The Folk-lore of Plants

And "If you would have fruit, you must carry the leaf to the grave;" which Ray explains, "You must transplant your trees just about the fall of the leaf," and then there is the much-quoted rhyme:-- "Fruit out of season, Sorrow out of reason." Respecting the vine, it is said:-- "Make the vine poor, and it will make you rich," That is, prune off its branches; and another adage is to this effect: "Short boughs, long vintage." The constant blooming of the gorse has given rise to a popular Northamptonshire proverb:-- "When gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season." The health-giving properties of various plants have long been in the highest repute, and have given rise to numerous well-known proverbs, which are still heard in many a home. Thus old Gerarde, describing the virtues of the mallow, tells us:-- "If that of health you have any special care, Use French mallows, that to the body wholesome are." Then there is the time-honoured adage which says that:-- "He that would live for aye Must eat sage in May." And Aubrey has bequeathed us the following piece of advice:-- "Eat leeks in Lide, and ramsines in May, And all the year after physicians may play." There are many sayings of this kind still current among our country-folk, some of which no doubt contain good advice; and of the plaintain, which from time immemorial has been used as a vulnerary, it is said:-- "Plantain ribbed, that heals the reaper's wounds."