POISONOUS PLANTS 317 



where the patches are large in extent the best plan 

 appears to be to pull off the leaves as fast as they ap- 

 pear in spring, while when flowers appear they can be 

 cut down or similarly pulled off. All parts removed 

 should be burned. If the leaves be hand pulled for 

 one or two seasons, says Percival, there is no necessity 

 to dig up the corms, the plant being readily exter- 

 minated. 



Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia L.) is found in damp 

 woods, especially on chalk soils, from Renfrew and Moray 

 southwards. It grows 6 to 12 inches high, on a stem 

 which usually bears four somewhat oval leaves arranged 

 in a whorl. From the centre of the whorl a single 

 upright flower stalk arises bearing a solitary green 

 flower, which later produces a black berry. The root- 

 stock is white and creeping, and the plant perennial. 



All parts of Herb Paris are poisonous, it being an 

 emetic and narcotic ; the rootstock is purgative. The 

 toxic principle is the glucoside Paradin. Stock are un- 

 likely to meet with this plant except in fields bordering 

 open woods or plantations. 



Lily-of-the- Valley (Convallaria majalis L.) is uncommon 

 in the wild state, but occurs in certain woods from 

 Moray to the southern countries, and is abundant in 

 some districts. Flowering occurs in May and June. 

 No description is necessary, the plant being well known. 

 All parts are poisonous, but the flowers are the most 

 dangerous. Farm stock are hardly likely to touch this 

 plant owing to its habitat, but its poisonous character 

 should be borne in mind in districts where it occurs 

 wild. 



AROIDE^E 



Lords and Ladies, or Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum 

 L.), is one of the best known plants of the countryside, 



