36 DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



such a recipe was generally known and practised in certain parts of 

 Dorsetshire. 



Madders (Mathers) : The stinking camomile (anthemis cotula). 



Maypie : The belief that the appearance of the magpie, accord- 

 ing as it is seen alone or accompanied by others of its species, has 

 an influence in the course of human events is common to many 

 countries. The form best known to me as obtaining in Dorset is 

 the following : 



One sign of anger, 

 Two sign of mirth, 

 Three sign of wedding, 

 Four sign of birth. 



And some will add : 



" Five heaven, six hell, 

 Seven the deil's ain sell." 



But this last line savours too strongly of a Scottish accent to 

 please Wessex ears. 



It is believed in some parts of Dorset that if a magpie remain 

 over a man in the plough field all day he will be sure to die. 



Mullocks : Pigs. 



You should never eat pig's brains (or, as some say, pig's marrow) 

 as it makes you tell all you know. 



Some people are very particular as to what time of the moon 

 their pigs are slaughtered for market, as it is believed that if they 

 are killed during the waxing of the moon the carcases will gain in 

 weight, but that the reverse will be the case if it be done when the 

 moon is waning. Conf. note to Hen. 



Marten : A heifer that will not breed (see Freemarten). 



May-balls : The balk of white flowers which characterise the 

 cultivated variety of the Guelder rose. Also called Snow-balls. 



Medden : Same as madders, q.v. 



Medden-tree : A tree not polled. [Xote Additional Glossary : 

 " It is an axiom here that none but a plant raised from a seed 

 and never cut off will produce decent timber. The idea of 

 ' maiden ' is no doubt this : that the plant has never produced 



