APPENDIX E.—INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 207 
animal would eat it. To this account I can give full credit, as I 
have carefully observed for two years back, that this plant is left 
untouched by the cattle grazing in the parks adjoining to the Botanic 
arden; nor do I think they ever eat it, unless when mixed with 
other herbage. The habit of growth in this plant is another objec- 
tion to its culture. Its radical leaves spread like the rays of a circle 
from the centre, and destroy the herbage around it. Some writers 
have mentioned the ellis perennis, or common daisy, as a valuable 
plant in pastures; but the abundance of its beautiful flowers seen 
in every meadow, demonstrates that it is rejected by cattle, and 
that as a celebrated agriculturist observes, “it owes its beauty to 
its worthlessness.” Such fancies remind me of the idle notion 
entertained by some women and children in the country, that the 
summer butter takes its yellow colour from the flowers of the crow- 
foot which they call butter-cups ! 
I cannot conclude without expressing my regret, that speculative 
farmers in general, and especially those who undertake to write on 
agricultural subjects, are often altogether unacquainted with Botany, 
and, of course, have an imperfect knowledge of most of the plants of 
which they wish to treat. Hence the trials made from their sugges- 
tions too often end in disappointment and disgust, and thus throw 
a bar in the way of improvement; whereas judicious and well con- 
ducted experiments guide us in the right path to advancement in 
agriculture, as well as in every other science. 
