To quote again from Pratt (_op. cit._ vol. 2, p. 261): “The old notion that the Mountain Ash, or Rowan Tree, as it is called in the North, was efficacious against witchcraft and the evil eye, still prevails in the North of England and the Scottish Highlands. Pennant remarks, in his _Tour of Scotland_, that the farmers carefully preserve their cattle against witchcraft by placing branches of Honeysuckle and Mountain Ash in their cowhouses on the 2nd of May. The milkmaid in Westmorland may often be seen, even now, with a branch of this tree either in her hand or tied to her milking-pail, from a similar superstition; and in earlier days crosses cut out of its wood were worn about the person. In an old song called “Laidley Wood,” in the _Northumberland Garland_, we find a reference to this: “The spells were vain, the hag return’d To the Queen in sorrowful mood, Crying, that witches have no power Where there is Rown-tree wood.” Rhys, referring to May Day customs in the Isle of Man, writes[46]: “This was a day when systematic efforts were made to protect man and beast against elves and witches; for it was then that people carried crosses of rowan in their hats and placed may-flowers over the tops of their doors and elsewhere as preservatives against all malignant influences. With the same object in view, crosses of rowan were likewise fastened to the tails of the cattle, small crosses which had to be made without the help of a knife.” In connection with this last reference, Rhys quotes a passage showing that a similar thing is done in Wales on May Eve.[47] “Another bad papistic habit which prevails among some Welsh people is that of placing some of the wood of the rowan-tree (_coed cerdin_ or criafol) in their corn lands (_ttafyrieu_) and their fields on May-eve (_Nos Glamau_) with the idea that such a custom brings a blessing on their fields, a proceeding which would better become atheists and pagans than Christians.” Rhys also tells us that in Lincolnshire,[48] “a twig of the rowan-tree, or wicken, as it is called, was effective against all evil things, including witches. It is useful in many ways to guard the welfare of the household, and to preserve both the live stock and the crops; while placed on the churn it prevents any malign influence from retarding the coming of the butter.” We also read (p. 358): “Not only the Celts, but some also of the Teutons, have been in the habit of attaching great importance to the rowan or roan tree, and regarding it as a preservative against the malignant influence of witches and all things uncanny.... Moreover, the Swede of modern times believes the rowan a safeguard against witchcraft, and likes to have on board his ship something or other made of its wood, to protect him against tempests and the demons of the water world.”