CHAPTER XIII 



THE devil's plants 



" From his brimstone bed at break of day 

 A-walking the Devil is gone, 

 To visit his little snug farm of the earth 

 And see how his stock went on." 



According to many old countryside myths and 

 superstitions, any plant or flower with a peculiarity 

 of a pronounced nature, has become associated in 

 folklore and legend, with his satanic majesty. 



Scabious is known as "Devil's Bit"; this name 

 arises, no doubt, from the shape of the root, which 

 looks as though a piece had been bitten out. Legend 

 says that the devil, knowing that this particular 

 part of the root cured all diseases, out of sheer 

 malice bit it off. To quote Gerarde, a very old 

 authority on the subject: "The great part of the 

 root seemeth to be bitten away; old fantasticke 

 charmers do report that the Deville did bite it for 

 envie, because it is an herbe that hath so many 

 good virtues, and is so beneficial to mankind." 



The fruit spikes of the wild arum, known by 

 children as " Lords and Ladies," are in some parts 

 of the country called the " Devil's Men and Women." 



7 he Greater Stitchwort is known as " Devil's 

 Corn " and also " Devil's Eyes." 



The Dodder^ that uncouth parasite fattening on 



other plants' lif eblood, is one of the most universally 



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