164 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



Ireland, with woods and hedges, it grows best on the sides 

 of hills, and in fertile soil. 



Druidic observances still linger in various parts of 

 England, and are superstitiously observed by the peasantry, 

 though they know not why. In the highlands of Scotland, 

 where the roan-tree is found more frequently than any 

 other among Druidic circles, small branches are carried by 

 the natives as spells, whereby the wearer may be shielded 

 from witchcraft and enchantment. In Scotland also, es- 

 pecially at Strathspey, sheep and lambs are made to pass, 

 on May-day, through a hoop of roan-wood ; and the Scotch 

 dairy-maid will not drive her cattle to the shealings, or 

 summer pastures, with any other rod than that of the roan- 

 tree. In Wales, also, this tree is reputed sacred. And as 

 with us the yew was anciently planted in churchyards, so 

 is the roan, throughout the northern parts of the Princi- 

 pality. Evelyn relates, that in his time, and on a certain 

 memorial day, every Welshman bore a cross made of the 

 wood, and that branches of the same tree, called by some 



