66 UMBELLIFERiE 



27. Cow-Parsnip {Henidevm). 



Common Cow-Parsnip {H. splwndyliiim). — Leaves pinnated and hairy; 

 leaflets pinnatifid and cut, terminal one somewhat palmated ; fruit nearly 

 round and smooth. Plant biennial. Everyone used to the country has 

 seen this large rough-looking plant, standing upon a stem four or five feet 

 in height, among the meadow grass, or growing amidst the bushes of the 

 hedge-bank or copse. The large thick umbels of white or pinkish white 

 flowers appear in July, and the swelling pale green sheaths, which envelop 

 the leaf-stalk, are very conspicuous. It is, as one might infer from its 

 name, a nutritive and valuable herb for cattle, and Mr. Cobbett stated that 

 he had fed six or eight horses for weeks together on this plant. In Sussex 

 it is gathered for rabbits, sheep, and swine, and it is commonly known in 

 that county, as in Kent, by the name of Hog-weed. Horses eat it when 

 on their pasture, but they are not so fond of it as cows are. An attempt 

 has been made in this kingdom to manufacture sugar from the dried stalks 

 of this plant, but it required forty pounds of the stalks to yield one quarter 

 of a pound of sugar, hence the amount of labour required rendered the 

 process too expensive. 



This plant is very abundant in some of the colder countries of Eui'ope. 

 The grass plains at the west of Kamtschatka are in September rendered of 

 most singular appearance, by the astonishing height of two Mothering umbel- 

 liferous plants, which give a peculiar character to these wide tracts. They 

 are described as having strong stems, more than fifteen feet high ; and they 

 grow in great numl)crs, and project far beyond the grasses and other 

 herbaceous plants. Dr. Griesbach thinks that they must belong to Angelica, 

 and to this genus Heradeum. The Kamtschatdales commonly call the latter 

 plant Batsch, sweet herb, and many are the uses to which they apply it ; 

 large bundles of the stout stems are collected, and after being peeled, are 

 laid in the sun. During the process of drying they become covered with a 

 sweet white pow^der, Avhich is esteemed a delicacy. It would be well if these 

 poor people confined themselves to this use of the plant, or to their practice 

 of boiling and eating the young shoots, which taste like asparagus ; but they 

 have unfortunately discovered that a fermented spirit may be made from its 

 juices, and they are said to drink a quantity of this liquor, in order to pre- 

 pare, by a violent excitement, for a dedication of themselves to their deities. 

 Travellers relate that these rude people become, when under this influence, 

 most violently irascible, and that the use of the liquor so aftects the mind 

 that they are seized with a violent desire for self-destruction. Dr. George 

 Moore, referring to this and similar usages among those on whom the 

 glorious light of Revelation has never dawned, remarks, "The Thracians 

 used to intoxicate themselves, by casting the seeds of certain poisonous 

 plants into a fire made for the purpose, around which they sat and inspired 

 the narcotic fumes. There can be no doubt that the incantations of witch- 

 craft and magic were generally attended with the practice of burning herbs 

 of a similar kind, that by the aid of poisonous fumigations, the imaginations 

 of those who were subjected to them might be more easily deluded; for when 

 the nervous system is under such influences, perception is confused, and the 



