Flowers and flower lore

Front matter

22 3 008 ''5 6375

V

0 ,

Preface

VENTURE to think that the Title of the present volume will sufficiently indicate its scope, while the Introduction and Notes will supply such other information as may be required for the intelligent study of Flower Lore. It is therefore quite unnecessary for me to write a long preface, especially as I have taken pains to acknowledge my obligations to former writers by giving their names and the titles of their works whenever I have been indebted to them. I have every reason to hope that as great care has been taken in the preparation and revision of this work, it may give pleasure and satisfaction to such as, either from the love of Natural History or of Folk Lore, shall make it their study.

HILDERIC FRIEND.

Brackley, November 6th, 1883.

TABLE OF CONTENTS,

BIBLIOGRAPHY ....

INTRODUCTION ....

I. THE FAIRY GARLAND . ,

II. FROM PIXY TO PUCK HI. THE virgin’s BOWER

IV. BRIDAL WREATHS AND BOUQUETS

V. FLOWERS FOR HEROES, SAINTS, AND GODS

VI. TRADITIONS ABOUT FLOWERS

VII. PROVERBS OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS

VIII. FLOWERS AND THE SEASONS.

IX. THE MAGIC WAND . . . -

X. SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT FLOWERS .

XI. FLOWERS AND SHOWERS

XII. CURIOUS BELIEFS OF HERBALISTS .

XIII. SPRIGS AND SPRAYS IN HERALDRY

XIV. STRANGE FACTS ABOUT PLANT NAMES

XV. THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

XVI. RUSTIC FLOWER NAMES .

XVII. PECULIAR USES OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS

TACK

. 47-79

. 411-441

. 442-468 . 469-496

. 497-525

Contents

viii

CHAP.

XVIII. WITCHES AND THEIR FLOWER-LORE XIX. FLOWERS AND THE DEAD XX. WREATHS AND CHAPLETS

CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES .

Index To Names And Matter , Additions And Corrections

PACE

, 526-558

- 559-589

A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

Adams, H. G. “Wonders and Beauties of the Year.” Profusely illustrated. Ward, Lock, & Co. (n.d.)

Alcock, R. H. “ Botanical Names for English Readers.”

Allen, G. “The Colours of Flowers as illustrated m the BritLsh Flora.” Macmillan & Co. (1882.)

Allen, G, “ Flowers and their Pedigrees. (1883.)

Bacon, Lord. Natural History j Essay on “Gardens.”

Balfour, Prof. “Phyto-Theology; or. Botany and Religion.” (1851.)

Barrett, W. A. “Flowers and Festivals,” Rivington (1873), 2nd Ed.

Barton, B. H. “ The British Flora Medica : A History of the Medicinal Plants of Great Britain,” by Benj. H. Barton, F.L.S., and Thos. Castle, M.D., F.L.S. A new Edition, by John R. Jackson, A.L.S. Illustrated by a coloured figure of each plant. Chatto & Windus. (1877.) A valuable book for these purposes.

Bauhin, C. “ De plantis a divis sanctisve nomen habentibus.” (Bale 1591.) Frequently quoted by De Gubernatis.

Bauhin, J. “ Historia Plantarum Universalis.” Containing many hundred woodcuts. 3 vols., fol. (1650.)

Beecher, H. IV. “Pleasant Talk about Fruits, Flowers, and Farming.' Sampson, Low, & Co. English Edition. (1859.)

Bentham. “Handbook of the British Flora.” (1858.)

Bloomfield. “Wild Flowers”: large woodcuts, 12 mo.

Brand. “Popular Antiquities.” Bohn’s Edition, by Sir H. Ellis, in 3 vols., is widely used.

Bridgett, Rev. T. “ Our Lady’s Dowry.” {1875.)

Britten, J. “A Dictionary of English Plant Names,” by James Britten, F.L.S., and Robert Holland. E.D.S., Part J. (A — FV 1878 ; Part II.

