MYSTICISM IN THE PLANT WORLD 
stood side by side looking about and waiting, 
when suddenly a Fuji pod exploded before our 
eyes. The seeds flew in different directions and 
the divided halves of the pod fell to the ground 
and lay like sabers dropped in the attack of 
battle. When the discovery was made, one of us 
called out to the upstairs window that it was 
the explosion of the Wistaria pods that caused 
the noises. There was a general laugh and the 
ghosts disappeared. Not affected by rain or 
darkness, by heat or cold, by human foot-steps 
or voice, there is one thing ghosts cannot en- 
dure; to be laughed at literally slays them.” 
In the Middle Ages, the Mandrake was a 
magical plant which was reputed to shine like 
a candle at night and thrive particularly well 
near the gallows. When pulled from the earth, 
it uttered uncanny shrieks, and according to 
Shakespeare “living mortals hearing them ran 
mad.” 
Two centuries ago it was believed that every 
plant, as well as every human being, was under 
the influence of some particular planet. The 
plants over which Saturn claimed an ascend- 
ency were characterized by ill-favoured leaves, 
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