parasite tree we have. Jesse says that the Mistletoe grown on the apple tree is prized by farmers as a cure for cattle diseases. The Druids named the plant pren awyr, or the heavenly plant, believing that it descended from above, as it would not grow on earth; and that it was an efficacious remedy for many diseases, especially if gathered from the oak. Culpepper remarks: "Why that should have the most virtue that grows upon 'okes' I know not, unless because it is rarest and hardest to come by." The plant is peculiar in appearance, yellowish olive green leaves, with clear white berries, the leaves growing in pairs, and leathery in texture; the bush invariably grows downward. Some of the old botanists entertained very extraordinary notions respecting this plant. Old Gerarde says:-"This excrescence hath not any root, nor doth increase himself of his seed, as some have supposed, but it rather cometh of a certain moisture and substance gathered together upon the boughs and joints of the trees, through the barke whereof the vapourous moisture proceeding bringeth forth the Mistletoe." It was customary in the feudal ages to gather the Mistletoe on Christmas or New Year's Eve, when "Forth to the woods did merry men go To gather in the Mistletoe,' for decking the great baronial halls, where fun and frolic reigned for a season unchecked. Of late years the Mistletoe has been excluded from most of our churches, as too intimately associated with kissing. It was anciently dedicated to Venus; and kissing under the Mistletoe was not only privileged, but there was no hope for the maid being married during the ensuing year unless she was saluted under the charmed plant. There are many legends connected with the Mistletoe, It has been named in some districts "The Spectre's Wand,” from a belief that, with due incantation, a branch held in the hand would compel the appearance of a spectre, and require it to speak. THE HOLLY. (Ilex aquifolium.) "Those native plants, The holly and the yew, endear the hours THIS handsome evergreen tree, now the most beautiful feature in our woodland scenery, shines out gaily dressed with glossy foliage and bright coral berries. Evelyn says, "above all natural greens which enrich our home-born store, there is none certainly to be compared to the Holly." It has long been acknowledged as the emblem of peace and goodwill. Holly is undoubtedly a corruption of holy, for the tree is supposed to have formed the wood of the Cross, hence known as Lignum sancta crucis. The tree was intimately connected with various Greek and Roman superstitions, and it seems to have obtained high veneration for its supposed powers and virtues, from the earliest times. The Romans dedicated the Holly to Saturn, whose festival was held in December; and we, no doubt, derive the custom of decking our churches and homes with Holly from pagan times. The disciples of Zoroaster held the belief that the tree was an especial favourite of the sun, as it never cast a shadow. The Persians had a custom of sprinkling young children with an infusion of the leaves, to endow their offspring with wisdom and understanding. Pliny says the flowers of Holly caused water to freeze, and that they repelled poison. The Druids are said to have introduced the practice of decking dwellings at Christmas with Holly, out of compassion to some chilly sylvan sprites who found the leafless oaks a poor shelter from the bitter blasts of old Father Christmas. We ridicule these old world superstitions, and propagate modern fables. A popular periodical points out the Holly as worthy admiration from the peculiar arrangement in the growth of the leaves-that all on the lower branches would be found to be armed with exceeding strong spines, whilst the upper leaves, out of the reach of cattle, were without this defence, quoting Southey's beautiful but incorrect lines in support: "Its glossy leaves Ordered by an intelligence so wise As might confound an atheist's sophistries. "Below a circling fence, its leaves are seen No grazing cattle through their prickly round But as they grow where nothing is to fear, Smooth and unarmed the pointless leaves appear." We regret that the moralisings of the poet were not based upon facts, especially as all Nature is ever teaching the eternal truth of the power and wisdom of the Omnipotent. But as regards the Holly, the simple fact is, that the young leaves, whether near the earth or out of the reach of cattle, are always soft. The spines harden during the second year, and ultimately the Holly certainly presents the appearance pointed out by the poet. It is obvious, however, that no special provision has been made for the tree whilst young. DECEMBER 26TH. THE CHRISTMAS ROSE. (Helleborus Niger.) DURING mild seasons this flower seems languid and weak; but, "When Christmas revels in a world of snow, His spangling shower when frost the