X

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

(G — O) 1879 ; Part III. (P — Z and Supplement). In the Press [1883].

Britten^ J. “ The Folklore of Plants,” announced as forthcoming in connection with The Antiquary's Library.

Britten,/. Gardeners Chronicle-, frequent contributions, by Mr. Britten and others; esp. 1870, p. 1214; 1873, April 19th; 1875, September i8th; 1876, July ist; 1877-, January 13th.

Browne, Sir T. “Vulgar Errors : Properties of Plants.”

Bryant, C. “ Flora Disetetica ; or, History of Esculent Plants, Domestio and Foreign,” 8vo. (1783.)

Burnett. “ Plantse Utiliores.”

Clare,/. “ Poems, Descriptive of Rural Life.” (London, 1820.)

Cockayne, Rev. T. O. “ Saxon Leechdoms, Starcraft, and Wort Cunning.” (1864-6.)

Coles, JV. “ Adam in Eden ; or, the Paradise of Plants.” (1657.)

Coles, JV. “ The Art of Simpling.” (1656.)

Conway, Rev. M. D. “Mystic Trees and Flowers.” Two Articles in FraseFs Magazine, November, December, 1870.

Cooke, Dr. “ Freaks and Marvels of Plant Life.” New Ed. (1883.)

Cooke, Dr. “ On the Lotus of the Ancients,” in Popular Science Review, vol. X. (1870), pp. 260 et seq.

Cooke, Dr. “ Ponds and Ditches.” 8vo, 2r. 6^. “ The AVoodlands,” 8vo.

Cowen, Elsa. “ Flower Legends.” Newman & Co. 8vo. (1880.)

Culpepper, N. ‘ ‘ British Herbal. ’ ’ Various Editions, but the oldest possess the greatest value, as the more modern ones are often curtailed.

Culpepper, N. “ The English Physician.” (1785.)

Darwin, E. “Botanic Garden, a Poem: The Economy of Vegetation, and the Loves of the Plants, with Philosophical Notes.” 2 vols- (1799.) The Author was grandfather of the late great naturalist, whose works, however, are of too scientific a nature to find a • place in this list. The lover of Flower-Lore will doubtless desire to make the acquaintance, nevertheless, of such works as “ The Fertilisation of Flowers,” etc.

De Gubernatis, A. “ La Mythologie des Plantes, ou les Ldgendes du R^gne V6g6tal.” (Tome Premier, 1878 ; Tome Second, 1882.) This work is indispensable. Unfortunately the second volume did not appear till the whole of my MS. had been sent to press.

De la Tour, C. “ Le Langage des Fleurs.” (Paris.)

De Vere, M. S. “ Leaves from the Book of Nature.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

xi

Dioscorides. “ Materia Medica.”

Drydm. “ The Flower and the Leaf.”

Du Chesne. “ Les Plantes Utiles.” (1846.)

Dyer, Rev. T. F. “ English Folklore ” and “ Folklore of Shakespeare.”

Dyer, Rev. T. F. “The Folklore of Plants.” [In preparation, 1883.} Promises to be a valuable addition to our list.

Earle, Rev.J. “English Plant Names from the Tenth to the Fifteenth Century.” Oxford, Clarendon Press. (1880.) A small work, but indispensable.

Elizabeth, C. “ Chapters on Flowers.” Post 8vo. (1866.)

Ellacombe, Rev. H. N. “ The Plant- Lore and Garden-Craft of Shakespeare.” Reprinted from the Garden. Printed for the Author by Wm. Pollard, Exeter. Demy 8vo, cloth, 8s. A most useful work for students of Shakspere and Flower-Lore. See Dyer 6r> Grindon.

' English Forests and Forest Trees, Historical, Legendary, and Descriptive.” Illustrated. Ingram & Cook. 8vo, cloth. (1853.) Published anonymously, but a very useful book. See Evelyn.

