772 



GARDENERS' CHROIMCLE 



days were sufficient to enable the Greeks to put the de- 

 fences of Thermopylae in order, with results so well 

 known. Among the ancients a belief existed that trees 

 were conscious personal beings, and this belief found ex- 

 pression in sundry acts of worship and sacrifice. The 

 longevity of trees also impressed the credulous, and it is 

 recorded so recently as the beginning of the nineteenth 

 century that De Candolle expressed a belief in the im- 

 mortality of trees, which he stated did not die of senile 

 decay, but only as the result of injury or disease. The 

 healing or harmful properties of trees may serve to ex- 

 plain in some measure the reason for tree worship. The 

 twigs, leaves and bark were sometimes supposed to con- 

 tain an in-dwelling spirit or demon, according as they 

 were beneficial or malignant to the receiver. Thus some 

 trees were to be avoided, and others revered for their 

 healing properties. Hence we find that the tree of life 

 or immortality occurs in many mythologies. The fruit 

 of the Chinese tree of life is given by fairies to their 

 favorites, and they then become immortal. The Poly- 

 nesians believe the dead assemble on a huge tree with 

 dead and living branches and only those who tread on 

 the living branches come back to life. In all these myths 

 Mr. Laing sees nothing more than the imaginative ex- 

 tension of the use of plants and herbs and leaves of trees 

 in the medical lore of all races, aided by the universal 

 custom of tree worship. In Australia and the Philippine 

 Islands it is affirmed by some of the natives that the good 

 folk are transformed into trees at death. Belief in tree 

 souls and tree spirits is common in many parts, as when 

 the southeastern Asiatic prays before cutting down a tree, 

 the tree being considered as having a demon or spirit. 

 African negroes likewise cut down certain trees in fear 

 of the anger of their inhabiting demons. In Africa also 

 trees are prayed to and sacrifices offered to them in time 

 of sickness. The Siamese believe that by offering cakes 

 and rice before felling a ' ""ee, the propitiated spirit passes 

 into the boat made from its former residence and be- 

 comes its guardian spirit. North American Indians hang 

 offerings on trees or place them on rocks to propitiate 

 the spirits and procure good weather and hunting. In 

 some parts of the East a tree is supposed to be capable 

 of diverting or taking ill-luck to itself. Thus in the 

 Punjab, if a man has lost several wives in succession, he 

 is married to a tree before another marriage : and the 

 tree is assimied to die in the place of the woman. Many 

 tribes in India observe the custom of marrying both bride 

 and bridegroom to trees as a preliminary ceremony ; per- 

 haps to divert all evil influences to them, or possibly with 

 a view to obtaining good luck from them. jNIany rem- 

 nants of primeval forests remain as a result of the sacred 

 character once associated with trees, and especially groves. 

 Names like Holy Oak and Holy Rood record old mem- 

 ories of trees and groves. It is interesting to know that 

 it was a great and sacred Lime tree, or Linden tree, with 

 three stems, standing in South Sweden, which gave the 

 name of the family of Linn.-eus. Much interesting myth- 

 ology associated with our own familiar trees is dealt with 

 by the writer of the paper. He deals a subtle blow at 

 the legend of the speaking Oak by suggesting that it was 

 a hollow specimen in which a priest might be concealed. 

 The association of the Mistletoe with the Oak being such 

 a rare occurrence, ]\Iistletoe growing on the Oak was 

 regarded by the Druids as indicative of the peculiar favor 

 of' heaven, and trees on which it grew were regarded 

 with religious reverence. Although it is difficult to ac- 

 count for" the Mistletoe being so rarely found on the Oak 

 in this country, the legend exists that all Mistletoe grow- 

 ing on Oaks was destroyed after the last of the Druids 

 were gone. Mr. Laing considers that it is possible that 



the Mistletoe of the Druids may be confounded with a 

 species of Loranthiis which is often found in association 

 with Oak trees in England. In dealing with the Wych 

 Elm the author gives the most likely derivation of the 

 word "Wych" as meaning "salt," and that the trees were 

 so called by our Saxon ancestors owing to the fact that 

 they may have been found growing in the vicinity of salt 

 springs. It is probable that the similarity of the name 

 to "witch" gave rise to some of the superstitions con- 

 nected with the tree, and its name may have arisen thus. 

 It is interesting to learn that in olden times much tea 

 was adulterated with Elm leaves and the bark of the 

 English Elm was used for cleansing the skin and making 

 it fair, whilst the water in which the roots were boiled 

 was used to prevent hair from falling out. American 

 Indians regarded the Beech as a non-conductor of light- 

 ning, and in a thunderstorm always took refuge under its 

 Vjoughs. The same quality of being a non-conductor of 

 lightning is said by the people in certain parts of Russia 

 to be possessed by the Birch. — Exchange. 



THINGS AND THOUGHTS OF THE GARDEN 



{Continued from page 762) 



Ethelfleda's Mount is a mound of artificial construc- 

 tion, possessing great interest both for the antiquarian and 

 the gardener. Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. 

 is said to have erected a keep, or dungeon, on the mound 

 in the year 915. At the present time, the mound is de- 

 voted to a more peaceful art, for its slopes are tastefully 

 planted with a collection of trees and shrubs admirably 

 disposed so as to secure the greatest eft'ects obtainable 

 from contrasting foliage, both in color and texture. 



Reverting to the guide-book again, we learn that the 

 park attached to the castle comprises an area of seven 

 hundred and two acres, or somewhat more than a square 

 mile, of which about thirty-six acres are laid out, or in- 

 cluded in, ornamental grounds. But according to Mr. 

 Smail, its dimensions are much larger — about seven miles 

 in circumference, and comprises approximately about 

 twelve thousand acres. It is sometimes hard for Amer- 

 icans to realize that estates of this size are to be found 

 on a group of diminutive islands such as Great Britain 

 and Ireland. The park is well wooded and many charm- 

 ing views can be obtained from points of vantage in the 

 castle, and om the castle walls. The river Avon, flow- 

 ing through ihe estate, provides an attractive and pic- 

 turesque feature of the landscape. 



TROPICAL FERNS 



(Continued from page 769) 



long, but they sometimes grow so thickly and cover the surface 

 of standing water so densely as to be of use in destroying 

 mosquitoes. 



Selaginclla and Lycopodiiiin deserve consideration here 

 because it is common practice for botanists and horticul- 

 turists to group them with ferns. Both have slender 

 stems with scale-like leaves, but through their varieties 

 of branching and coloring, very beautiful plants are 

 formed, in Sclaginella particularly. Here we have S. 

 emiliana, a compact grower, about a foot across the ro- 

 sette, bright green or clear yellow in the variety aurea. 

 This is commonly offered for sale as a house plant, but is 

 difficult to keep long, owing to its sensitiveness to any 

 irregularity in watering. In 5. C(e.<;i'a or uncinata, we 

 find a beautiful metallic blue green foliage. 



Nothing is denied to well-directed labor 

 ever to be attained without it. — Guizot. 



nothin"' is 



