Economical Ufe of the Ranunculus aquatilis. | 19 
 tennghere into any difquifition relative to thefe diftin&ions of the 
fpecies, I fhall come to the ultimate object of thefe obfervations, by 
remarking, that I was lately witnefs to a fact, with refpeét to the - 
` Ranunculus aquatilis fluviatilis, which, after what I recollected of the 
character of the plant, fomewhat furprized me, while it fufficiently 
proved, not merely. the. innoxious quality. of this plant, but that it 
is nutritive to cattle, and capable of being converted to ufeful pur- 
pofes in agricultural economy. Unlefs thefe varieties of the R. agua- 
wilis Linn, be endowed. with different properties, it is a proof that 
the experiments on this plant were not made with fufficient accu- 
racy, or difcrimination of the varieties; not fufliciently repeated-on 
different individuals of the fame fpecies of animals ; or, that in dif- 
ferent countries or, fituations itis divefted of its virulence. - In the 
prefent. inflance, itis. probable, . the: plant is rendered: inert as a 
poifon, by growing in the water ; although in certain other in- 
Ítances, moifture is thought to heighten the deleterious ‘Property: ow 
vegetables, efpecially in the umbelliferous tribe. 
E The ad HE i have sais to is, that i in the neighbourhood of 
in great abu uium siii (cni rnit of the cottagers- pE Sa their 
cows, E even horfes, almoft wholly by this plant; fince the re 
maining part of their food is nothing more than a fcanty pittance 
they get on the adjacent heath, which affords little more than Ling, 
Lichen, Bog-mofs or Sphagnum, &c. It is ufual to employ a man 
to colle& a quantity for the day. every morning, and bring it in the 
boat to the edge of the water, from which the cows, in the: inftance 
I faw, ftood eating it with great avidity. I was indeed. informed 
they relifhed it fo highly, that it-was unfafe to allow them more 
than a Certain quantity ; I think between twenty-five and thirty 
pounds each, daily; but with variation according to circumftances. 
3 D 2 | The 