Englishuwnan s Magazine. 1847.

Evelyn, J. “Silva: A Discourse of Forest Trees, and the Propagation of Timber. Also an Account of the Sacredness and Use of Standing Groves.” One Edition was issued in 1776, with Notes by Dr. Hunter, another in 1786.

h\arrer\J. A. “The Names of Flowers.” In Cornhill Magazine, June 1882. Valuable and interesting.

“ Floral Calendar.” By a Lady.

“ Floral Poetry, and the Language of Flowers.” Marcus Ward.

“ Flowers and their teachings,” R.T.S. By the author of “ Sunshine andl Shadows in Kattern’s Life.” Simple and instructive.

“ Flowers of the Matin and Evensong.”

Folklore Record. Vols. i. — vi.

Foster, Mrs. On the “ Art of Gardening.” Satchell. (1881.)

Frtbourgeois , Un. “ Le Diable et ses Comes ” ; “ La Sauge Officinale” t “ La Belladonna ” ; and other similar works at a franc a-piece : both humorous and instructive.

Friend, Rev. H. “ A Glossary of Devonshire Plant Names.” E.D.S. (1882.) Reprinted from Transactions of Devotishire Association.

Frtend, Rev. H. “ The Festival of St. John Baptist,” in Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, July 1883, treats of the flower-lore of St. John’s Day.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

Friend, Rev. H. “ The Flower-Lore of Christmas-tide.” In the Hull Annual. (1883.)

Fuchs. “ Historia Stirpium.” (1542.)

Gentleman's Magazine. Many scattered notices, about to be reprinted. Gerarde,/. “ The Herball ; or, General Historie of Plantes.” (1597O Gerarde,J. The same, edited by Johnson, and quoted by writers as Ger.

Gower, C. “ The Wild Flowers of Great Britain.” Illustrated ; botanically and popularly described, with copious notices of their history and uses. 162, Fleet Street. (i‘’52.)

Grimm, J. “ Teutonic Mythology.” Being an English translation of his great work entitled “Deutsche Mythologie.” (VoL L published 1880; VoL II. 1882; Vol. III. In preparation.)

Flaitk, G. C. “ Plant Studies.” Quaritch. Preparing.

Flare, Rev. J. C. “ Fragments of Two Essays in English Philology.” Macmillan. (1873.) Essay I., pp. 4 — 3S> takes up the history of plant-names in learned yet interesting style.

Herb of the Field.” Reprinted from “ Chapters on Flowers,” in the Magazine for the Young. (1853.)

FFervey,J. “ Reflections on a Flower Garden.”

Jfibberd, S. “Brambles and Bay Leaves.” 3rd Ed. (1872.) Mr. Hibberd is a well-known authority on these subjects, and his other works may be consulted with pleasure and profit.

Fliggins, H. H. “ Names of Plants.”

Hill,/. “Herbal.” (i7S5-)

Hone, W. “Every Day Book,” and “Year Book.”

Hope, F. J. “ Notes and Thoughts on Gardens and Woodlands.

Macmillan & Co. Crown 8vo, 6r. . • v

Howitt, M. “With the Flowers.” Poems. With 100 illustrations by Giacomelli. Royal i8mo, cloth extra, \s. 6d. Nelson. (1881.) Hulme, J. ‘ ‘ Favourite Flowers.”

Hulme,/. “Plant Form.” Out of print and rare.

Ingram, J. “ Flora Symbolica ; or, the Language and Sentiment ot Flowers.” (1882.) Not published when my MS. was wntten. Very interesting and useful, but does not supply concise references

to authorities for student use. ^ r

James, W. P. “ Guesses at Purpose in Nature, with especial Reference o

Plants.” Post 8vo, cloth boards, 2J. S.P.C.K.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

xiit

Jesse. "Gleanings in Natural History.”

Jesse. “ Scenes and Tales of Country Life.”

