MYSTICISM IN THE PLANT WORLD 
of ways, most often by the number of their 
petals. The query of the very young girl 
usually has been “Will I be married?” and she 
has been sure to see that the reply is most often 
in the affirmative. In 4 Midsummer Night’s 
Dream, Oberon tells Puck to lay Pansies on 
Titania’s eyes in order that she may fall in love 
with the first person she sees upon awakening. 
There was a time when people placed great 
reliance upon the efficacy of dreams. Plants 
seen in dreams always had special significance. 
Among the various omens, general good for- 
tune was indicated by Palms, Olives, Jasamines, 
Lilies, Laurels, Thistles, Currants and Roses. 
When flowers or fruit of the Plum, Cherry, 
Cypress and Dandelion appeared, misfortune 
was indicated. Withered Roses foretold es- 
pecially dire events. ‘“‘Nobody is fond of fading 
flowers.” A four-leaved Clover put under a 
pillow induced dreams of one’s lover. In parts 
of South America, the natives are said to smoke 
and eat certain intoxicating plants in the hope 
that they may see visions in the resulting nar- 
cotic dreams. 
Plants have not been the cause of very many 
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