142 CORNWALL oxen on that day is an act which few would dare to perform lest they should suddenly die in the yoke. To whistle underground is an offence which few miners will suffer to pass over in silence ; but to whistle while the farmer is winnowing his corn will as inevitably bring the wind as on board of a ship or boat, it is certain to secure a favourable breeze." Polwhele says : " The custom of saluting the apple-trees at Christmas with a view to another year, is still preserved both in Cornwall and Devon- shire. In some places the parishioners walk in procession visiting the principal orchards in the parish ; in each orchard single out the principal tree, salute it with a certain form of words and sprinkle it with cyder or dash a bowl of cyder against it. In other places, the farmer and his workmen only, immerse cakes in cyder and place them on the branches of an apple-tree in due solemnity ; sprinkle the tree, as they repeat a formal incantation and dance round it." The harvest custom where the last handful of corn is cut, being called "a neck," and then dressed with flowers and carried off in triumph has been often referred to. The men of Cornwall have long been celebrated
