Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics

Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics is subtitled Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore of the Plant Kingdom. Richard Folkard, Jun., writes in his preface that he had been associated with a journal devoted to horticulture, where he gathered much of the material, and that he enriched the collection with Continental and Indian lore. The book includes a picture of the Garden of Eden from Parkinson's Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris, 1656. It was printed in London in 1884.

One passage lists charms offered to young women: Lilies of the Valley rubbed over the face take away freckles, Wild Tansy soaked in butter-milk makes the user look handsome, and a cut bracken-fern root shows the first letter of a future husband's name. Entries are headed by plant name, among them Hyssop and Ilex, the Holm Oak that was consecrated to Hecate. Another passage tells of Weeping Willows and quotes Maundevile on the Crown of Thorns.