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following conclusions were reached : ' ' The leaves of the wild black 

 cherry are the most poisonous of the three species investigated, 

 though all are dangerous. Both the wilted and fresh leaves are poi- 

 sonous, while the dried are to be regarded with suspicion. Vigorous, 

 succulent leaves from young shoots, which are the ones most liable 

 to be eaten by cattle, are far more poisonous than the leaves from a 

 mature tree or stunted shrub. Leaves wilted in bright sunlight to 

 about 75 per cent, of original weight, or until they begin to appear 

 slightly limp and to lose their gloss, yield the maximum amount of 

 prussic acid." 



The poisoned animal experiences "labored respiration, diminished 

 pulse, numbness, fright, protruding eyeballs, convulsions and death 

 from paralysis of the lungs. In some cases there is considerable 

 frothing at the mouth ; in all, there is a very perceptible odor of 

 prussic acid in the breath " (Chesnut). 



From what has gone before, it is seen to be dangerous for cattle to 

 forage at all freely upon the foliage of the wild black cherry, especi- 

 ally when placed within their reach by recently-felled trees, the 

 leaves of which have become wilted. 



Corn-cookie. 



The grain fields quite generally contain more or less of the corn- 

 cockle (Agrostemma Githago L. ), an erect annual, with the violet-red 

 flowers showing nearly even with the heads of grain and producing 

 large capsules, with many black seeds. It is these seeds that are 

 injurious, for they contain considerable poison, and if not separated 

 from the associated grain in milling, they may cause much distress 

 and even loss of life. In America the poisoning is generally con- 

 fined to poultry, which feed upon the screenings of the wheat and 

 other grain. Such a poisonous plant should be excluded from the 

 seed-grain and the specimens pulled from the field before the poison- 

 ous seeds have had time to mature. 



Paint Root. — The paint root (Gyrotheca capitata Walt.) grows abun- 

 dantly in the lowlands of the southern counties of the State, and 

 takes its common name from the abundance of orange juice in both 

 the stems and the red roots. This plant is alleged to have a peculiar 

 effect upon swine in the South, it killing white hogs, while black ones 

 are exempt from its poisonous effects. It will be interesting to deter- 

 mine if any poisoning is experienced in our own State. 



