155 



USES OF WILD PLANTS. 



" For every green herb, from the lotus to the darnel, 

 Is rich with numerous aids to help incurious man." 



TUPPER. 



Dr. Johnson's definition of the word weed deserves to be classed 

 among the aberrations of genius. "Weed, an herb, noxious and 

 useless." Poor man ! every lover of nature (and every good man is 

 a lover of nature) will heave a sigh for that line of the Dictionary. 

 Why ? Did the good Doctor believe that God had created anything 

 to be useless ? Oh no, that cannot be ; charity rather prompts us to 

 believe that the learned lexicographer either put aside all his philo- 

 sophy when he came to that word, or that he gave it to one of his 

 assistants to settle. It is quite impossible that the Doctor could have 

 furnished that definition himself, for we know that he did possess a 

 soul and a heart. But surely that clerk who dished up the word was 

 a man without a soul, and therefore beyond all redemption. Let us 

 suggest a definition. Weed, a plant neglected, because its qualities 

 are not sufficiently known. Some of these said weeds, little as we 

 know of their properties, are extremely valuable iu medicine, and in 

 various domestic uses. 



" From the first bud, whose verdant head 

 The winter's lingering tempest braves, 

 To those, which 'mid the foliage dead 



Shrink latest to their annual graves : 

 All are for use, for health, for pleasure given. 

 All speak, in various waj's, the bounteous hand of Heaven." 



Charlotte Smith. 



It would be difficult to define what we mean by utility. Among 

 the many excellent ideas entertained by the North American Indians, 

 is one, that only that which is truly useful is beautiful. But all our 

 theories of beauty and utility are barren ; they are all based upon the 

 superficial knowledge which man possesses of the mysterious workings 

 of nature. I fervently believe, that there is nothing in the endless 

 range of the material world but is at the same time beautiful and use- 

 ful ; although its beauties and uses may yet have to be discovered. 