wizard flings, then up springs the Christmas Rose, pushing its way through the blanket of snow and displaying its fair green leaves and white flowers tinted with red, like a large white rose amid dark evergreen leaves. It is the hardiest of all our flowers, and seems to flourish best in severe weather. The plant is common in many gardens, and is occasionally found wild on high mountains; it is of the crowfoot tribe, and of poisonous quality; even the odour of the flowers in a close room is very injurious. The ancient Gauls were said to use the juice of the hellebore for the poisoning of their arrows. The Roman orators are, strange to say, represented as having prepared themselves for extraordinary occasions by a dose of helleborewe should apprehend rather a dangerous expedient, and one not likely to be of much service, at least at the present day, whatever may have been its effect in stimulating the eloquence and raising the enthusiasm of the orators of old. There are many curious notices to be found respecting this plant; by some it was held in high esteem for its power of expelling all demons and unclean spirits from the household; and as this was especially desirable at the Christmas season, when it behoved all men to be gay of heart and joyous in spirit, it came to pass that the plant was cultivated near the homestead, and that when the season was near at hand these winter roses were gathered and strewn about the house, with songs of praise, and invocations for protection from the spirits of the black winter. The plant was also supposed to have virtue in other ways. Culpepper says:-"If a beast be troubled with a cough or have taken any poison, the country people bore a hole through the ear of the beast, and put a piece of the root of the hellebore therein, which helps him in twenty-four hours." This and other equally absurd notions were commonly believed. Christmas Day, or Midwinter Yule, was considered in olden time as the beginning of the new year, and it is even now doubted by some whether our year ought not to commence from the shortest day, the circle having then been completed. The Christmas festival is far better observed in Germany than with us; there, in every household, high and low, down to the very poorest, an endeavour is made to render it not only a joyous day, but a day of love and peace to all. With us it is more generally observed as a feast. George Withers says, "So now is come our joyful feast; DECEMBER 27TH. LAURESTINUS. (Viburnum tinus.) We have now arrived near to the close of the year, and amid “Hail, rain, and snow, and bitter breathing frost," we may not expect to find much of floral beauty remaining; still however we shall meet in our country walks with evidence, here and there, that our land, at its dreariest season, is not quite barren: Beauty still lives, though Nature's flowrets die, The beautiful summer flowers are gone; the foliage of the trees strew the ground; the cold, biting, Northern blast has given even the grass of the meadows a dry, withered appearance; the fine snow-dust comes whirling on the keen blast, curling along the pathway and rising in a cloud; the sun shines faintly, but the beams sparkle amid the leaves of the holly, laurel, and ivy; here and there we find a furze bloom or daisy bud, and the little hardy, piping wren, and the bold robin sheltered by the evergreen shrubs, greet the sun's wintry smile with a few faint notes. Bacon points out the desirableness of a winter garden, that should give bloom all the year round; and recommends for the winter months the holly, ivy, bay, juniper, cypress, yew, pine, fir, rosemary, lavender, and such other things as are green all the year round. He makes no mention of the fine flowering evergreen shrub Laurestinus; the tree was not, in fact, introduced into England until some thirty years after Bacon's birth. Since that period it has rapidly grown in public favour for its winter bloom. In December, and throughout the winter, it puts forth a profusion of bunches of white buds, which soon expand into clusters of apple-red blossom called "Winter May," almost as beautiful, but wanting the fine fragrance of the spring flower. The blossom is succeeded, in early summer, by dark blue berries, covered with a fine plum-like bloom. The tree bears the winter of our climate tolerably well, though suffering occasionally from very severe frost. The Laurestinus was known to the ancients as the "Tinus,” hence Laurestinus. The tree is very plentiful in the South of Europe, where it forms extensive hedgerows. It is the only evergreen we have of the viburnum genus. The latter name is derived from "viere," to tie, as the lithe branches of the shrub were often used of old for the tying or binding of bundles of wood together. The decaying leaves should be removed from shrubbery as soon as fallen, as they give out a very unasant odour. |