5o 
MODERN APPLE LORE. 
jocose, the mood of a mind preoccupied but not wholly engrossed, able to mock itself a little, and 
smile a good humoured smile at its own hopes and fears. Some of the country proverbs which the 
sayings afford, are but the practical observations of rural life : or again, and by far the most 
frequently, the part played by the Apples is that of the natural accompaniments of rustic pleasures. 
In remote periods country festivities were encouraged and held on the festivals of the Church, and 
became thus associated with certain Saints’ Days. These were always chiefly for the young, and 
held the place now taken by school entertainments. They were made the occasions of presenting 
the children with little gifts, and for the general expression of good will. As noise and 
merriment are ever essential to youthful enjoyment, the singing of doggrel verses became prevalent, 
in which the rhyme was often more thought of than reverence for the Saint, in whose honour 
the festival was kept. These customs and observances, whatever form they may take, are rapidly 
passing out of use, and they are only to be studied in the pages of “ The Gentleman’s Magazine,” 
for the end of last century ; Hone’s “ Every-day Book ” ; Brand’s “ Popular Antiquities,” the 
Edition by Sir Henry Ellis (1813), and the Edition by W. Carew Hazlitt (1870); Dyer’s “ British 
Popular Customs”; or in the incidental notices of Local Histories, Magazines, or other 
Periodicals. It seemed not unfitting that the Woolhope Club should put some of them on record in 
its own pages, before they had passed into complete oblivion. 
The importance of a fruitful year has given rise to many country sayings and omens 
with reference to apple-trees. In Derbyshire, and in many other counties, there is a prevalent 
notion, that if the sun shines through the apple trees on Christmas Day, there will be an 
abundant crop of apples the following year. 
The danger of an early Spring, as shown by the apple tree coming into leaf too preco¬ 
ciously, is well expressed by the rural distich : 
“March dust on an apple leaf, 
Brings all kinds of fruit to grief.” 
Or again, if the tree blossoms too early, it is said : 
“ If the apple tree blossoms in March, 
For barrels of cider you need not sarch ,” 
because you certainly will not find them ; 
“ But if the apple tree blossoms in May, 
You can eat apple dumplings every day.” 
If, however, the apple tree should blossom when the fruit is ripe on the tree, superstition steps 
in, and, as this is usually prompted by fear, it is an omen of calamity, and is said to betoken a forth¬ 
coming death in the owner’s family. In Northamptonshire they say : 
“ A bloom upon the apple tree when the apples are ripe, 
Is a sure termination to somebody’s life.” 
(Dyer’s “ English Folk Lore,” p. 8.) 
which is so charmingly general, that it is not to be disputed. The occurrence was so very 
common during last year (1878) that the mortality, to support the saying properly, would indeed 
have been terrible. 
