138 DORSET WEATHER LORE. 



It is difficult ill a short paper like this to deal with the 

 subject in a scientific or orderly method that would satisfy 

 the student of comparative folk-lore ; so I shall be content 

 to adopt some simple method of classification or arrangement 

 that will make it easy for any such student to select the 

 material he may desire for the purposes of comparison or 

 generalization. The older chroniclers of the domestic 

 customs and superstitions of the people — which we now call 

 " folk-lore " — were by no means scientific or orderly in the 

 treatment of their subject matter, but one was nevertheless 

 always able to find what one wanted. One of the most 

 usual methods was that of taking the particular days of the 

 calendar or periods of the year and adjusting and assigning 

 to them the subject matter suitable to each. It is this 

 method that I will now begin with, dealing with it in 

 chronological order. 



Some thirty years or so ago the Dorset County Chronicle 

 (I think at my suggestion, for I was anxious at that time to 

 collect and preserve all the items I could of what may be 

 termed Dorset folk-lore) instituted in its pages a " Folk-lore 

 Column " for the collection of such items, and which I from 

 time to time helped to supply with material. From that 

 source, under date 17th December, 1891, I now give my 

 first item. 



New Year's Day. 



It reads somewhat in the form of a prophecy from Old 

 Moore's Almanac, and there is an old-world savour about 

 it, but my note-book does not give the actual source whence 

 it was taken. It treats of what we may expect should New 

 Year's Day chance to fall upon a Thursday. 



" Winter and summer windie. A rainie harvest. 



Therefore we shall have overflowings ; much fruit ; 



plentie of honey ; yet flesh shall be deare, cattel in 



general shall die ; great troubles ; warres." 



Although not quite in chronological order I will now give 



some weather forecasts applicable to Candlemas. 



