THE BISHOPWEED PLAGUE. 187 



soil, will quickly cover the ground, to the destruction of everything 

 else, its innumerable stalks, crowned with pinnated ash-like leaves, 

 attaining to the height of a foot or more. When a single plant 

 once gets root-hold in pasture land, it spreads with amazing rapidity, 

 damaging and crowding out the grass in all directions, so that 

 whenever and wherever it appears its utter and thorough extirpa- 

 tion, whatever the labour and cost, should be insisted upon with 

 the least possible delay. When plucked by the hand the plant 

 emits a foetid, sickening smell, all trace of which is only effaced 

 from the fingers by a very thorough washing indeed. We have 

 observed that neither horse, nor ox, nor sheep will of choice touch 

 it, though its being in many places called goatweed would seem to 

 indicate that it is no more rejected by that animal than many other 

 acrid and poisonous plants and herbs which our other ruminants 

 will not touch even if starving. Of all the ground pests with 

 which we are acquainted, bishopweed is the worst, and we warn our 

 readers, if ever they meet with it in any neglected corner of garden 

 or field, to show it no mercy at all, for it is of an unmerciful nature 

 itself, killing every blade of grass it comes in contact with, and 

 choking unto the death every other vegetable that it can surmount 

 and master. 



The finest stag's head and antlers that we have ever seen form a 

 trophy in the possession of our neighbour, Mr. Bill, Kilmalieu, the 

 magnificent " monarch of the waste " that bore them having fallen 

 to that gentleman's own rifle in Glengour two or three years ago. 

 The other day, however, we were shown a set of larger horns, though 

 not quite so handsome perhaps, or so faultless in spread and curve, 

 and unfortunately imperfect from the loss of one of the tines, which 

 was picked up by a shepherd in the Black Mount Forest many 

 yearfe. ago. The size of beam throughout was something extra- 

 ordinary, and one could not help regretting that it had not the head 

 and neck attached, that it might be set up in the style for which 



