AND OTHER FORAGE PLANTS. 21 



2. C. ENDIVA is the Endive or Garden Succory, the blanch- 

 ed radical leaves of which are used as a salad. 



CHAPTER III. 

 Plantain Family. 



This family furnishes no plant of much value for forage or 

 food of any kind. 



PLANTAGO. Plantain. 



P. MAJOR. Greater Plantain, Way bread is diffused nearly all 

 over the world, following the foot-steps of man every where. 

 It is of so little Value for live stock that I would prefer not to 

 have it in my pastures. It was long esteemed as an application 

 (the leaves being used) to blisters, scrofulas, tumors and ulcers. 

 Thus Shakspeare : 



"Romeo. Your Plantain leaf is excellent for that. 

 Ben. For what I pray ? 

 Rom. For your broken shin." 



It has recently attracted much attention as an antidote for the 

 poison of snakes, the juice being taken internally and applied lo- 

 cally. But it is probably most valuable as a forage plant for 

 birds, the spikes of seeds being gathered for cage birds. 



P. LANCEOLATA. Buckhorn Plantain, English Plantain, Rib- 

 grass. This is eaten by all live stock. In Great Britain it is 

 planted for sheep pasture especially. On poor lands it may be 

 tolerated ; but it is of too little value in our country to be en- 

 couraged, except for the amusement of children, who delight in 

 striking off the short spikes or heads, called "bullies" or "sod- 

 gers." The seeds are relished by birds. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 IZoraye Family. 



SYMPHITUM ASPERRIMTJM. Prickly Comfrey. 



This plant, a native of Caucasus, was brought to England in 

 1811 as an ornamental plant. Later it was cultivated as a forage 

 plant to a limited extent, but was not esteemed by English far- 



