Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/102

Plant-Lore Legends and Lyrics, embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions and Folk-Lore of the Plant Kingdom. By Richard Folkard, Jun. London, 1884 (Sampson Low). 8vo. Pp. xxiv. 610.

It is curious that Mr. Folkard should not have included any of the Society's publications (except Mr. Henderson's book, probably not the Society's edition) in his list of authorities used and quoted; for it is scarcely credible that any one studying any branch of folk-lore should not use the Society's books. And yet Mr. Folkard evidently has not used them. But though this suggests what will be found to be borne out by other portions of the book, that it is rather from the botanist's point of view than from that of the folklorists that Mr. Folkard has approached his subject, the work itself will be found to be a most useful conpendium of information on the folk-lore of plants. The arrangement of the chapters is based entirely upon a strict classification of subjects, almost in dictionary form; and this, together with a fairly good index, gives us a capital book of reference. Mr. Folkard has evidently devoted a considerable amount of time to his labours, and has consulted many curious and out-of-the-way books. Together with Mr. Hilderic Friend's Flowers and Flower Lore English folk-lorelibraries will now be fairly equipped with the literature of the folk-lore of plants—a subject that is fascinating from many points of view, but one that has yet to be dealt with scientifically. Mr. Folkard has reproduced some quaint old illustrations from Gerarde's Herbal (1633), Maundevile's Travels (1725), and other books, and these form not the least curious portion of the work. The chapters are as follows:—The world tree of the ancients—The trees of Paradise and the tree of Adam—Sacred plants of the ancients—Floral ceremonies, garlands and wreaths—Plants of the Christian Church—Plants of the fairies and naiades—Sylvans, wood-nymphs and the spirits—Plants of the devil—Plants of the witches—Magical plants—Fabulous, wondrous and miraculous plants—Plants connected with woods and animals—The doctrine of plant signature—Plants and the planets—Plant symbolism and language—Funeral plants.