Johns, Rev. C. A. " Flowers of the Field.”

Johns, Rev. C. A. "The Forest Trees of Britain,” and other works.

Johnson. "Gardener’s Dictionary.” New Edition, By N. E. Brown, of the Herbarium, Kew. Brought down to 1880. Post 8vo, 7^. (>d.

Johnston, Geo.,M.D. “ Botany of the Eastern Border.” Contains notes on the names and history of plants not found inmost manuals. (1853.)

Johnston. “ Thaumatographia Naturalis.” (Amsterdam, 1670.)

Kent, Miss. “ Flora Domestica ; or, the Portable Flower Garden.’^ (1823.) Contains interesting notes on the names, history, and culture of many useful plants, arranged in alphabetical order.

Kent, Miss. " Sylvan Sketches.” (1825.)

King, R. J. "Sacred Trees and Flowers.” An Essay which appeared first in Quarterly Review, July 1863, and was leprinted in " Sketches and Studies.” (1874.) The author was a careful student and an interesting writer.

Knapp. “Journal of a Naturalist.”

Lambert A. “The Ceremonial Use of Flowers,” m Nineteenth Century , No. 19, September 1878; No. 39, May 1880.

“ Language of Flowers.” Compiled and Edited by L. V, W arne & Co.

“ Language and Poetry of Flowers.” Marcus Ward.

Lankester, Mrs. “Wild Flowers worth Notice.” The illustrations are good, and the notices of flowers popular.

Lilly, Wm. “Autobiography.” Relates an anecdote respecting the Divining Rod.

Lincoln, Mrs. “ Familiar Lectures on Botany.” (New York, 1852.)

Loudon, J. C. “ Encyclopedia of Plants. Comprising all indigenous, cultivated in, or introduced to Britain.” Thick 8vo. (1829.) See also the “Arboretum ” and other works by this author.

Loudon, Mrs. “ British Wild Flowers.” 60 finely coloured plates^ First Ed. (1846.)

Lyte. “Niewe Herbal.” (1578.)

Mannhardt. “ Germanische Mythen ” ; “Wald und Feld-kulte,” 2 vols. (1875-7), and other works. See Ralston.

Mant, Bp. “ British Months.”

Marmier, X. “Ugendes des Plantes.” (Paris, Hachette, 1882.) Not so useful as many English works.

XIV

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

Martin, M. “ Le Langage des Fleurs.” (Bruxelles, 1850.)

Martyn. “ Letters on Botany.” A translation of Rousseau. The early pages contain valuable historical notes.

Matthiolus. “ De Plantis.” (Francfurt, 1585.) “ Comment, in Dioscor.” Mayo, Dr. Defends the use of the Divining Rod in his book, “ On the Truths contained in Some Popular Superstitions.”

Meetkerke, Mrs. “ The Guests of Flowers.” A botanical sketch. Cloth, sm. 4to, 2^. 6d.

Meetkerke, Mrs. “The Guests at Home.” A sequel to the foregoing;

uniform. Griffith & Farran. (1881.)

Meier, E. “Ueber Pflanzen und Krauter, in Zeitschrift fur Deutsche Myth.” Vol. I.

Meredith, L. A. “Some of my Bush Friends in Tasmania; Native Flowers,” etc. (i860.)

Meyrick, Wfii. “ New Herball.” (1802.)

Miller, T. “ The Language of Flowers.” 3^.6^.

Milner, Mrs. “ A Garland of the Months ; or, The Garden, the Grove, and the Field.”

Montague, Lady M. W. “Works.” Edited by Lord Whamcliffe. This lady is accredited with the honour of introducing the Oriental flower-language to English readers.

Moore, T. “ Lalla Rookh.” Many Editions. The notes are culled from ' many of the best authorities on Eastern flowers, etc., and are most valuable to those who cannot consult the “ Asiatic Researches

and similar works. ^

Moore, T. “ Popular History of British Ferns and the Allied Plants.

