CHAP, vii.] THE FOLK-LORE OF PLANTS. 117 



of a vivid green ; the parts within the ring, in con- 

 sequence of former exhaustion, looking dry and 

 parched, and those beyond less luxuriant from com- 

 parative want of manure. Thus, year after year, the 

 ring increases in diameter till it attains dimensions 

 of many yards across." * 



Who was the miscreant that altered the popular 

 orthography of Digitalis purpurea from Folk's-glove 

 to Foxglove ? With that alteration all the poetry 

 and the associations of fairyland were taken from 

 the name. True, it is still the noblest of our native 

 flowers, and one that will ever be a favourite with 

 all ; but it was the flower which supplied the fairies 

 with gloves delicately-tinted silken coverings fit for 

 the hands of such dainty folk hence Folk's-glove. 



It is notable that in the myths and superstitions of 

 Natural History the animals are mostly credited with 

 evil or other repulsive powers, but the plants undo 

 the evils wrought by witches, warlocks, and others 

 practising the Black Art. Time was when almost 

 every plant had some marvellous properties attri- 

 buted to it ; and in the old herbals of a few centuries 

 ago a long list of "virtues" was appended to each 

 name. As a rule, one plant would cure at least a 

 score of ills, and the only wonder is that in those 

 good old days folks ever were ill a day, or ever died. 

 But it is with the more supernatural aspect of their 

 powers we have now to deal. 



It is not remarkable that the Fern was considered 

 to produce invisible seed, seeing how exceedingly 

 minute are the spores they bear ; but in addition to 

 * Berkeley. 



