170 PLANTAGO. 



leaves are much used in making the poultices and ointments of skil- 

 ful herbalists. 



468. P. MEDIA. Dry pastures, frequent in our district, and an 

 ornamental species. K. It is plentiful on the southern base of the 

 Eildon hills, and on every bank around the vUlage of Bovrden, but it 

 is not found in Selkirkshire. Stat. Ace. Roxburghs. p. 36. 



469. P. LANCEOLATA. JRifi^gvasia : Itnnpsi. Common in mea- 

 dows and pastures. June. — Sown with other " artificial grasses," 

 and eaten with great avidity by all sorts of cattle. — It is customary 

 with children to challenge each other to try the "Witm^i." Akemp 

 consists of the stalk and the head or spike. Of these an equal 

 number is skilfully selected by the opposed parties : then one is held 

 out to be struck at with one from the opponent's parcel, which is 

 thrown aside if decapitated, but if not, is used to give a stroke in 

 return. Thus, with alternate strokes given and received, the boys 

 proceed until all the Kemps but one are beheaded, and he who has 

 the entire Kemp in possession considers himself the victor. Kemp is 

 synonymous with hero or champion*. But the practice has also 

 given to the plant the name of dFtg{)tcesCor6s amongst the children 

 in Berwick and its vicinity ; and in Durham IlLod^G^Uvi. 



" It was once, and perhaps still is, a custom in Berwickshire to 

 practise divination by means of Kemps. Two spikes were taken in 

 full bloom, and being bereft of every appearance of blow, they were 

 wrapt in a dock-leaf, and put below a stone. One of them repre- 

 sented the lad, the other the lass. They were examined next morning, 

 and if both spikes appeared in blossom, then there was to be ' aye 

 love between them twae :' if none, the ' course of true love ' was not 

 ' to run smooth.' The appeal, however, generally ended as the 

 parties wished, for since it is the rule, in the inflorescence of spikes, 

 that the florets blow in succession, the being laid beneath a stone 

 would have little influence in retarding the normal expansion of them, 

 if ready for development. The same, or a similar, superstition pre- 

 vails in some parts of England : thus Clare in his Shepherd's Ca- 

 lendar — 



" Now young girls whisper things of love. 



And from the old dame's hearing move ; 



Oft making ' love-knots ' in the shade. 



Of blue-green oat or wheaten blade j 



Or, trying simple charms and spells 



Which rm-al superstition tells. 



* The Swedes give the name of Kampar to PI. media. The name Kemps 

 is apphed occasionally with us to PI. major. The word is often used by 

 romance writers. Here is an example from the old ballad of King Est- 

 mere : — 



" But in did come the Kyng of Spayne, 

 With Kempes many a one." 



See also Promptorium Parvulorum, i. p. 270; and Percy's Reliq. Ant. Eng. 

 Poetry, i. p. 373. 



