DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 23 



That is, as the bud of the ash blackens, so in proportion will the 

 wheat be light or heavy in ear. 



The ash, in conjunction with the oak (which see post), is a very 

 favourite test, according as one or the other is the first to put forth 

 its leaves, as to what kind of weather may be expected during the 

 ensuing season : 



" If the ash is before the oak, 

 Then there'll be a very great smoke ; 

 If the oak is before the ash, 

 Then there'll be a very great splash." 



And variants of this are common. The use of ash twigs, in 

 place of hazel, as " divining rods " for purposes of finding water, 

 is not unknown. 



Asker : The water eft or newt. 



Bammy ; A new-born lamb. 



Barley-bird : The wry-neck. 



Barrow-pig : A hog ; not a sow. 



Beacon-weed : The plant goose-foot (clienopodium.) 



Bearg : A wild boar. 



Bedwine : The traveller's joy (clematis vitalba). 



Beetle-head (Bioeitle-liead) : The bull-head, or miller's thumb ; 

 bunch-head (coitus gobio). Also the tadpole. 



Bennets : The stems and flower-head of grass (agrostis). 



Biddle (Bittle) : A beetle : the tool. 



It is commonly supposed that if you kill a black-beetle (or a fly) 

 twenty of them will come to the funeral. No doubt this belief 

 may be attributed to the fact that no matter how many blackbeetles 

 or flies you may destroy there is apparently no diminution whatever 

 in their numbers. 



Billy : (i.) a bull (ii.) a bundle (fr. billet). 



A bullock's heart was a favourite charm in Dorset for warding off 

 the malignant influence of witches. A few years ago, upon a house 

 at Hawkchurch being vacated by its tenant, an obstruction was 

 found in one of the chimneys, which, on being removed, was found 

 to consist of a bullock's heart, into which was stuck a quantity of 



