84 Transactions. 



flower to a corpse in its shroud. The primrose; which was used 

 to strew on graves and to place on corpses, was likewise con- 

 sidered unlucky — the curious thing in both of these instances 

 being that no evil effects were apprehended if more than one were 

 brouglit in at once. The following, quoted from a Devonshire 

 paper of the year 1877, by a writer on Flower Lore, may be given 

 as another instance of the supposed mischief which would result 

 from bringing only one flower into a house : — " A friend was stay- 

 ing at a farmhouse near Christon, and one day plucked a daffodil 

 and placed it in his buttonhole. On his return he laid the flower 

 on the table ; but the servant coming in soon after, demanded 

 who had brought in that daffodil, adding, " we shall have no ducks 

 this year." 



A number of violets and roses in flower in autumn is said to 

 foretell an epidemic the following year. A piece of Yorkshire 

 Plant Lore is as follows : — " If an apple tree has flowers and 

 fruit at the same time 'tis a sign of misfortune to the owner." 

 Another from the same county runs as follows : — " On flnding a 

 plant of shepherd's purse open a seed vessel ; if the seed is yellow, 

 you will be rich ; if green, you will be poor." The following, also 

 from Yorkshire, may be recommended as an easy way of settling 

 a disputed point in some households : — " If rosemary flourishes 

 in a garden, the wife will be the master ; if it dies, the master 

 will." 



The hypericum or St. John's wort is another wonderful plant 

 possessing many mysterious powers. Few of these appear to 

 have been chronicled as existing in Great Britain, but it is said 

 to have been carried in some parts of Scotland as a charm against 

 witchcraft and enchantment, and it was also believed to cure 

 ropy milk which was supposed to have been caused by some evil 

 influence. In olden times, too, the St. John's wort was gathered 

 on the eve of St. John's day and hung up in windows to ward off 

 evil spirits, spectres, storms, and thunder. 



A singular belief regarding the bean is still current in some 

 parts of England. This is, that in leap year the beans grow the 

 wrong way, i.e. are set in the pods in the contrary way. 



Some curious superstitions regarding the bracken are current 

 in some parts. In Ireland it is said to be called the fern of God, 

 from a belief that if the stem is cut into three pieces, on the first 

 slice will be seen the letter G, on the second O, and the third D. 