” i6mo, cloth, y. 6d. There are many works on Ferns which, however, have little to do with plant-lore. Those of Messrs. Britten, Lowe, Heath, and others may be here named.

■“ Moral of Flowers.” (Leeds, 1833.)

Napier, C. O. “ Lakes and Rivers.” Cloth bds., is. 6d.

Neill, Dr. P. “ Fruit, Flower, and Kitchen Garden.” Being the artic e “Horticulture” in Encyclopeedia Britannica. Crown 8vo, cloth.

Newton. “ Herbal to the Bible.” (1585-)

Notes and Queries. Various contributions. ^

•“Oriental Nature.” 21 beautifully coloured plates of Tropical Flowers,

Plants, etc., with verses by a Lady. (1866.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

XV

“ Outlines of Botany.” Containing Lectures delivered in King’s College, London. (1833.) The historical notices are of great value.

Paxton. Magazine of Botany. Beautiful illustrations.

Perger. “Deutsche Pflanzensagen. ”

Phillips,/. “Flora Historica.” (1824.) A most useful work. Also by the same author, “ Sylva Florifera ” ; “ History of Cultivated

Pirie, M. “Flowers, Grasses, and Shrubs.” London; J. Blackwood.

Pliny. “ Historia Naturalis ” ; “Natural History."

Plues, M. “ Rambles in Search of Wild Flowers.”

Porta. “ Phytognonomica.” (Naples, 1588.)

Pratt, A. “ Flowering Plants and Ferns of Great Britain.” S.P.C.K.

Pratt. “ Flowers and their Associations.”

Pratt. “Poisonous, Noxious, and Suspected Plants.”

Prior, Dr. “Popular Names of British Plants.” First Ed. 1863; 2nd. Ed. 1870; 3rd Ed. 1879. Contains a Bibliography and Introduction. The author, however, indulges his fancy sometimes in unscientific etymological speculations, which have proved misleading to more than one later writer.

Quarterly Review. Vol. xxii., pp. 273-4. On the Divining Rod. See also King, R. /

Ralston, W. R. “On Forest and Field Myths.” Specially in reference to the works of Mannhardt, in the Contemporary Review, February 1878.

Roberts, M. “ Voices from the Woodlands.”

Rolland. “ Flore Populaire de la France.” Vol. I. In the Press.

Sacks,/. “ Text-book of Botany.” Edited by S. H. Vines, M.A.

Schoutu. “ Earth, Plants, and Man.” Sm. 8vo, 5f.

Seemann. “ Flora Vitiensis,” and “A Mission to Viti.” The latter work describes his botanical rambles in Fiji, and supplies a large amount of South Sea plant-lore.

Sinonoma Bartholomei. In the “ Anecdota Oxoniensis Series.” Edited by Mowat. A valuable list of Plant-names. Clarendon Press, 1882.

Smee, A. “ My Garden : its Plan and Culture,” etc. Imp. 8vo, 21J.

Smith, Dr. “ Dictionary of the Bible.”

Smith,/. “Domestic Botany.” Crown 8vo, 12s. 6d.

Southey, R. “ Omniana.”

XVI

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLOWER LORE.

Sowerby. “English Botany.” With popular descriptions of the Uses, History, and Traditions of each Plant. By Mrs. Lankester. Sowerby. “ British Poisonous Plants. ”

Step, E. “Plant Life.” New York. lamo. Contains a chapter on “The Folklore of Plants.”

Taylor, J. E. “ Mountain and Moor.” Cloth, is. 6d.

Theophrastus. “ History of Plants ” ; “ De Plantis Interpiete.”

Thompson, R. “ The Gardener’s Assistant.”

Tho?nson, Dr. S. “ Wild Flowers.” Routledge.

Thornton. “ Family Herbal ; or. Popular Account of Plants.” (1814.) Timbs. “ Things not generally known.”

