A BUNCH OF HERBS 



yet discovered ; but the wild creatures dis- 

 cover their virtues if we do not. The bum- 

 blebee 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 be- 

 fore 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 humming-bird's 

 nest, and the flowers of whiteweed are used 

 by the kingbird and cedar-bird. 



Yet it is pleasant to remember that, in 

 our climate, there are no weeds so persistent 

 and lasting and universal as grass. Grass 



157 



