300 OF METEOROLOGICAL CHAP. 10. 1. 



Cross, September 14, can have no other con- 

 nexion with the invention of Nuts in the 

 hedges, than that it is celebrated at a time of 

 year when they abound ; yet an ancient custom 

 prevailed of going a nutting on Holy Rood Day, 

 which it was esteemed quite unlucky to omit.* 

 The particular times of year when nuts may be 

 ripe has probably suggested this notion ; as 

 also the flinging of apples and cabbages at one 

 another, a custom practised at Kidderminster, 

 a ceremony to announce which, the bell in the 

 turret of the townhouse used to ring. 



St. Michael and All Angels, September 29. 

 Many superstitious customs remain in force on 

 this day, which it would be foreign to my 

 object to dwell on, such as eating green Geese, 

 on which Churchill remarks : 



" September when by custom's right divine, 

 Geese are ordained to bleed at Michael's shrine." 



The procession in the Isle of Skye, and the 

 breaking of the cake called Bannock, is another 

 of those customs arising from the time of year 

 which is described in Martin's Description of 

 the Western Islands, 



* Grim, the Collier of Croydon, reminds us : 

 " This day, they say, is called Holy Rood Day, 

 And all the girls are now a nutting gone." 



