134 FLORA HISTORICA. 



excessively fond of ihis root, and we have frequently 

 observed them grubbing for and devouring it with 

 great eagerness ; but as these animals are bad gar- 

 deners, we cannot avail ourselves of their assistance 

 in the extirpation of the Convolvulus Sepium with- 

 out incurring a greater evil. 



Our readers probably recollect La Fontaine*s 

 fable, '* Le Jardinier et son Seigneur." We might, 

 in such case, quote the following lines : 



on mit en piteux equipage 



Le pauvre potager : adieu planches, carreaux : 

 Adieu cliicoree et poireaux : 

 Adieu de quoi mettre au potage. 



We add this flower and its entwining branch to 

 the hieroglyphical language of flowers, as the em- 

 blem of a dangerous insinuator. 



The small BINDWEED. Convolvulus 

 Arvcnsis. 



This plant, although more humble in its growth, 

 is more formidable to the husbandman than the 

 Great Bindweed, which principally confines itself 

 to the hedgerow, whereas the Arvensis travels over 

 the whole field, entwining itself around the stalks 

 of corn for support, or upholding itself by the 



