GORSE. — The Whin Gorse, or Furze (Ulex) — " the never- 

 bloomless Furze " — caused Dillenius the greatest delight, and is 

 said to have so affedled Linnaeus, when he first came to England 

 and saw a common covered with its golden blossoms, that he fell 

 down on his knees in a rapture at the sight, and thanked God for 

 its loveliness. He attempted in vain to introduce it into Sweden ; 

 but although hardy enough in England, yet it would not grow even 



in the garden in which Linnaeus planted it. The old English 



names for this shrub were Fursbush, Furrs, Whins, and Goss. ■ 



Gorse is held to be under the dominion of Mars. 



GORY-DEW. — A minute Alga bears the name of Gory-dew 

 from its resemblance to blood-drops. During the Middle Ages, it 

 caused much dismay by appearing like a sudden shower of blood, 

 and it was thought to portend battle, murder, and sudden death. 



GRASS. — In India, several kinds of Grass, such as the Kusa, 

 a species of Andropogon, and Eragrostis, are held sacred by the 

 Hindus, and employed in their temples. In Prussia, the nor- 

 thern Holy Grass (Holcus odoratus) is used for strewing the floors of 

 churches at Whitsuntide. In some parts of Germany, Holy Grass 



(Hierochloe bonalis) is strewn before church doors on holidays. 



Wheat would appear to be only the cultivated form of the JEgilops, 

 a Grass infesting Barley-fields on the shores of the Mediterranean. 

 Grip-grass [Galium Aparine) is so called from its gripping or seizing 

 with its hooked prickles whatever comes in its way. The Potentilla 

 reptans is called Five-Finger Grass, on account of its five leaflets. 

 The only poisonous Grass (Darnel) is supposed to be the Tares of the 

 Scriptures : Linnaeus says of this Grass [Lolium temulentum) that if 

 the seeds are baked, in bread it is very hurtful, and if malted with 



Barley it produces giddinness. In Norfolk, coarse marshy Grass 



is called Hassock, hence the application of this name to church has- 

 socks, which are often made of a large Sedge, the Carex panimlata. 



In conneiftion with Tussack-grass [Aini c^spitosa), Mr. Sikes 



relates the following tradition current in Wales :— The son of a 

 farmer at Drws Coed was permitted to- marry a fairy- wife on condi- 

 tion that she should never be touched by iron. They had several 

 children, and lived happily enough until one unfortunate day her 

 horse sank in the deep mire, and as her husband was helping her 

 to remount, his stirrup struck her knee. At once sweet singing 

 was heard on the hill top, and she was parted from him ; but, 

 though no longer allowed to walk the earth with man, she used to 

 haunt the turf lake (Llyn y dywarchen). This lake has moving 

 islands of Tussack-grass, like Derwentwater, so on one of these 

 islands she used to stand for hours and hold converse with her 



bereaved husband. " Fairy Rings " is the popular name for the 



circles of dark-green Grass occasionally seen on grassy downs and 

 old pastures, round which, according to popular belief, the 

 " Elfe-queen, with her jolly compagiiie, 

 Danced full oft in many a grene mede." 



