CHAPTER XXIX 



NAMES AND SUPERSTITIONS 



Giving names the first amusement — Curious and odd names — A spiteful 

 naturalist — The melancholy Bartzia — Common names — British orchids 

 — Dancing girls and columbines — Susans — Biblical names — Almond, 

 apple, locust — Spikenard — Tares — Effects of darnel — Daffodil — 

 Acanthus leaf — Ghost-disturbing branches — Elder or hour tree — Its 

 powers and medicinal advantage — Danewort — Mandrake — How to 

 pull it up — The insane root — Its properties — Plants which make 

 bones pink — The betel nut — Henna — Egyptian and Persian uses — 

 Castor oil — Leeks, onions, and garlic — Ancient use of them. 



M 



AN has always taken a certain pleasure in giving 

 names to both plants and animals. It was, of 

 course, a necessity to do this, but it is probable that 

 people enjoyed the process as they do now. 



At the present moment there must be at least 200,000 

 plants named and described by botanists. So that the 

 number of ecstatic moments enjoyed by humanity has been 

 undoubtedly increased. 



The Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Arabs named a 

 great many plants, but for the most part those names are 

 quite lost. Most of the knowledge of the Egyptians and 

 Babylonians remained a close secret confined to their priestly 

 colleges or universities, and has entirely perished. 



For centuries those fragments of the knowledge of Greece 

 and Egypt which were preserved seem to have been translated 

 and taught in Latin. Long after the Roman Empire had 



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