Collectanea. 237
by night " was the favourite, whilst " Good King Wenceslas " was
a very good second ; but there was also a version of the familiar
"God bless the master of this house."
Sayings. — I have no note of locality for the following sayings: — The apple crop will be the better if christened on St. Swithin's
Day (of course by rain).
Better to see a wolf enter the fold than the sun shine on
Candlemas Day.^
M. C. Jonas.
Devon,
Apple-tree custom. — A woman living near Kingsbridge tells me that her father, (born about 1830), used to go out in his youth shooting at apple-trees, " for luck and good crops." They sang, —
"Here's a heaUh to the apple-tree, Here's a health to the tree that blossoms ! Hats full, caps full, dree bushel bags full, Hip, hip, hip, hooray ! "
She was not sure of the exact day, but knows that it was just about the New Year.^
Fishing beliefs. — At Beesands it is held very unlucky to go out fishing on Good Friday. Some years ago, any Friday was held to be an unlucky day for fishing, and many men would not go out to sea on that day.
Fifth of November. — In the Beesands district, an effigy is always part of the proceedings, as well as bonfires. Any person who is unpopular may be burned in efifigy. Two years ago, at Torcross, a pair of effigies were made, man and woman, to represent a certain gentleman suspected of too much attention to his neighbour's wife. They were stuck up arm in arm, and carried about before being burned. (From a fisherman's daughter, 1911.)
Christmas. — People used to go round before Christmas, begging for wheat from the farmers.
Fairs. — At Moretonhampstead, Summer Fair was held on the
3Cf. Brand, op. cit., vol. i. (1853), p. f^i ; N. &• Q., ist S., vol. vi. (1852), p. 480, vol. xi. (1855), p. 238 (Norfolk).
- Cf. Brand, op. cit. (1853), vol. i., pp, 28-30.
