of hemp-seed sowing. One
goes out alone with a handful of hemp-seed, sows it across ridges
of ploughed land, and harrows it with anything convenient, perhaps
with a broom. Having said:

"Hemp-seed, I saw thee,
An' her that is to be my lass
Come after me an' draw thee----"

BURNS: _Hallowe'en._

he looks behind him to see his sweetheart gathering hemp. This
should be tried just at midnight with the moon behind.

"At even o' Hallowmas no sleep I sought,
But to the field a bag of hemp-seed brought.
I scattered round the seed on every side,
And three times three in trembling accents cried,
'This hemp-seed with my virgin hand I sow,
Who shall my true-love be, the crop shall mow.'"

GAY: _Pastorals._

A spell that has been discontinued is throwing the clue of blue
yarn into the kiln-pot, instead of out of the window, as in
Ireland. As it is wound backward, something holds it. The winder
must ask, "Wha hauds?" to hear the name of her future sweetheart.

"An' ay she win't, an' ay she swat--
I wat she made nae jaukin;
Till something held within the pat,
Guid Lord! but she was quakin!
But whether 't was the Deil himsel,
Or whether 't was a bauk-en'[1]
Or whether it was Andrew Bell,
She did na wait on talkin
To speir[2] that night."

BURNS: _Hallowe'en._

[1] Cross-beam.

[2] Ask.

Another spell not commonly tried now is winnowing three measures of
imaginary corn, as one stands in the barn alone with both doors
open to let the spirits that come in go out again freely. As one
finishes the motions, the apparition of the future husband will
come in at one door and pass out at the other.

"'I had not winnowed the last weight clean out, and the moon was
shining bright upon the floor, when in stalked the presence of my
dear Simon Glendinning, that is now happy. I never saw him
plainer in my life than I did that moment; he held up an arrow as
he passed me, and I swarf'd awa' wi' fright.... But mark the end
o' 't, Tibb: we were married, and the grey-goose wing was the
death o' him after a'.'"

SCOTT: _The Monastery._

At times other prophetic appearances were seen.

"Just as she was at the wark, what does she see in the moonlicht
but her ain coffin moving between the d