Treveris. “ Crete Herball.” (1526.) in Prior’s List]

Tristram, Canoti. “ Flora of Palestine.” A handsome work in connection with the Palestine Exploration Society.

Turner, W. “The Herball.” fiSSi.)

Tu?-ner, W. “ Names of Herbes.” Reprinted by E.D.S. (1881.) Twamley, L. A. “ Romance of Nature ; or. The Flower Seasons.” (1836.) Tyas, Rev. Dr. “Flowers and Heraldry; or, Floral Emblems and Heraldic Figures,” etc. lamo, cloth. (1851.)

Tyas, Rev. Dr. “ Speaking Flowers.”

Tyas, Rev. Dr. “ Sentiment of Flowers.” (1841.)

Vines, S. H. “A Treatise on the Physiology of Plants

Viteberg. “ Plantse fabulosse, imprimis Mythologicse.” Bbhmer. (1800-2.) Waddy, E. “ A Year with the Wild Flowers.” (1873.)

Warnke, Er. “ Pflanzen in Sitte, Sage und Geschichte.” (1878.) “Weather-lore of Plants” in Illustrated London Times, November 9 th, i88r. Westmacott. “Scripture Herbal.” (1694.)

Weigand. “ Kraiiterbeschwbrungen und Krauteraberglaube,” in Zeitschrift fur deutsche Myth., vol. II.

White. “ Natural History of Selborne.” Many Editions of this valuable work have appeared.

“ Wild Flowers and their Teachings.” Illustrated \vith 37 real specimens. 2nd Ed. (1848.)

“ Wild Flowers and where to gather Them.” Ward, Locke, & Co. Wilkinson, Lady. “ Weeds and Wild Flowers.” (1858.)

Withering, Dr. “ Botany.” In 4 vols. Contains much information of

an interesting nature.

Wood, Rev. H. “ A Season among the Wild Flowers.' Sonnenschein. ’ (1883.)

Introduction

LOWERS are the friends of all, and we look with amazement at the person who cannot find some amount of pleasure in their study. Children love to gather them as they take their country rambles or return from the village school ; the sick are always delighted when a bouquet is brought into the chamber of suffering ; mothers love to place them on table and in vase both for the sake of their beauty and their fragrance ; the wealthy spend fortunes on conservatories and greenhouses ; while the peasant cottager feels that something is wanting if he has not a few pots in his window or a border in his garden set apart for their cultivation. Here we are concerned, not with the cultivation of plants and flowers, but with their history and names, with the curious uses to which they have been applied, and the legends which cluster around them, — in fact, with anything that legend, poetry, fancy, or imagination can supply of interest in connection therewith. But though the present work covers a great deal of ground, it does not by any means claim to be exhaustive. Since the author commenced his work other labourers have announced the preparation of books bearing on the same subject, yet there is little need to fear that the works of Messrs. Dyer, Britten, and others will cover exactly the same field, or say all that might be said on so interesting a theme. Very little has been said about Oriental Flower-lore, as I hope in a short time to finish the arrangement of matter collected during my residence in the East, with a view to the publication of a companion

I

INTRODUCTION.

volume to the present. Since the MS. of the present book was ■completed, eighteen months ago, I have given constant attention to the study of flower-lore, my visits to various parts of the •country having afforded me many opportunities for gleaning information at first-hand from the humble cottagers living in out-of-the-way districts, as well as ficn. persons whose studies lead them into these fields of exploration. I have thought it would be interesting, therefore, to notice, in this brief Introduction, a few matters which have either been omitted altogether in the following chapters, or which have received but scanty attention.

