pfant Isore, Isege^/, a ad, "bi^ric/". 349 



GARLIC. — The tapering-leaved Garlic {A Ilium sativum) derives 

 its name from two Anglo-Saxon words, meaning the Spear-plant. 

 The Egyptians so appreciated Garlic, that they were accustomed 

 to swear by it, and even to worship it. Referring to this, Juvenal 

 satirically remarks : " Each clove of Garlic hath a sacred flower." 

 Nevertheless, no Egyptian priest was permitted to eat Garlic. 

 The Israelites, who had learnt in Egypt to prize this vegetable, 

 murmured at being deprived of its use, and expressed their prefer- 

 ence of it to Manna itself. In Asia Minor, Greece, Scandinavia, 



and Northern Germany, Garlic is popularly believed to possess 

 magical properties of a beneficent nature. According to the 'Lay 

 of Sigurdrifa,' protecftion from witchcraft may be ensured by the 

 addition of Garlic to a beverage. The Sanscrit name for Garlic 

 means the Slayer of Monsters. Galen relates that it was considered 

 inimical to all cold poisons, and to the bites of venomous beasts. 

 Macer Floridus affirms that the eating of Garlic fasting ensured 

 immunity from all ills attending change of climate or the drinking 

 of unknown water. The roots, hung round the necks of blind cattle, 

 were supposed to induce restoration of sight. Clusius relates that 

 the German miners found the roots very powerful in defending 

 them from the assaults of impure spirits which frequented mines. 



In England, Garlic obtained the name of Poor Man's Treacle, 



or Triacle, from its being considered an antidote to animal poison. 

 Bacon tells us that, applied to the wrists, and renewed. Garlic was 

 considered a cure for long agues : in Kent, and probably in other 

 counties, it is placed in the stockings of a child with the whooping- 

 cough, in order to allay the complaint. De Gubernatis states that 



the Bolognese regard Garlic as the symbol of abundance; at the 

 festival of St. John, ever3'one buys it, to preserve themselves from 

 poverty during the year. In Sicily, they put Garlic on the beds of 

 women during confinement, and they make three signs of the cross 

 with it to charm away polypus. In Cuba, thirteen cloves of Garlic 

 at the end of a cord worn round the neck for thirteen days, is con- 

 sidered to safeguard thew^earer against the jaundice, provided that, 

 in the middle of the night of the thirteenth day, he proceeds to the 

 corner of two streets, takes off his Garlic necklet, and, flinging it 

 over his head, runs instantly home without turning round to see 



what has become of it. The broad-leaved Garlic was formerly 



called Buckrams, Bear's Garlic, Ramsies, and Ramsins, the last 

 name being referred to in the proverb — 



" Eat Leekes in Lide, and Ramsins in May, 

 And all the year after physitians may play." 



We read that if a man dream of eating Garlic, it signifies that he 

 will discover hidden secrets, and meet with some domestic jar ; 



yet to dream he has it in the house is lucky. Garlic is under 



the dominion of Mars. 



Gean. — See Cherry. 



