154 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The second class is more numerous ; in fact, their name is 

 legion. Buttercups {Ranunculus acris and hulbosus) exten- 

 sively prevail in rich meadows and pastures. In the green 

 state they are acrid and refused by all animals, yet dried in 

 the hay they are eaten. As they are perennial, nothing but 

 ploughing or digging out will eradicate them. Ox-eye daisy 

 {Leucanthemum vulgare) is too well known to need any de- 

 scription. Cattle eat it readily when young, so that close pas- 

 turing early in the season will keep it in check, and sheep 

 will eradicate it. Yarrow {Achillea Millefolium) is a bitter 

 weed, rarely eaten in the green state by any animal, that 

 favors warm, sweet land, capable of better things. Mullein 

 ( Verbascum Thapsus) is never eaten, even when dry, by any 

 animal except the goat, which, I am assured, considers it a 

 choice morsel. Wild carrot {Daucus Garota) is a new comer ; 

 •in unsightly weed. As it is readily eaten by neat cattle when 

 young, and by sheep even when in blossom, it does not 

 spread in evenly-grazed, clean pastures, but must have the 

 shelter of other plants to get a start. Common thistle ( Cir- 

 sium lanceolatum) and Canada thistle (C arvense) are both 

 great pests, which spread exceptionally freely in sheep 

 pastures. Horses sometimes crop the blossom-buds and 

 prevent seeding, and they are crushed and broken down by 

 cattle. Cutting will run out the former ; for the latter I 

 know of no certain remedy in our rough pastures. Sweet 

 flag {Acorns Calamus) in borders of streams and swamps ; 

 elecampane {Inula Helenium) in rich, fat land ; and tansy 

 ( Tanacetum vulgare) in warm, dry land, are all perennials, 

 spread slowly but surely, are never eaten by animals, and, 

 though planted for medicinal virtues, should be watched and 

 extirpated before they get the upper hand. 



In pasturing stubble fields, more often rye, we find the 

 wild wormwood — ragweed {Artemisia vulgaris) — outgrowing 

 everything else, and furnishing a questionable diet, especially 

 for milch cows, as communicating its bitter taste to milk and 

 cream. An annual, it has facilities for taking care of itself 

 that arc quite marvellous. Crowded in a thin soil, it will 

 blossom and perfect seeds when but an inch or two in 

 height ; but give it the place of u hill of corn in a rich field» 



