THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



ages, and that Glastonbury was called Apple Orchard, 

 from the great quantity of apples grown there pre- 

 vious to the arrival of the Romans. 



The Apple-tree is mentioned by Theophrastus and 

 Herodotus, and is also distinguished by legends in the 

 mythologies of the Greeks, the Scandinavians, and 

 the Druids. Hercules was worshipped by the The- 

 bans under the name of Melius, and apples were 

 offered at his altars. The ancient Welsh bards were 

 rewarded for excelling in song by "the token of the 

 Apple spray." In the apple-growing parts of Eng- 

 gland many quaint ceremonies were in olden times 

 practised. In Devonshire on Christmas Eve the 

 farmers and their men used to take in state to the 

 orchard a large bowl of cider with toast in it, and 

 salute the Apple-trees with much ceremony in order to 

 induce them to bear well the next season. The 

 farmer and his men each took an oblation of the 

 cider, threw some of it about the roots of the tree, 

 placing bits of toast on the branches; then forming 

 themselves round the most fruitful Apple-tree sang: 



Here's to thee, old Apple-tree, 

 Whence thou mayst bud, and whence thou mayst blow; 

 And whence thou mayst bear apples enow. 



Hats full! caps full! 



Bushel-bushel-sacks full ! 



And my pockets full, too! 



Huzza! 



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