834 ^^' William Pitt on the 



he neglects to dress and cultivate properly, it will, in some degree, revert to its na- 

 tural stale, producing the hardier and more acrid plants for the sustenance of num- 

 berless tribes of insects, and for an infinity of other known and unknown uses ; 

 and indeed were it otherwise, the indolence of the human race might, in some mea- 

 sure, suspend the bounty of Providence, and the fertile parts of the earth's surface, 

 instead of being covered with an universal verdure, would, by indolence or neglect, 

 be rendered little different to the sterile and barren desert. 



The plants we term weeds, considered as respecting mankind, are not totally 

 useless; many of them have valuable medical qualities, and some of them may be 

 applied to uses so as to pay something towards the expence of clearing them from 

 the ground: thus, sowlhistles are good food for rabbits or hogs: the hog-weed 

 ( Heraclcum) is good for either hogs or cattle : horses are said to be fond of young 

 thistles when partially dried, and the seed may be prevented from spreading by 

 gathering the down, which makes good pillows; however there is some danger in 

 trusting them to this stage of growtli, as a high wind would, and frequently does, 

 disperse them over a whole country. Cliadlock, when drawn, may be given to 

 cows, who are very fond of it, particularly of the smooth kind; and in the Oxford 

 Report it is stated that it can be converted into good hay. 



Nettles, fern, and the more bulky hedge-weeds, are, in Staffordshire, collected 

 annually about Midsummer, and burnt ; their ashes being afterwards formed into 

 balls, which are of considerable value, being used in composing a ley for scouring 

 and cleaning linen and other clothes. 



It is said that pigeons are of use in picking up the seeds of many weeds that 

 would otherwise vegetate; and I have no doubt but a prodigious quantity of the 

 seeds of weeds are eaten by small birds, particularly of most of the lake-weeds 

 (Polygonums), of the spurrey ( Spergula), and, in severe weather, of the different 

 sorts of chadlocks ( Sinapis, Brassica, and Rapbanus), and of many other kinds. 



It has been observed, that bees have not thriven so well in this island since the 

 extirpation of wced-s has been more attended to. 



In Japan, and in China, (it is said) not a weed is to be seen ; and that they only 

 make use of night-soil as a manure, partly with a view of preventing any risk of 

 weeds. 



Weeds, like all other vegetables, may be distinguished into annuals, biennials, 

 and pcrrennials, according to their term of duration. 



