OF FOREST-TREES. 



9 



tion how that inveterate dispute, which has exercised so many Natu- INTIIOD. 

 ralists and Philosophers (about Misleto) has lately been decided by an ^^^V^* 

 evident experiment, and the testimony of the most curious and learned 

 Botanists, by the seeds of that excrescence ; which being inserted into 

 an hole made in the bark of the White Poplar, produces the plant which 

 has hitherto raised so many years controversy ^ (See Mr. Ray's Hist. 

 Plant, p. 1583 ; and Appendix, p. 1918.) 



f The mistletoe, instead of rooting and growing in the earth, like other plants, fixes itself 

 and takes root on the branches of trees. It spreads out with many branches, and forms a 

 large bush. It is commonly found upon the white thorn, the apple, the crab, the ash, and 

 maple, but is rarely seen upon the oak ; which last kind, as Mr. Ray well observes, was 

 chiefly esteemed in medicine, owing to the superstitious honours which the ancient Druids 

 of this island paid to that plant when gathered there. This is a parasitical plant, and is 

 always produced from seed. Some of the ancients called it an excrescence on the tree, 

 growing without seed ; which opinion is now fully confuted by a number of experiments. 

 It is the opinion of some, that it is propagated by the mistletoe thrush, which, feeding upon 

 the berries, leaves the seeds with its dung upon the branches of the respective trees where 

 the plant is commonly found. Others say, that as the berries are extremely glutinous, the 

 seeds frequently stick to the beaks of those birds, which being rubbed off -upon the 

 branches of trees, they become inoculated, as it were, and take root. In the same 

 manner the mistletoe may be propagated by art ; for if the berries, when full ripe, be 

 rubbed upon the smooth part of the bark of some trees, they will adhere closely, and 

 produce plants the following winter. In the garden belonging to the late Mr. James 

 Collins of Knaresbrough, there were many large plants of the mistletoe, produced in this 

 manner upon the dwarf apple-tree : And there is at this time in my garden in York, a fine 

 plant of mistletoe, growing upon a dwarf apple-tree, which I produced by inoculation a 

 few years ago. Of mistletoe, we have only one species growing in Europe, viz. Viscum 

 (album) foliis lanceolatis obtusis, caule dichotomo, spicis axillaribus, Lin. Sp. Plant. 1451. 

 Mistletoe uilh blunt spear-shaped leaves, forked stalks, and spikes of Jlowers rising from the 

 wings of the stalks. Viscum baccis albis, C. B. P. 423. Mistletoe with white berries. 



The gathering of the mistletoe made a part of the religious worship of the Druids. 

 When the end of the year approached, they marched with great solemnity to gather it, in 

 order to present it to Jupiter, inviting all the world to assist at the ceremony in these 

 words : " The new year is at hand, gather the mistletoe." The sacrifices being ready, the 

 priest ascended the oak, and with a golden hook cut off the mistletoe, which was received 

 in a white garment spread for that purpose. This part of the ceremony being ended, 

 the victims, two white bulls that never had been yoked, were brought forth and offered 

 up to the Deity, with prayers that he would prosper those to whom he had given so 

 precious a boon. Of the mistletoe, thus gathered, they made a potion which they admini- 

 stered as an antidote to all poisons, and used as a remedy to prevent sterility. Besides the 

 mistletoe, the Druids ritually gathered the Selago, or Firr club-moss, and the Samolus, or 

 Round-leaved Watered Pimpernel, both which they applied to medicinal purposes. It may 

 Volume I. I 



