POETRY OF FLOWERS. 31 
with our ancestors. The ludicrous practice, of 
“bobbing” for apples on Allhallow-e’en, on All 
Saints Day, and at other specified times, is nearly 
obsolete. Formerly, the first day of November 
was dedicated to the titular saint of fruit and 
seeds, and was called La Mas TJbhal , or the 
“day of the apple.” This name being pro¬ 
nounced lamasool. got con upted into Lamb’s 
Wool, the name given in some parts to a bowl 
of spiced ale containing roasted apples, and 
which is drunk on the last night in October. An 
ancient charm practised by village maidens, was, 
on a certain particularized night, to take a can¬ 
dle and go alone into a room, look into a look¬ 
ing-glass, and eat an apple in front of it, when 
she would behold in the glass the reflection of 
her husband to be, peeping over her shoulder. 
The Romans highly valued this tree for its 
ornamental effect, deeming, and with justice, 
that the earliness and beauty of its blossoms, as 
also the brilliant hues of its fruit, rendered it a 
desirable addition to the splendor of their 
gardens. 
L. E. L. did not overlook the beauty of the 
apple-blossom, as these lines testify : 
“Of all the months that fill the year, 
Give April’s month to me, 
For eaj-th and sky are then so filled 
With sweet variety. 
