THE MISTLETOE IN HEREFORDSHIRE. 381 
of England ; with Shropshire to the north, and Worcestershire, Glou- 
cestershire and Monmouthshire, to the east, south, and west: and 
when, moreover, it is considered, how comparatively isolated its situa- 
tion was before the introduction of railways, here we might expect to 
find remaining, if anywhere, the existence of a belief in its special 
Druidical repute, and here it still does exist, though somewhat altered 
in character. I have asked the question of many old agriculturists 
and people learned in country customs, ** Is the Mistletoe ever used for 
any purpose now?” and the one answer I have had from every single 
person has been, ** Yes, it is an excellent thing to give sheep after lamb- 
ing," and some add, ** and for cows too after calving."* I have several 
times been told that it must not on any account be given to them be- 
fore, and know that accidents in the families of our domestic animals 
are sometimes attributed to its having been eaten prematurely. I may 
say indeed, with truth, that it is a common practice in this county now 
to give it to sheep at this particular time. it is true that the Mistletoe 
is a gentle tonic, that the animals like it, and will often eat something 
fresh and green when they will not take anything else, but it is very 
remarkable that it should only be given to them on this occasion, and 
never for weakness produced from any other cause. Tradition has 
somewhat altered its original Druidical repute if it be so, but the com- 
mon practice still bears so close a relation to the “increase of the spe- 
cies,” that I cannot but regard the general belief in its efficacy in this 
special way, as a very singular and interesting example of Druidical in- 
fluence carried down, century after century, for near 2000 years. The 
fact of its taking, in our day, a somewhat modified form, only strengthens 
the probability that this supposition is correct. 
The Mistletoe still holds well its place in the esteem of the people, 
For giving to cows, Sn — epe is, d it should’ be gathered from the 
Hawthorn or Maple. It was fro woodman near Ledbu ury that I first heard of 
the piid erea 2 this use aa "Mis tletoe; '* * Mistleto oe ain't of much use now, 
Sir, as I knows on,” said he, “ except for one thing, and then it do beat everything. 
," says Cuthbert Bede, “ vis sinit med to take down 
= bough of nats and give it to Mire cow that calved first after New "Year 8 Day, 
ich was sup to ensure luck throughout the year to the whole dairy." 
(N. & Q. iii. 313) 