First, then, in reference to books. My work has throughout been performed away from reference libraries, and I have been obliged to fall back on my own small supply of books, and on the rustic population met with in Kent, Sussex, Devon, Somerset, Oxon, Bucks, Northants, and other parts of England. This has proved both an evil and a boon. I find it far more interesting to glean information direct from the people than it is to repeat it from books, and so whatever I have been able to gather up in this way will have the advantage of freshness and originality. But, on the other hand, when facts need careful verification, and statements need authentication, it is sometimes a great convenience to have all the best authorities at hand, that their aid may be called in. I have, in the absence of a public library, formed a considerable collection of works on plant-lore, and to these the reader will find constant reference made. But some valuable books were either unknown to me when my various chapters were being written, or have appeared since they were completed, and so have not been mentioned either in the body of the work or in the notes which accompany each chapter. The most valuable of these is the second volume of the “ Mythologie des Plantes,” by Mons. A. de Gubernatis, the first volume of whose work appeared in 1878. But since this indispensable work treats chiefly of Indian, Greek, and Romance plant-lore, it would have been impossible for me to have used it largely in the present volume had the second part

NEW WORKS ON FLOWER-LORE.

been published before I finished my own. While I have referred more than once to a work on the “ Plant -Lore of Shakespeare,” by the Rev. H. N. Ellacombe, I have to remark that during the present year another book on this subject has appeared under the title of “The Shakspere Flora.” Mr. Grindon has produced an interesting volume, and deserves the thanks of all students of Shakspere and of natural history for this useful work. “ Flora Symbolica,” by Mr. Ingram, is another of the new works which ought to be mentioned. It would have been specially helpful to me in writing the chapter on “ The Language of Flowers ” had it appeared in time. But the book which touches most nearly the subjects here treated is a volume published a few years since at Belfast under the title of “ Flower-Lore.” It was only after my own book had been completed, and the title of “Flower-Lore” chosen for it, that I became aware of the existence of this very useful publication. One fault mars most of these works, however, and that is the want of references and authorities. When the name of a writer of note is given no clue is supplied as to the particular volume or chapter whence the information is culled, and so we are unable to verify the quotations or go to the authorities without great difficulty. I had hoped to see Mr. Dyer’s volume on the "Folklore of Plants,” before writing this Introduction, but as the volume is not yet published I cannot speak of its merits ; nor can I do more than mention the fact that Mr. Britten promises shortly to give us the result of many years study of this subject. It does not come into my programme to call attention to works treating purely of botany ; nor must I enumerate those interesting volumes by such writers as Darwin, Lubbock, Grant Allen, and others which introduce us to the charming study of evolutionary phases of plant-life. I can only hope that the present volume may lead some to enter upon the study of flowers and plants in their widest relationships, when they will find these works of inestimable value.

Having supplied a Bibliography, as well as full critical and

INTRODUCTION.

bibliographical notes on each chapter, it is not necessary that 1 should dwell further on the subject of works for general reading or for reference, and I will therefore now turn to another matter — viz., that which concerns the collection of flower-lore from the mouths of the people. During my residenee in Devonshire I took great delight in studying the local names of wild and cultivated flowers and plants. In collecting these and preparing them for publication, I soon found that the people had a great deal of information to communicate respecting their favourite plants, and as much of this was novel and interesting, I made careful note of everything I heard. While I have embodied a great deal of this information in the following pages, my note-books still contain many other facts and fancies of not less interest, some of which deserve to be placed on special record here. Thus, while the garland woven for the fairies is somewhat elaborate, it does not claim to be exhaustive. In Sussex and Kent — my own native and adopted counties — we find remnants of fairy influence in the names of places and plants which linger amongst us still. I have shown how Pixy and Puck have become confused, and how they sometimes appear as good, at other times as bad characters. So in these counties the same confusion in name seems apparent, for while the wild Geranium {G. Robertianum) is in some places claimed by Robin Hood, the seed vessel of this plant, noted for its sharp point, is known as Pook-needle, or the needle employed by the fairies, just as the Scandix is called Puck-needle in Hants. In Ireland again we hear of tufts of grass which bear the name of Hungry-grass, because it grows up where people have sat down to eat, and have left again without paying their respects to the fairies by leaving them some portion of the food. This will remind us of what has been said in the following pages about Clouties Croft and kindred subjects. The following recipe for obtaining a sight of the fairies was written about the year 1600, and will perhaps prove interesting in connection with “ The Fairy Garland. The writer says : “ We have a precious ungent, prepared according to the

