The Folk-lore of Plants

"As peascod once I pluck'd, I chanced to see One that was closely fill'd with three times three, Which, when I cropp'd, I safely home couvey'd, And o'er the door the spell in secret laid. The latch mov'd up, when who should first come in, But, in his proper person, Lublerkin." On the other hand, it was customary in the North of England to rub a young woman with pease-straw should her lover prove unfaithful: "If you meet a bonnie lassie, Gie her a kiss and let her gae; If you meet a dirty hussey, Fie, gae rub her o'er wi' strae!" From an old Spanish proverb it would seem that the rosemary has long been considered as in some way connected with love: "Who passeth by the rosemarie And careth not to take a spraye, For woman's love no care has he, Nor shall he though he live for aye." Of flowers and plants employed as love-charms on certain festivals may be noticed the bay, rosebud, and the hempseed on St. Valentine's Day, nuts on St. Mark's Eve, and the St. John's wort on Midsummer Eve.