'Economical Ufe of the Ranunculus aqualilis. 19 



tering here into any difquifition relative to thefe diftindions of the 

 fpccics, 1 fliall come to the ultimate objca of thefe obfervations, by 

 remarking, that I was lately witnels to a faft, with refpea to the 

 Ranunculus aquatilis Jiuvialilis, which, after what I recollected of the 

 charafter of the plant, fomewhat farprized 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- 

 pofcs in agricultural economy. Unlefs thefe varieties of the R. aqua- 

 tills Linn, be endowed with ditTerent properties, it is a proof that 

 the experiments on this plant were not made with fufficient accu- 

 racy, or difcrimination of the varieties; not fufficiently repeated on 

 different individuals of the fame fpccies of animals ; or, that in dif- 

 ferent countries or fituations it is diverted of its virulence. In the 

 prefent inflance, it is probable, the plant is rendered inert as a 

 poifon, by growing in the water; although in certain other in- 

 ftances, moifture is thought to heighten the deleterious property of 

 vegetables, efpecially in the umbelliferous tribe. 



The fa6l that I have alluded to is, that in the neighbourhood of 

 Ringwood, on the borders of the Avon, which affords this vegetable 

 in great abundance all the year, fome of the cottagers fuflain their 

 cows, and even horfes, almoft wholly by this plant; fmce 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 Lliig^ 

 Lichen, Bog-mofs or Sphagnum, &c. It is ufual to employ a man 

 to colle6l 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, flood eating it with great avidity. I was indeed informed 

 they reliflied 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. 



D 2 The 



