THE NEW EARTH 



distinctions between the tame and the wild 

 plants, he has been ascribing all manner of 

 curious characteristics to those which have 

 been outside the pale of civilization. Certain 

 peculiar qualities which the form or odor or 

 size of the weed in some way suggested were 

 applied by people with more or less vivid im- 

 aginations and have clung desperately to the 

 weeds themselves. As the newer knowledge 

 has advanced, the absurdity of many of the 

 names, in so far as signifying any real quality 

 is concerned, has become apparent. The 

 manner by which these outcasts were given 

 their names has in it such peculiar interest 

 that a volume might be prepared upon them. 

 The list of curiously named weeds is long — but 

 a few of them will illustrate the point: Con- 

 sumptive's-weed, otherwise known as bear's- 

 weed, cancer-weed, asthma-weed, salt-rheum- 

 weed, Guinea-hen- weed, turpentine- weed, joy- 

 weed, rattlesnake- weed, soldier's-weed, bind- 

 weed, bishop's-weed, mermaid-weed, dyer's- 

 weed, breast-weed, knot-weed, butter-weed, 

 lake-weed, licorice-weed, carpet-weed, rag- 

 weed, trumpet-weed, mat-weed, mug-weed, 

 neck-weed, ore-weed, morass-weed, tumble- 



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