In England, the withering of Bay-leaves has long been considered ominous of death: thus Shakspeare writes-- “’Tis thought the King is dead; we will not stay. The Bay-trees in our country are all withered.” The smoke of the green branches of the Juniper was the incense offered by the ancients to the infernal deities, whilst its berries were burnt at funerals to keep off evil spirits. The Peony drives away tempests and dispels enchantments. The St. John’s Wort (called of old _Fuga dæmonum_) is a preservative against tempests, thunder, and evil spirits, and possesses other magical properties which are duly enumerated in another place. The Rowan-tree of all others is gifted with the powers of magic, and is held to be a charm against the Evil Eye, witchcraft, and unholy spells. The Elder, the Thorn, the Hazel, and the Holly, in a similar manner, possess certain properties which entitle them to be classed as magical plants. Garlic is employed by the Greeks, Turks, Chinese, and Japanese, as a safeguard against the dire influences of the Evil Eye. The extraordinary attributes of the Fern-seed are duly enumerated in Part II., under the head of FERN, and can be there studied by all who are desirous of investigating its magic powers. The Clover, if it has four leaves, is a magical plant, enabling him who carries it on his person to be successful at play, and have the power of detecting the approach of malignant spirits. If placed in the shoe of a lover, the four-leaved Clover will ensure his safe return to the arms and embraces of his sweetheart. The Mandrake is one of the most celebrated of magical plants, but for an enumeration of its manifold mystic powers readers must be referred to the description given in Part II., under the head of MANDRAKE. This plant was formerly called _Circeium_, a name derived from Circe, the celebrated enchantress. The Germans call it _Zauberwurzel_ (Sorcerer’s root), and the young peasant girls of the Fatherland often wear bits of the plant as love charms. The marshes of China are said to produce a certain fruit which the natives call _Peci_. If any one puts with this fruit a copper coin into his mouth, he can diminish it with no less certainty than the fruit itself, and reduce it to an eatable pulp. In France, Piedmont, and Switzerland, the country-people tell of a certain Herb of Oblivion which produces loss of memory in anyone putting his foot upon it. This herb also causes wayfarers to lose their way, through the unfortunates forgetting the aspects of the country, even although they were quite familiar to them before treading on the Herb of Forgetfulness. Of a somewhat similar nature must have been the fruit of the Lotos-tree, which caused the heroes of the Odyssey to forget their native country.