Gathering old wives tales

just did a google search..it was printed in 1941..and re printed 1946
iv got the first original print ..1941

 

I love all this old stuff too.
The one about wireworm and carrots is true, watch the Victorian kitchen garden. The worm goes into the carrots and can be dealt with.
Near cast a clout till the May be out. Comes from Hawthorn blossom was known as the May flower. The clout or cloth was the vest that young children were sown into to keep out the cold. (Must have got pretty smelly by spring).
There was a TV programme years ago investigating the basis of some of these.
"Thunder makes the milk go sour" They concluded that the temperature, pressure and humidity were all conducive to the bacteria that would spoil milk.
" The dog the woman and the walnut tree. The more you beat them the better they be" They skipped over the first two, but for the tree the way you get the nuts down is to throw sicks at it. This effectively tip prunes the tree, so encouraging more fruiting spurs.

One from my Uncle who came from a farming family.
" In every field of potatoes there always at least one potato man, sometimes more than one. It's his job to look after the crop and see the Harvest home." I told this story at his funeral, and said maybe there's something in it because in over 50 years of potato growing, I do always find at least one. I then presented his grandsons with that years potato man from my plot.

 

Here it's parsley that won't germinate unless the woman wears the trousers!

 

Dont know if it counts, theres an old poem about nettles:

Tender handed stroke a nettle,
itll sting you for your pains,
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
and it soft as silk remains.

Ive found if you grab them really quickly it doesnt sting your palm but itll sting the edges of your hand that graze it anyway

 

Another one about the Wallnut.
One of the guys on the plots is from Cyprus, he told me they have a saying that if a neighbour does you wrong, don't get angry, the way to deal with it is to plant a Walnut tree in his garden and then nothing else will grow. Appart from the shade apparently the tree root releases toxins that inhibit anything else growing in competition with it.

 

Really enjoy this thread. Thanks @Peaceful Gardener for its revival

 

Plants that fruit below ground should be started when the moon is waning. And above ground when the moon is waxing.

 

If you make plenty you'll need it

You'll said after you have made hay/silage and it's going to be a bad winter

 

He who kills the elder tree shall not live more months than three.

Something from my South Yorkshire childhood. I’ve always kept well away from elder trees and it’s done me well. So far.

 

@Allotment Boy you have to use the right walnut tree. The roots of the black walnut produce juglone which is a natural herbicide it uses to remove competition from the surrounding soil.

 

Will it work for bl**dy bindweed ?
.Asking for a friend.

 

I suspect not @infradig. Nothing does, no matter how much I pull, dig or fork out or cover to cut the light. It just pops up again.

 

been reading my moms old book while my computer was down yesterday, got loads to post on here from Romany folklore.
Juniper berries...if sprigs of juniper flung upon any fire, would keep ill wishers away...and also would act as a disinfectant to banish ' all the corruption of the 'aire' which bringeth the plague !!also legend says juniper tree has stood as a symbol of safety, and that county folk say that if a hunted creature can reach the sanctuary of the juniper bushes it will be safe.

 

Anemone... a pretty legend of the flower is inspired by the closing of petals as evening approches..the fairies sleep in the hearts of the anemones, says local legends, and they draw the curtains before they go to bed.

 

Horse chestnut... Romany old lady says 'carry a horsechestnut in pocket..or better still a little bag made for purpose, so that it touches the skin....is sufficient to cure backache..and consipation and piles !!,,but only if the bag is not made of silk. lol
book says..science says silk is a non- conductor of electricity... so how did the old wives know that back then ?