According to Herrick, it was customary to use Birch and fresh flowers for decorative purposes at Whitsuntide:-- “When Yew is out, then Birch comes in, And many flowers besides; Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne, To honour Whitsontide.” The Scotch Highlanders think very highly of the Birch, and turn it to all sorts of uses. With Burns, the budding Birch was a prime favourite in the Spring-time. The Scotch proverb, which says of a very poor man that he is “Bare as a Birk at Yule e’en,” probably refers to an old custom of stripping the bark of the tree prior to converting it into the yule log. The tree known in the Highlands as the Drooping Birk is often grown in churchyards, where, as Scott says, “Weeps the Birch of silver bark with long dishevell’d hair.” In Scottish ballads, the Birch is associated with the dead, and more especially with the wraiths or spirits of those who appear to be living after death. The following is a good example:-- “I dreamed a dreary dream last nicht; God keep us a’ frae sorrow! I dreamed I pu’d the Birk sae green Wi’ my true love on Yarrow. “I’ll redde your dream, my sister dear, I’ll tell you a’ your sorrow; You pu’d the Birk wi’ your true love; He’s killed, he’s killed on Yarrow.” The Birch-tree is held to be under the dominion of Venus. BITTER-SWEET.--See Solanum. =BITTER VETCH.=--The Orobus, or Bitter Vetch, is supposed to represent the herb mentioned in a passage in Pulci, which relates how an enchanter preserves two knights from starvation, during a long journey, by giving them a herb which, being held in the mouth, answers all the purposes of food.----The Scotch Highlanders have a great esteem for the tubercles of the Orobus root (which they call Corr or Cormeille); they use them as masticatories, to flavour their liquor. They also affirm that by the use of them they are enabled to repel hunger and thirst for a considerable time. In times of scarcity, the roots have served as a substitute for bread, and many think that the Bitter Vetch is the _Chara_, mentioned by Cæsar, as affording food to his famished soldiers at the siege of Dyrrhachium. The seeds, ground and tempered with wine, were applied to heal the bitings of dogs and venomous beasts. BLACK-THORN.--See Thorn. BLAEBERRY.--See Bilberry and Whortleberry. =BLUE-BELL.=--The Blue-bells of Scotland have long since become household words. The flower (_Campanula latifolia_) is the finest and most stately of the species, and although common enough on its native hills, is scarce in England. It is associated with the feast of St. George. (See CAMPANULA.) BLUE-BOTTLE and BLUET.--See Centaury. BO-TREE.--See Peepul.