240 Collectanea.
If oak is out before the ash,
Of rain you'll only have a splash :
If ash is out before the oak,
Of rain you'll surely have a soak.
Bees. — When a swarm of bees leaves the hive, it is held neces- sary to " ring " it ; this is generally done with a fire shovel and a doorkey. Without this ceremony it is supposed that the owner can claim no right of property in the swarm, but that with it he is entitled to follow wherever it goes. Bees must not be sold ; a hive that has been bought will have no luck. In case of the death of the master, some member of the family must knock on each hive with the key of the door, and tell the bees of their loss ; otherwise they will not thrive afterwards.^
Parsley must not be transplanted. If it is, a member of the family in whose garden the parsley plants are set will die within the year.^
Ilmington. F. S. Potter.
Mandrake. — In December, 1908, a man employed in digging a neglected garden half a mile from Stratford-on-Avon, cut a large root of white bryony through with his spade. He called it a "mandrake," and ceased work at once, saying that it was "awful bad luck." Before the week was out, he fell down some steps and broke his neck. — (Communicated by Mr. F. C Morgan, of Malvern.)
Loo-belling. — The custom which in many parts of the country goes by the name of "riding the starig," is called "loo-belling" in Warwickshire. Mr. Morgan photographed "A man's effigy" at Brailes, Shipston-on-Stour, on February 18, 1909, just after it had been placed opposite the dwelling of a woman, who was the other guilty party. Her effigy was made also ; both remained outside her house during the day, and were carried round the long, straggling village in the evening. This was done for three evenings ; on the third both effigies were burnt. In another case, in Warwickshire, the effigies were carried round three villages. ^"^
^ N. Ssr' Q., 1st S., vol. ix. (1854), p. 446 ; vol. xii. (1S55), p. 37, [Cornwall) ; Cornhill Magazine, 191 1, pp. 465-79, ("Telling the Bees'").
' Vol. XX., p. 343, {Worcestershire).
'"The custom was described and illustrated by a drawing from Mr. Morgan's photographs, in the Illustrated Lotidon Nrjis, August 14, 1909.
