PEPACTON 



ping its more earthly and carnal flower, shoots 

 upward, and is presently crowned by a globe of 

 the most delicate and aerial texture. It is like the 

 poet's dream, which succeeds his rank and golden 

 youth. This globe is a fleet of a hundred fairy 

 oalloons, each one of which bears a seed which it 

 is destined to drop far from the parent source. 



Most weeds have their uses; they are not wholly 

 malevolent. Emerson says a weed is a plant wiiose 

 virtues we have not yet discovered ; but the wild 

 creatures discover their virtues if we do not. The 

 bumblebee has discovered that the hateful toad- 

 flax, which nothing will eat, and which in some 

 soils will run out the grass has honey at its heart. 

 Narrow-leaved plantain is readily eaten by cattle, 

 and the honey-bee gathers much pollen from it. 

 The ox-eye daisy makes a fair quality of hay if 

 cut before it gets ripe. The cows will eat the leaves 

 of the burdock and the stinging nettles of the woods. 

 But what cannot a cow's tongue stand? She will 

 crop the poison ivy with impunity, and I think 

 would eat thistles if she found them growing in the 

 garden. Leeks and garlics are readily eaten by 

 cattle in the spring, and are said to be medicinal 

 to them. Weeds that yield neither pasturage for 

 bee nor herd yet afford seeds to the fall and winter 

 birds. This is true of most of the obnoxious weeds 

 of the garden, and of thistles. The wild lettuce 

 yields down for the hummingbird's nest, and the 

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