OF HERBS AND MAGIC 183 



for it was a charm against so many evils. If a sprig of 

 Basil were left under a pot, it would, in time, turn to 

 scorpions ! It is a strange plant altogether. The ancient 

 Greeks thought that it would not grow unless when the 

 seed was sown railing and abuse should be poured forth 

 at the same time. Much blossom on the broom foretells 

 a plentiful harvest of corn. " Les anciens " according to 

 La petite Corbeille believed that a pot of Gilly-flowers, 

 growing in a window, would fade if the master of the 

 house died ; and similar curious sympathies in Sage and 

 Honesty and Rosemary have already been noticed. 



There is a belief in the West Country that no girl 

 who is destined to be an old maid, can make a myrtle 

 grow. Mr Friend does not mention this, but he does 

 tell us that a flowering myrtle is one of the luckiest 

 plants to have, and it is often difficult to grow ; and he 

 generously presents us with the receipt that he had 

 heard given to make sure of its flowering. The secret 

 is, while setting the slip, to spread the tail of one's 

 dress, and look proud ! 



To transplant Parsley is very unlucky, and to let 

 Rhubarb run to seed will bring death into the family 

 before a year is out. These beliefs are still active. 

 One hears also that no one will have any luck with 

 young chickens if they bring any blossom (of fruit- 

 trees) into the house, which is, indeed, an unlucky thing 

 to do at any time. 



There was a fairly recent case in Gloucestershire, 

 which showed that the idea still survives that if flower- 

 seeds are sowed on Palm Sunday, the flowers will come 

 out double. 



Though Elder is not a herb, it cannot be omitted 

 here, for every inch of an Elder-tree is connected 

 with magic. This is especially the case in Denmark. 

 First of all there is the Elder-tree Mother, who 

 lives in the tree and watches for any injury to it. Hans 



