pfant Isore, "l2)ege?2^/, and. "bi^rrc/", 270 



remedy for agues. Gerarde tells us that Chamomile is a special 

 help against wearisomeness, and that it derives its name from the 

 Greek Chainaimelon, Earth-Apple, because the flowers have the 



smell of an Apple. In Germany, Chamomile-flowers are called 



Heermdnnchen, and they are traditionally supposed to have once 



been soldiers, who for their sins died accur-sed. The Romans 



supposed the Anthcmis to be possessed of properties to cure the 



bites of serpents. Chamomile is considered to be a herb of 



the Sun. 



CHAMPAK. — The Champa or Champak [Michdia Champaca) 

 is one of the sacred plants of India. The blue Champak-flower is 

 of the greatest rarity, and is regarded as being the principal orna- 

 ment of Brahma's heaven. It is, in facfl, 



" That blue flower which Brahmins say 

 Blooms nowhere but in Paradise," 



for the earthly sort has yellow blossoms with which the Hindu 

 maidens are fond of ornamenting their raven hair. The tree is 

 sacred to Vishnu, and is, therefore, an object of reverential regard 

 on the part of the Hindus, who cultivate it for the fragrance of its 

 flowers, which is so strong that the bees, fearful of being overcome, 

 will scarcely ever alight upon them. The Hindus apply to the 

 Champak-flowers the most flattering appellations, which celebrate 

 its wondrous delicacy and form, its glittering golden hue, and its 

 voluptuous perfume. 



CHERRY. — About the year 70 B.C., Lucullus, after his 

 victory over Mithridates, brought from Cerasus, in Pontus, the 

 Cherry-tree, and introduced it into Italy. It was planted in 

 Britain a century later, but the cultivated sorts disappeared during 

 the Saxon period. " Cherries on the ryse," or on the twigs, was, 

 however, one of the street cries of London in the fifteenth century. 

 These Cherries were, perhaps, the fruit of the native wild Cherry, 

 or Gean-tree, as the cultivated Cherry was not re-introduced till 

 the reign of Henry VIII., whose fruiterer brought it from Flanders, 



and planted a Cherry orchard at Teynham. An ancient legend 



records that, before the birth of our Saviour, the Virgin Mary 

 longed extremely to taste of some tempting Cherries which hung 

 upon a tree high above her head ; so she requested Joseph to pluck 

 them. Joseph, however, not caring to take the trouble, refused to 

 gather the Cherries, saying sullenly, " Let the father of thy child 

 present thee with the Cherries if he will!" No sooner had these 

 words escaped his lips, than, as if in reproof, the branch of the 

 Cherry-tree bowed spontaneously to the Virgin's hand, and she 

 gathered its fruit and ate it. Hence the Cherry is dedicated to the 

 Virgin Mary. There is a tradition that our Saviour gave a Cherry 

 to St. Peter, cautioning him at the same time not to despise little 



things. The ancient Lithuanians believed that the demon Kirnis 



was the guardian of the Cherry. In Germany and Denmark there is a 



