"Mony haws,
Mony snaws."
Another variation of the same adage in Kent is, "A plum year, a dumb year," and, "Many nits, many pits," implying that the abundance of nuts in the autumn indicates the "pits" or graves of those who shall succumb to the hard and inclement weather of winter; but, on the other hand, "A cherry year, a merry year." A further piece of weather-lore tells us:—
"Many rains, many rowans;
Many rowans, many yawns,"
The meaning being that an abundance of rowans—the fruit of the mountain-ash—denote a deficient harvest.
Among further sayings of this kind may be noticed one relating to the onion, which is thus:—
"Onion's skin very thin,
Mild-winter's coming in;
Onion's skin thick and tough,
Coming winter cold and rough."
Again, many of our peasantry have long been accustomed to arrange their farming pursuits from the indications given them by sundry trees and plants. Thus it is said—
"When the sloe tree is as white as a sheet,
Sow your barley whether it be dry or wet."
With which may be compared another piece of weather-lore:—
"When the oak puts on his gosling grey,
'Tis time to sow barley night or day."