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rs a fruit of the most delicious flavour and the most disgusting stench。 The Malays cultivate the tree for the sake of its fruit； and have been known to resort to a peculiar ceremony for the purpose of stimulating its fertility。 Near Jugra in Selangor there is a small grove of durian…trees； and on a specially chosen day the villagers used to assemble in it。 Thereupon one of the local sorcerers would take a hatchet and deliver several shrewd blows on the trunk of the most barren of the trees； saying； Will you now bear fruit or not？ If you do not； I shall fell you。 To this the tree replied through the mouth of another man who had climbed a mangostin…tree hard by （the durian…tree being unclimbable）； Yes； I will now bear fruit； I beg of you not to fell me。 So in Japan to make trees bear fruit two men go into an orchard。 One of them climbs up a tree and the other stands at the foot with an axe。 The man with the axe asks the tree whether it will yield a good crop next year and threatens to cut it down if it does not。 To this the man among the branches replies on behalf of the tree that it will bear abundantly。 Odd as this mode of horticulture may seem to us； it has its exact parallels in Europe。 On Christmas Eve many a South Slavonian and Bulgarian peasant swings an axe threateningly against a barren fruit…tree； while another man standing by intercedes for the menaced tree； saying； Do not cut it down； it will soon bear fruit。 Thrice the axe is swung； and thrice the impending blow is arrested at the entreaty of the intercessor。 After that the frightened tree will certainly bear fruit next year。
The conception of trees and plants as animated beings naturally results in treating them as male and female； who can be married to each other in a real； and not merely a figurative or poetical； sense of the word。 The notion is not purely fanciful； for plants like animals have their sexes and reproduce their kind by the union of the male and female elements。 But whereas in all the higher animals the organs of the two sexes are regularly separated between different individuals； in most plants they exist together in every individual of the species。 This rule； however； is by no means universal； and in many species the male plant is distinct from the female。 The distinction appears to have been observed by some savages； for we are told that the Maoris are acquainted with the sex of trees； etc。； and have distinct names for the male and female of some trees。 The ancients knew the difference between the male and the female date…palm； and fertilised them artificially by shaking the pollen of the male tree over the flowers of the female。 The fertilisation took place in spring。 Among the heathen of Harran the month during which the palms were fertilised bore the name of the Date Month； and at this time they celebrated the marriage festival of all the gods and goddesses。 Different from this true and fruitful marriage of the palm are the false and barren marriages of plants which play a part in Hindoo superstition。 For example； if a Hindoo has planted a grove of mangos； neither he nor his wife may taste of the fruit until he has formally married one of the trees； as a bridegroom； to a tree of a different sort； commonly a tamarind…tree； which grows near it in the grove。 If there is no tamarind to act as bride； a jasmine will serve the turn。 The expenses of such a marriage are often considerable； for the more Brahmans are feasted at it； the greater the glory of the owner of the grove。 A family has been known to sell its golden and silver trinkets； and to borrow all the money they could in order to marry a mango…tree to a jasmine with due pomp and ceremony。 On Christmas Eve German peasants used to tie fruit…trees together with straw ropes to make them bear fruit； saying that the trees were thus married。
In the Moluccas； when the clove…trees are in blossom； they are treated like pregnant women。 No noise may be made near them； no light or fire may be carried past them at night； no one may approach them with his hat on； all must uncover in their presence。 These precautions are observed lest the tree should be alarmed and bear no fruit； or should drop its fruit too soon； like the untimely delivery of a woman who has been frightened in her pregnancy。 So in the East the growing rice…crop is often treated with the same considerate regard as a breeding woman。 Thus in Amboyna； when the rice is in bloom； the people say that it is pregnant and fire no guns and make no other noises near the field； for fear lest； if the rice were thus disturbed； it would miscarry； and the crop would be all straw and no grain。
Sometimes it is the souls of the dead which are believed to animate trees。 The Dieri tribe of Central Australia regard as very sacred certain trees which are supposed to be their fathers transformed； hence they speak with reverence of these trees； and are careful that they shall not be cut down or burned。 If the settlers require them to hew down the trees； they earnestly protest against it； asserting that were they to do so they would have no luck； and might be punished for not protecting their ancestors。 Some of the Philippine Islanders believe that the souls of their ancestors are in certain trees； which they therefore spare。 If they are obliged to fell one of these trees； they excuse themselves to it by saying that it was the priest who made them do it。 The spirits take up their abode； by preference； in tall and stately trees with great spreading branches。 When the wind rustles the leaves； the natives fancy it is the voice of the spirit； and they never pass near one of these trees without bowing respectfully； and asking pardon of the spirit for disturbing his repose。 Among the Ignorrotes； every village has its sacred tree； in which the souls of the dead forefathers of the hamlet reside。 Offerings are made to the tree； and any injury done to it is believed to entail some misfortune on the village。 Were the tree cut down； the village and all its inhabitants would inevitably perish。
In Corea the souls of people who die of the plague or by the roadside； and of women who expire in childbirth； invariably take up their abode in trees。 To such spirits offerings of cake； wine； and pork are made on heaps of stones piled under the trees。 In China it has been customary from time immemorial to plant trees on graves in order thereby to strengthen the soul of the deceased and thus to save his body from corruption； and as the evergreen cypress and pine are deemed to be fuller of vitality than other trees； they have been chosen by preference for this purpose。 Hence the trees that grow on graves are sometimes identified with the souls of the departed。 Among the Miao…Kia； an aboriginal race of Southern and Western China； a sacred tree stands at the entrance of every village； and the inhabitants believe that it is tenanted by the soul of their first ancestor and that it rules their destiny。 Sometimes there is a sacred grove near a village； where the trees are suffered to rot and die on the spot。 Their fallen branches cumber the ground； and no one may remove them unless he has first asked leave of the spirit of the tree and offered him a sacrifice。 Among the Maraves of Souther