NICAL 
“ARDEN. AJA 
a E 
HUTI 
j eo) | 
TRE J : : y j EN 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
ry em pe € 
VoL. XXI. JULY isäz. No; 7.47 
THE MILKWEEDS. 
BY JOSEPH F. JAMES, M.S." 
Were is there that has not noticed the sticky, whitish juice 
which exudes on the breaking of the stem of the large 
and common Milkweed growing so plentifully_in waste places — 
and along roadsides? Who has not also noticed that neither 
horses nor cattle ever touch the plant? While the herbage 
all around will be closely cropped, often not a blade of grass 
left more than half an inch high, the Milkweed rears its head 
aloft in conscious pride of vantage. It well knows, apparently, 
that it is not acceptable to the animals grazing about it, and 
finds itself left to perfect its seed in peace and at leisure. It 
has, perhaps, seemed strange to observe that the plant is so 
‘little molested by cattle. It is, to be sure, rank and robust; 
but that is not a sufficient reason for being rejected. The 
_ great Horseweed grows higher and ranker, but is greedily 
_ eaten by horses; and many weeds, apparently as little palatable, 
are devoured. What is there about the Milkweed which gives 
it an advantage over the other plants of the field? In this, as 
in other cases, the common name tells the story; but it does 
not tell why the milky juice, from which it has received its 
name, is so abun: 
In spite of the E about the. peacefulness of nature, 
as contrasted with the warfare of mankind; no one can wander 
through woods and fields without coming, in a short time, to 
* Professor of Botany ang Geology} in i Miami University. 
VOL. XXI.—NO. 7. 41 
