FERNS, AND THEIR ALLIES. 31 



the glass of water. Then one attentively looks at 

 one's watch ; at the precise midnight hour the fern 

 will bloom ; one watches attentively, for he who 

 shall see the fern seed drop shall at the same time 

 see many other marvels ; for example, three suns and 

 a full moon, which reveals every object, even the 

 most hidden. One hears laughter, one is conscious 

 of being called ; if one remains quiet, one will hear 

 all that is happening in the world, and all that is 

 going to happen," ^ 



Another writer, Markevic, also says,^ " The fern 

 flowers on midsummer night at twelve o'clock, and 

 drives away all unclean spirits. First of all it puts 

 forth buds, which afterwards expand, then open, and 

 finally change into flowers of a dark red hue. At 

 midnight the flower opens to its fullest extent, and 

 illuminates everything around. But at that precise 

 moment, a demon plucks it from its stalk. Whoever 

 wishes to procure this flower must be in the forest 

 before midnight, locate himself near the fern, and 

 trace a circle around it. When the evil spirit ap- 

 proaches, and calls, feigning the voice of a parent, 

 sweetheart, etc., no attention must be paid, nor must 

 the head be turned, for if it is, it will remain so. 

 Whoever becomes the happy possessor of the flower 

 has nothing to fear ; by its means he can recover lost 

 treasure, become invisible, rule on earth, and under 

 water, and defy evil spirits. To discover hidden 



* De Gnbernatis, " La Mythologie des Plantes ; ou les Legends du 

 Regne Vegetale." (Paris.) 



* Richard Folkard, Jvin., " Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics," 

 p. 332. (London, 1884.) 



