[E349] In Lincolnshire corn affected by the smut is called Parson corn, the reason assigned being that when tithes were paid in kind, the sheaves that had the most smuts in them were always given to the parson, if he could be seduced into taking them.—See Peacock's Gloss. of Manley, etc., E. Dial. Soc. 1877.
[E350] Mow-burn is occasioned by the Hay being stack'd too soon, before its own juice is thoroughly dried, and by Norfolk people is called the Red Raw; not such as is occasioned by stacking it when wet with Rain, which is a nasty musty and stinks.—T.R.
[E351] Hentzner, p. 79 (quoted in Harrison's Description of England, ed. F. J. Furnivall, p. lxxxiv), says: "As we were returning to our inn (at Windsor, Sept. 14), we happened to meet some country people celebrating their Harvest-home; their last load of corn they crown with flowers, having besides an image richly dressed, by which, perhaps, they would signify Ceres; this they keep moving about, while men and women, men and maid servants, riding through the streets in the cart, shout as loud as they can till they arrive at the barn."
"Tis merie in hall,
When beards wag all."
This proverb is of great antiquity. It occurs in the Life of Alexander (formerly, but erroneously, attributed to Adam Davie), written in 1312, where the words are:
"Swithe mury hit is in halle,
When burdes wawen alle."
—Weber's Met. Rom.
It occurs also in Shakspere, 2 Henry IV. Act v. sc. 3, and is quoted in the Merie Tales of Skelton, 1567. See also Ray's Proverbs.
[E353] "For Mihelmas spring," that is, "for fear of injuring the young plants, etc., at Michaelmas."