64 



WEEDS. 



30. " Restharrow/' or the "Ononis" of botany, is some- 

 times found on dry, sandy pastures. The scientific descrip- 

 tion of the plant has already been given (see page 20). The 

 young shoots are eaten by cattle, but the stems are too 

 shrubby. The plant may be raised by the roots, but the 

 least fibre that is left in the ground grows with fresh vigour. 

 By constantly cutting the tender shoots with the hoe, the 

 plants may be much weakened, and the final extirpation 

 will be very much assisted by top-dressings. 



31. "Thistles" are very common weeds on good dry, 

 sound lands. The scientific description has been already given 

 (p. 19). The plants are perennial, and grow very vigorously 

 in some soils ; the roots are very strong, and shoot laterally 

 to a great distance. The growing plants must be cut when 

 half-grown, in meadows by the scythe, and in pastures by a 

 sharp hoe ; and the roots may be drawn after soaking rains, 

 when the plants are in full blossom, and before the seeds 

 are ripened ; the hollow root parts will be best rotted on the 

 stems being cut over. 



. 32. " Ox-eye great white daisy," or the "Chrysanthemum 

 Leueanthemum" of botany, is a very common weed on the 

 best and soundest pastures. The scientific description of 

 the genus has been already given. It is not grateful to any 

 grazing animal : when the plants are few, the roots may be 

 drawn; but where the weed is very abundant the surface 

 must be heavily top-dressed, eaten bare by sheep, and 

 improved by folding the animals over it. 



33. "Crowsfoot plants," or the "Ranunculus" of botany, 

 abound very much in various kinds, over the best meadows 

 and pastures. The scientific description of the genus has 

 already been given. The " bulbous-rooted, bitter, and creep- 

 ing" species, are diflficult of distinction, and grow very much 

 intermixed. It is doubtful if grazing animals relish these 

 plants to eat, as they cannot avoid them in the mixed her- 

 bage. The acrid pungent quality may be useful in stimu- 

 lating the digestive organs ; and when made into hay, the 

 plants are said to lose the pungent quality ; and the bright- 

 ness of the blossom shows that the hay has been well got. 



