MODERN APPLE LORE. 57 
allowed to fall into the liquor, which floating on the top gives the name of “ Lamb’s-wool ” to 
the drink. 
“ It welcomed with Lamb’s-wool the rising year.” 
(Polwhele , “ Old English Gentleman ,” 117.) 
Lamb’s-wool is mentioned by Gerarde, and other writers, and in the early English ballad, 
“ The King and the Miller,” we find : 
“A cup of Lamb’s-wool they drank to him there.” 
Herrick gives its composition : 
“Next crowne the bowle full 
With gentle Lambs’ Wool; 
Adde sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, 
With store of ale too • 
And thus you must doe, 
To make the Wassaile a swinger.” 
( Hesperides , 376.) 
As an instance of the follies of antiquaries, we may mention, that Hone in his “ Every-day 
Book” says “Lamb’s-wool” is thus etymologized by Valiancy: The first day of November,(All Saints 
Day,) was also dedicated to the angel presiding over fruit seeds, &c., and was therefore named 
“ Las mas Ubhal” that is, the day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced “ Lamasool,” the 
English have corrupted the name to “ Lamb’s-wool ” (c. 1416.) 
A writer in “ Notes and Queries,” ( Vol. V.) say that the curious custom of “ Apple howling” 
on New Year’s Eve, was still observed in Sussex, Devonshire, and Herefordshire. Troops of men 
and boys would visit the different orchards, and encircling the favourite trees sing a rhyme which 
begins : 
“ Stand fast root, bear well top,” &c., &c. 
with much noise, hornblowing, and merriment. 
In Devonshire, a custom very similar was observed in Herrick’s time on Christmas Eve. 
He says : 
“ Wassail the trees, that they may bear 
You many a Plum, and many a Pear, 
For more, or lesse fruits they will bring 
As you do give them Wassailing.” 
(Hesperides , p. 311.) 
But the old customs of Christmas Eve are observed in most country places, on Old Christmas Eve, 
that is, the Eve of Twelfth Day. On that night in more recent times, the farmer and his men 
carried a large pitcher of cider to the orchard, and then standing round one of the best trees, 
shouted three times in full chorus : 
“ Here’s to thee, old apple tree, 
Whence thou mayst bud, and whence thou mayst blow ! 
And whence thou mayst bear apples enow : 
Hats full, caps full, 
Bushel, bushel, sacks full, 
And my pockets full too, 
, Huzza, huzza.” 
(Gentleman's Magazine, 1791.) 
A similar custom is observed in Somerset at the present day : and a song almost identical 
