of its supernatural character1 the ,germans made little idols of its root1 which were consulted as oracles4 ,indeed1 so much credence was attached to these images1 that they were manufactured in very large quantities for exportation to various other countries1 and realised good prices4 ,oftentimes substituted for the mandrake was the briony1 which designing people sold at a good profit4 ,gerarde informs us1 ,how the idle drones1 that have little or nothing to do but eat and drink1 have bestowed some of their time in carving the roots of briony1 forming them to the shape of men and women1 which falsifying practice hath confirmed the error amongst the simple and unlearned people1 who have taken them upon their report to be the true mandrakes4 ,oftentimes1 too1 the root of the briony was trained to grow into certain eccentric shapes1 which were used as charms4 ,speaking of the mandrake1 we may note that in ,france it was regarded as a species of elf1 and nicknamed main de gloire2 in connection with which ,saint-,palaye describes a curious superstition3-- ,when ,i asked a peasant one day why he was gathering mistletoe1 he told me that at the foot of the oaks on which the mistletoe grew he had a mandrake2 that this mandrake had lived in the earth from whence the mistletoe sprang2 that he was a kind of mole2 that he who found him was obliged to give him food--bread1 meat1 and some other nourishment2 and that he who had once given him food was obliged to give it every day1 and in the same quantity1 without which the mandrake would assuredly cause the forgetful one to die4 ,two of his countrymen1 whom he named to me1 had1 he said1 lost their lives2 but1 as a recompense1 this main de gloire returned on the morrow double what he had received the previous day4 ,if one paid cash for the main de gloire's food one day1 he would find double the amount the following1 and so with anything else4 ,a certain countryman1 whom he mentioned as still living1 and who had become very rich1 was believed to have owed his wealth to the fact that he had found one of these mains de gloire4 ,many other equally curious stories are told of the mandrake1 a plant which1 for its mystic qualities1 has perhaps been unsurpassed2 and it is no wonder that it was a dread object of superstitious fear1 for ,moore1 speaking of its appearance1 says3-- ,such rank and deadly lustre dwells1 ,as in those hellish fires that light ,the mandrake's charnel leaves at night4 ,but these mandrake fables are mostly of foreign extraction and of very ancient date4 ,dr4 ,daubeny1 in his ,roman ,husbandry1 has given a curious drawing from the ,vienna ,,ms4 of ,dioscorides in the fifth century1 representing the ,goddess of ,discovery presenting to ,dioscorides the root of the mandrake 7of thoroughly human shape71 which she has just pulled up1 while the unfortunate dog which had been employed for that purpose is depicted in the agonies of death4 ,basil1 writes ,lord ,bacon in his ,natural ,history1 if exposed too much to the sun1 changes into wild thyme2 and a ,bavarian piece of folk-lore tells us that the person who1 during an eclipse of the sun1 throws an offering of palm with crumbs on the fire1 will never be harmed by the sun4 ,in ,hesse1 it is affirmed that with knots tied in willow one may slay a distant enemy2 and according to a belief current in ,iceland1 the ,caltha palustris1 if taken with certain ceremonies and carried about1 will prevent the bearer from having an angry word spoken to him4 ,the virtues of the dittany were famous as far back as ,plutarch's time1 and ,gerarde speaks of its marvellous efficacy in drawing forth splinters of wood1 c41 and in the healing of wounds1 especially those made with envenomed weapons1 arrows shot out of guns1 and such like4 ,then there is the old tradition to the effect that if boughs of oak be put into the earth1 they will bring forth wild vines2 and among the supernatural qualities of the holly recorded by ,pliny1 we are told that its flowers cause water to freeze1 that it repels lightning1 and that if a staff of its wood be thrown at any animal1 even if it fall short of touching it1 the animal will be so subdued by its influence as to return and lie down by it4 ,speaking1 too1 of the virtues of the peony1 he thus writes3--,it hath been long received1 and confirmed by divers trials1 that the root of the male peony dried1 tied to the necke1 doth helpe the falling sickness1 and likewise the incubus1 which we call the mare4 ,the cause of both these diseases1 and especially of the epilepsie from the stomach1 is the grossness of the vapours1 which rise and enter into the cells of the brain1 and therefore the working is by extreme and subtle alternation which that simple hath4 ,worn as an amulet1 the peony was a popular preservative against enchantment4 ,footnotes3 #a4 ,fraser's ,magazine #ahgj1 p4 #gji4 #b4 ,plant ,lore ,legends and ,lyrics1 p4 #bbd4 #c4 ,see ,miss ,busk's ,folk-lore of ,rome4