At Knutsford a May Queen is annually chosen and crowned in public. This village has many curious and pretty customs. On the occasion of a marriage there, brown sand was strewn in the streets, and on this, fanciful figures of white sand and sometimes the flowers of the season were added. LIFTING Hone says that the custom of _Lifting_ was prevalent in Chester, but that instead of being tossed in the air, the victims were swung about in a chair. However, a correspondent in Adams’ _Weekly Courant_ (printed in Chester, 26th March 1771) complains strongly of the custom of “_Lifting_, or rather the assembling in a riotous manner of a considerable number (I am sorry to say) of females at all the gates and other thoroughfares of this city to extort money from every man whose business may oblige him to pass that way. This is justly complained of by travellers, who, unacquainted with such customs (it not being suffered in any city but this) have given a considerable sum for leave to pursue their journey, and have scarce rode to the other end of the city but must again purchase the liberty of passing on.” It was practised at Chester up to about the year 1860. The custom is supposed to have reference to the Ascension of our Lord. HARVEST HOME When the last field of corn was cut, then the farmer had what was called a “shutting.” The reapers would stand in a ring on some high ground, and one, acting as spokesman, gave out the “nominy”:-- “Oh, yes! oh, yes! oh, yes! this is to give notice That Mester ’Olland has gen th’ seck a turn And sent th’ owd hare into Mester Sincop’s standin’ curn.” Then, taking hands, they all bent down and uttered an unearthly “Wow! wow-w! wow-w!” Other “nominies” followed, and then a liberal allowance of beer went round. This was supplemented by another ceremony. The last stalks of grain were plaited and formed into a threefold strand, at which the reapers threw their sickles. The one whose aim cut it down was the winner. This was called “cutting the Neck.” CORNAGE Cheshire has the great distinction of possessing two Forest Charter Horns held by cornage tenure, and these are still in existence. _The Wirral Horn._--The Hundred of Wirral was mainly divided between the Church and the Palatinate barons. The latter not being resident, the natives were lawless and turbulent; added to which the district was specially liable to incursions from sea-rovers. To reduce the natives to obedience, and as a matter of precaution, Ranulph de Meschines, the third Earl of Chester, about 1121, destroyed such boundaries of property as existed and planted the whole as a forest, so that “From Blacon Point to Hilbre a squirrel might jump from tree to tree”; as the old Cheshire rhyme has it.