554 pFant "bore, Tsegel^^/, ani. Isqric/', 



the fragrant plant, and whilst it was in season made it a rule to 

 have a bunch on his table, that he might inhale its grand perfume. 



STONECROP. — Like the House-leek, the Stonecrop was 

 supposed to be a protecflive against thunder and lightning, and 

 hence was planted on the roofs of cottages, stables, &c. The old 

 herbalists valued the small Houseleek, or Stonecrop, as a cure for 

 ague and expell^r of poisons. It was used as an outward appli- 

 cation, and, when boiled in beer, was considered good for pesti- 

 lential fevers. Among country folks the plant was known as Wall 

 Pepper (from its pungent flavour), Jack of the Buttery, Gold Chain, 

 and Prick Madam, the last name being a corruption of the French 



Trique Madame. Stonecrop is held by astrologers to be under the 



dominion of the Moon. 



STORAX. — The Styrax, or Storax-tree, has been held in great 

 estimation from the time of Dioscorides and Pliny, both of whom 

 described it. Although the tree is indigenous to many of the 

 southern parts of Europe, yet the precious and deliciously fragrant 

 gum that exudes from it, known as Storax-tears, can only be 

 obtained in perfecflion from Asiatic Turkey. Old Gerarde says 

 " of this gum, there are made sundry excellent perfumes, pomanders, 

 sweet waters, sweet bags, sweet washing-balls, and divers other 



sweet chains and bracelets." Storax-tears are still used as 



incense in the churches and mosques of Asia Minor. 



STRAW. — In the Hdvamdl, or the ' Divine Discourse of 

 Odin,' who gave these precepts of wisdom to mankind, it is stated 

 that " Straws dissolve enchantment." Hence, probably, was 

 derived the custom of laying two Straws crosswise in the path 

 where a witch was expected to pass, under the belief that by 

 stepping over Straws, arranged so as to form the sign of the Cross, 

 a witch was rendered powerless. In Ireland, on May-eve [men no, 

 Beat Una), the ceremony is pradlised of making the cows leap over 

 lighted Straw or faggots. In Cornwall, lasses desirous of know- 

 ing when they are to be married, are accustomed to repair either 

 to Madron Well, or to a well at St. Austell : there two pieces of 

 Straw, about an inch long, are crossed and fastened by a pin. 

 This Straw cross is then dropped into the water, and the rising 

 bubbles carefully counted, as they mark the number of years which 



will pass ere the arrival of the happy day. In Devonshire, to 



charm warts away, they take a Wheat Straw with as many knots 

 as there are warts on the hand to be dealt with, name over the 

 Straw the person afflicted, and then bury it : as it decays, the warts 



will disappear. In the county of Donegal, Ireland, a sufferer from 



warts procures ten Straws, ties a knot in each, throws the tenth 

 away, and carefully rubs the warts with the other nine knotted 

 Straws ; this done, he makes a white paper parcel of the Straws, 

 and throws it upon the high road, sure that the person who picks 

 up and opens the parcel will become the possessor of the warts. 