HOPV TO SEE THE FAIRIES.

receipt of a celebrated alchymist, which, applied to your visual orb, will enable you to behold without difficulty or danger the most potent fairy or spirit you may encounter. This is the form of the preparation: — R. A pint of sallet-oyle, and put it into a vialglasse ; but first wash it with rose-water and marygolde water ; the flowers to be gathered towards the East. Wash it till the oyle becomes white ; then put it into the glasse, and then put thereto the budds of hollyhocke, the flowers of marygolde, the flowers or toppess of wild thime, the budds of young hazle, and the thime must be gathered neare the side of a hill where fayries use to be j and take the grasse of a fayrie throne ; then all these put into the oyle into the glasse ; and sette it to dissolve three dayes in the sunne, and then keep it for thy use.” It is worthy of note that while the curious, tangled, brush-like growth which one often sees on Rose-bushes is called Donnerbesen on the Continent, and Old-man’s Beard in the West of England, it elsewhere bears the name of Elf-rod. Here again Puck, the Old Man, the Thunderer, and the Elf are brought into close connection. At Wrexham we find an old Oak-tree sometimes known as the Fairy Oak, but usually this tree is claimed by Thor, Jupiter, or Perun.

The association of Puck or the devil with plants is much more extensive than one would at first imagine. Nor is this the case in England or Europe alone. The Malays place thorns on the floor to keep out demons when a child is born ; the Hindfis regard the Garlic and Ocymum as capable of expelling and even destroying evil monsters; while in China, if a person is troubled with evil spirits a trailing plant, known on account of its unpleasant smell as the Fowl-dung Creeper, is employed for purposes of exorcism. Among the names which pass current on the Continent we find the Datura or Thorn-Apple {Stramonium) called Herbe du diable and Pomme du diable. Among the Little Russians the Artemisia and Hemlock alike play their rdle in connection with diabolism.

Respecting the Virgin, I have recently found the country folk in one part of Oxfordshire retaining an interesting legend which

INTRODUCTION.

connects the name of her ladyship with the spotted Persicaria. It will be remembered that in consequence of the dark spot which marks the centre of every leaf belonging to this plant, popular tradition asserts that it grew beneath the cross, and received this distinction through the drops of blood which fell from the Saviours wounds touching its leaves. The Oxonian, however, says that the Virgin was wont of old to use its leaves for the manufacture of a valuable ointment, but that on one occasion she sought it in vain. Finding it afterwards, when the need had passed away, she^ condemned it, and gave it the rank of an ordinary weed. This is expressed in the local rhyme

“ She could not find in time of need.

And so she pinched it for a weed.”

The mark on the leaf is the impress of the Virgin’s finger, and the Persicaria is now the only weed that is not useful for something. In Bucks the White Lily {L. candidum) is dedicated to the Virgin under the name of Lady-lily, while in some parts of Prussia the Holy-grass {Hierochloa), which is held to be sacred, is consecrated to her. I may also mention that in addition to the names for the Foxglove given in the chapter on “ The Virgin s Bower,” the French call it Doigts de la Vierge. In the “ Mytholocrie des Plantes ” will be found a number of other facts respecting the flower-lore of the Virgin which cannot be here adduced. During a recent visit to the West of England, I found that the name of Virgin Mary’s Nipple was applied by the people in some parts ° Somerset to a certain plant noted for the milk-white sap which flows from it on being gathered. It is not a little curious that this plant, which belongs to the Spurge family, should in some places be consecrated to the devil, but so it is; and a number of other plants will be found to fall into similar categories. ^ ,