SUPERSTITIONS 231 
sisters, and myself were warned against breaking a 
twig or a branch from the Elder hedge which sur- 
rounded my grandfather’s garden. We were told 
at the time that it was poisonous ; but we discovered 
afterwards that there was another reason—viz., that 
it was unlucky to break off even a small twig from 
a Bourtree (Elder) bush. In some parts of the 
Continent this superstitious feeling is so strong that 
before pruning it, the gardener says: “ Elder, Elder, 
may I cut thy branches ?’ If no response be heard, 
it is considered that assent has been given, and then, 
after spitting three times, the pruner begins his 
cutting.” As the Elder has not the faculty of 
speech, I have no doubt the pruning has always 
proceeded without further ceremony. It was 
claimed that if Elder-berries were gathered on St. 
John’s Eve they would protect their possessor from 
witchcraft, and perhaps bestow magical powers 
upon him. | 
Probably the St. John’s Worts got their popular 
names from superstitions regarding them. It was 
believed that the root of St. John’s Wort gathered 
at sunrise on St. John’s Day, and kept in the house, 
gave luck to the family. If the plants gathered on 
the same day were hung with crosses over the doors 
of houses, they would, it was claimed, keep out the 
devil and all evil spirits. 
A piece of four-leaved Clover was supposed to 
possess wonderful protective power exerted for the 
benefit of its finder, and it also is said to have given 
its possessor power to see through any schemes or 
deceits of his enemies. 
Well, the evil spirits that we have to deal with 
