80 Transactions. 



Another curious instance of the use of the rowan tree as a 

 spell against the machinations of witches in cowhouses was 

 recently told me. In a cowhouse in Kirkcudbrightshire three 

 pins made from pieces of the mountain ash were fixed on 

 the inside of the. door. On the centre of one of these 

 was hung a horse shoe, and on the others the dairywoman 

 hung various articles of attire worn while milking, such 

 as her apron, shawl, &c., while below the wooden j)ins was 

 written — •" Good Luck." The virtue of the whole arrangement 

 rested in the presence of the rowan tree, which w;is supposed to 

 prevent the entrance of evil spirits, which caused the various 

 misfortunes attached to the keeping of cows and tlie maladies 

 which in this matter-of-fact age are generally ascribed to the 

 want of proper sanitary arrangements. Another instance of the 

 belief in the good fortune brought by the presence of the 

 mountain ash was related to me only last week. A farmer, now 

 dead, in the parish of Newabbey, who was deeply impressed with 

 the virtues of the tree, used to declare that he would never 

 allow any of those growing on his fjtrm to be cut down. One 

 day, however, some mountain ashes were cut down without his 

 knowledge. On being made aware of this he was much concerned, 

 and, in order that the good fortune might not leave the farm, he 

 had the remains of the I'owan trees inserted in a fence. i!^ot so 

 many years ago, at one house in Carsethorn, rowan trees are said 

 to have been planted to bring " luck " to the man of the house 

 who was engaged in fisliing. Where a fisherman had, what is a 

 common occurrence, a run of ill fortune, it was suggested that he 

 should put rowan tree pins in what is known as the " halve- 

 back " — the principal part of the frame of the halve-net. It 

 may have escaped the notice of many that the elder or " hour 

 tree " is very frequently found in the vicinity of old or ruined 

 cottages. In some cases it is planted near the house, and in 

 others used largely as hedges to the old gardens, even in situa- 

 tions where stones are plentiful, and where dry stone walls are 

 the rule and not the exception. This I take to be a remnant or 

 trace of the rather numerous superstitions, practices, and beliefs 

 in which this tree occupied a part. Like the mountain ash, the 

 common ash, the aspen, and several others, the elder was at one 

 time believed to have supplied the wood of which the Cross was 

 formed, and consequently it was at first held in great abhorrence. 



