DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 39 



sting from this obnoxious plant. The following lines show Avhat 

 in Dorset is considered the proper time for getting rid of the plant 

 altogether : 



" Cut nettles in June, 

 They come again soon 

 Cut them in July, 

 They're sure to die." 



Nirrup : A donkey. 



The three stripes found on a donkey are believed to denote the 

 three strokes given by Balaam to his ass. 



Nut : Double or twin-nuts are often carried in the pocket as a 

 specific for toothache. 



Oak : The aid of the oak tree is sometimes invoked as a 

 charm against tooth-ache. The proceeding is as follows : Go to a 

 young oak-tree, cut a slit in the tree, cut off a bit of your hair, put 

 it under the rind, put your hand up to the tree, and say, " This I 

 bequeath to the oak-tree, in the name of the Father, and of the 

 Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." 



For the use of the oak, in conjunction with the ash, as an augury 

 of the weather, see note to Ash-candles. 



Odrod : See ffolrod. 



Old-man' s-beard : The mare's tail (hippuris vulgaris). 



Old-man' s-beard : The seed-vessels of the wild clematis (vitalba). 



Or gin : The herb pennyroyal (mentha pulegium). 



Pane : A parsnip. 



Pimrose : The first r is always omitted in proper Dorset 

 pronunciation. The same superstition that prevails with regard 

 to bringing daffodils into the house, obtains with primroses also. 

 See Daffidowndilly. 



Piss-a-bed : The dandelion (taraxacum dens-leonis) ; more 

 especially the narrow dandelion (leontodon taraxacum} said to be 

 very diuretic ; whence its name in Dorset as in France (pissenJit). 



Pitcher : A wild plant ; a pollard willow. 



Plant : When a plant is primed or cut, you must take care 

 that the turnings or cuttings are never put in the fire, but are 



