In the Midland counties there is a proverbial saying that "if there are no kegs or seeds in the ash trees, there will be no king within the twelvemonth," the ash never being wholly destitute of kegs. Another proverb refers to the use of ash-wood for burning:--
"Burn ash-wood green, 'Tis a fire for a queen, Burn ash-wood dear, 'Twill make a man swear;"
The meaning being that the ash when green burns well, but when dry or withered just the reverse.
A form of well-wishing formerly current in Yorkshire was thus:--
"May your footfall be by the root of an ash,"
In allusion, it has been suggested, to the fact that the ash is a capital tree for draining the soil in its vicinity.
But leaving trees, an immense number of proverbs are associated with corn, many of which are very varied. Thus, of those who contrive to get a good return for their meagre work or money, it is said:--
"You have made a long harvest for a little corn,"
"You give me coloquintida (colocynth) for Herb-John."
Those who reap advantage from another man's labour are said to "put their sickle into another man's corn," and the various surroundings of royalty, however insignificant they may be, are generally better, says the proverb, than the best thing of the subjects:--
"The king's chaff is better than other people's corn."
Among the proverbs relating to grass may be mentioned the popular one, "He does not let the grass grow under his feet;" another old version of which is, "No grass grows on his heel." Another well-known adage reminds us that:--
"The higher the hill the lower the grass."
"While the grass groweth the seely horse starveth."
In connection with hops, the proverb runs that "hops make or break;" and no hop-grower, writes,
Mr. Hazlitt,[3] "will have much difficulty in appreciating this proverbial dictum. An estate has been lost or won in the course of a single season; but the hop is an expensive plant to rear, and a bad year may spoil the entire crop."
Actions which produce different results to what are expected are thus spoken of:--
"You set saffron and there came up wolfsbane."
In Devonshire it may be noted that this plant is used to denote anything of value; and it is related of a farmer near Exeter who, when praising a certain farm, remarked, "'Tis a very pretty little place; he'd let so dear as saffron."