Footnotes: 

1.  Pettigrew’s “Medical Superstitions,” 1844, p. 18.

2.  Tylor’s “Researches into the Early History of Mankind,” 1865, p. 123;
   Chapiel’s “La Doctrine des Signatures,” Paris, 1866.

3.  “Flowering Plants of Great Britain,” iv. 109; see Dr. Prior’s
   “Popular Names of British Plants,” 1870-72.

4.  Tylor’s “Researches into the Early History of Mankind,” p. 123.

5.  See Porter Smith’s “Chinese Materia Medica,” p. 103; Lockhart,
   “Medical Missionary in China,” 2nd edition, p. 107; “Reports on Trade at
   the Treaty Ports of China,” 1868, p. 63.

6.  Fiske, “Myths and Mythmakers,” 1873, p. 43.

7.  Dr. Prior’s “Popular Names of British Plants,” p. 134.

8.  See Kelly’s “Indo-European Tradition Folk-lore,” 1863, pp. 193-198;
   Ralston’s “Russian Folk-Songs,” 1872, p. 98.

9.  “Mystic Trees and Flowers,” Mr. D. Conway, Frasers Magazine, Nov.
    1870, p. 608.

10.  The “receipt,” so called, was the formula of magic words to be
    employed during the process.  See Grindon’s “Shakspere Flora,” 1883,
    p. 242.

11.  “Popular Antiquities,” 1849, i. 315.

12.  “Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore,” p. 197.

13.  See Dr. Prior’s “Popular Names of British Plants,” p. 130; Phillips’
   “Flora Historica,” i. 163.

14.  See Sowerby’s “English Botany,” 1864, i., p. 144.

15.  See “Folk-lore of British Plants,” Dublin University Magazine,
    September 1873, p. 318.

15.  See Thorpe’s “Northern Mythology,” 1852, iii. 168.

17.  “Sketches of Imposture, Deception, and Credulity,” 1837, p. 300.

18.  See Phillips’ “Pomarium Britannicum,” 1821, p. 351.

19.  “Plant-lore of Shakespeare,” 1878, p. 101.

20.  See Dr. Prior’s “Popular Names of British Plants,” p. 154.

21.  Hogg’s “Vegetable Kingdom,” p. 34.

22.  See Friend’s “Flowers and Flower-lore,” ii. 355.

23.  “Mystic Trees and Flowers,” Fraser’s Magazine, November 1870, p. 591.

24.  “Plant Lore Legends and Lyrics,” p. 341.

25. Ibid., pp, 150-160.

CHAPTER XVII.

PLANTS AND THE CALENDAR.

A goodly array of plants have cast their attractions round the festivals of the year, giving an outward beauty to the ceremonies and observances celebrated in their honour.  These vary in different countries, although we frequently find the same flower almost universally adopted to commemorate a particular festival.  Many plants, again, have had a superstitious connection, having in this respect exercised a powerful influence among the credulous of all ages, numerous survivals of which exist at the present day.  Thus, in Westphalia, it is said that if the sun makes its appearance on New Year’s Day, the flax will be straight; and there is a belief current in Hessia, that an apple must not be eaten on New Year’s Day, as it will produce an abscess.