MOUNTAIN ASH 45 



drunks, Keer, Quickbeam, Quicken, Rantree, Ranty Berries, Rawn, 

 Roantree, Roddin Tree, Wicken or Wicen Tree, Wickey, Wiggin, 

 Witchwood, Witchen or Witchin, Witty-tree, Wychen, Rowan, Rown- 

 tree, Roynetree, Sap-tree, Wild Service, Quickband, Twickbine, 

 Whicken, Whistle Wood, White Ash, Whitty-tree. 



The Rowan was called Witchwood from a virtue it was supposed 

 to possess against witchcraft. It is named Mountain Ash from a 

 resemblance between its leaves and those of the Ash. It was called 

 Cock-drunks because it was supposed to intoxicate fowls. The name 

 Fowler's Service was given because the berries were used to bait 

 blackbirds. 



This tree is said in Iceland to spring up when the innocent are put to 

 death. It was thought to be a powerful check on the works of darkness. 



" The spells were vain, the hag returned 



To the green in sorrowful mood, 

 Crying that witches have no power 

 Where there is a rown tree wood." 



People even carry a twig of Rowan in the pocket in Yorkshire as 

 a sort of talisman. A tale runs as follows: 



" A woman was lately in my shop, and pulling out her purse 

 brought out also a piece of stick a few inches long. I asked her why 

 she carried that in her pocket. ' Oh!' she replied, ' I must not lose that 

 or I shall be done for.' 'Why so?' I enquired. 'Well,' she answered, 

 ' I carry that to keep off the witches; while I have that about me they 

 cannot hurt me.' On my adding that there were no witches nowadays, 

 she instantly replied : ' Oh, yes, there are thirteen at this very time in 

 the town, but so long as I have my rowan tree safe in my pocket they 

 cannot hurt me.' " 



If a dairymaid could not quickly make butter she stirred the churn 

 with a rowan twig, and beat the cow with another to break the witch's 

 spell. Herd boys also drive cattle with a mountain ash twig. 



Rowans often grow near houses. In Norway and Sweden branches 

 were put over the stable to drive away witches. 



" Many rains, many rowans ; 

 Many rowans, many yawns." 



An ash leaf was invoked for good luck in Cornwall. The Iceland 

 people think it the enemy of the juniper. 



This plant was held to be the embodiment of lightning, from which 

 it was supposed to have sprung. The scarlet berries have added 

 to its mystic charm, red being sacred to Thor. 



