Exfirpation of TFeeds. %&j 



powerful drastic purge. Dr. Withering observes, " Can it then be worth wliile 

 to import scammony from Aleppo, at a considerable annual expence, when a me- 

 dicine, with the very same properties, grows spontaneously in our hedges ? though 

 an acrid purgative to the human race, it is eaten by hogs in large quantities, with-, 

 out any detriment." 



3. The great wild climber (Clematis vitalba), common in hedges in the chalk 

 counties, called there provincially old man's beard, from the hoary appearance of 

 the plant after flowering, the seeds being furnished with numerous grey hoary tails. 

 This plant is very injurious to fences, for the leafstalks twine about any thing they 

 can lay hold of, and thus support the plant, which is large, luxuriant, and heavy, 

 without any strength to support itself, and by its weight hauling down and deform- 

 ing the fences, " The fine hairs which give the cottony appearance are, I appre- 

 hend, too short to be employed in manufacture, though it is probable they may be 

 used to advantage for the stuffing of chairs." Withering. 



The hop (Hamulus lupulusj, the ladies seal, or black bryony (Tamus communis), 

 and the wild vine or bryony (Bryonia dioicaj, are all common in hedges, where I 

 think them somewhat injurious to the fences. 



Sow thistles, the large rough thistles, knapweeds, and ragwort, as named before, 

 are a great nuisance, if their seeds be suffered to ripen in hedges: in addition to 

 which may be added the following, whose seeds are also furnished with feathers, 

 and capable of flying to a great distance, and which are also often to be found in 

 hedges : 



Yellow devil's bit (Leontodon atumnale}. 



Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa). 



Yellow hawkweed (Hieracium murorum). 



Bushy hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum). 



Smooth hawksbeard (Crepis tectorum). 



Burdock (Arctium lappa), a well known plant, which should not be suffered to 

 perfect its seed in hedges, being very luxuriant of growth. " Before the flowers 

 appear, the stems, stripped of their rind, may be boiled and eat like asparagus ; 

 and when raw, they are good with oil and vinegar." Withering. 



These, and other plants of a similar nature, as well as all luxuriant weeds, and 

 shoots of brambles, and whatever else grows beyond the bounds of the fence, 



M m 2 



