42 DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



The sloe is used in some parts as a charm against the recurrence 

 of or a cure for warts ; when to obtain the wished-for result the 

 following process is particularly to be observed : Go to a sloe-bush 

 unseen ; bite off a part of a growing sloe, leaving the portion with 

 the stone in it on the bush ; rub the wait with the part bitten off, 

 and throw it over your head or shoulder. 



Snail : The following lines are often used by children in the 

 endeavour to charm snails out of their holes : 



" Snail, snail, come out of your hole, 

 Or else I'll beat you so black as a coal." 



Snake : It is believed that a snake can always be stopped, or 

 diverted from your path, if you repeat the following verse : " Let 

 God arise, and let his enemies be scattered." It is believed by 

 some people that a snake-skin worn in the hat or bonnet is a remedy 

 for head-ache. (See note to Adder.) 



Snake-flower : The wind-flower (anemone nemorosa.) 



Snalter (snorter) : The wheatcar [see Jobbfer] (Portland). 



Snow-balls : See May-balls. 



Sojer (sojerfloK-er) : The soldier-flower (pyroclirosa rubens or 

 orchis militaris). Also the insect soldier. 



Sjiears : The stems of the reed (arundo pltragmites) sometimes 

 employed instead of lattice to hold plaster. 



Spik (spike) : The lavender plant (lavendula spiea). 



Sjnles : The beard or awns of barley. [See Hoils.] 



Squid : The sea-parrot. 



Stare : The starling. 



Stone-thrush : The missel-thrush (turdus viscivortis). [See 

 Home-screech.] 



Storm-cock : Another name for the missel thrush. 



Stout : The gad-fly or cow-fly (tabanus bovinus). 



Striimote : A stalk of straw or grass [see M<ite.~\ 



Straicen : A " straw ing " of potatoes is the set of potatoes or 

 stalks growing from one mother tuber. 



Stubberrt : An early kind of apple. 



If an apple tree blossoms out of season e.g., in the autumn, it 



