THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



209 



emollient poultice, for swellings, wounds, and ulcers, thus redeeming 

 the whole tribe from the charge of utter worthlessness. The most 

 closely allied species to our Jacobcsa is 5. aquations, which bears a 

 striking family likeness, but the flower-heads are rather larger, the 

 ray florets being longer and broader, forming a continuous rim 

 instead of standing out star-fashion as in the ragweed. The root- 

 leaves are generally entire and the stem-leaves much less divided than 

 in Jacobcsa. It grows in damp places by ditches and river-banks and 

 is widely distributed. A much more local species is Evuccef 'otitis, which 

 is easily distinguished by the hoary hairiness which clothes every 

 part of the plant. In Scotland, it is only found in the south, and in 

 England is local, seeming to prefer a limestone soil. 



The ragweed seems more noticed by the entomologist than the 

 poet. The heavy odour of its blossoms attracts an infinite variety of 

 insect life, making it a happy hunting-ground for the " fly- catcher." 

 But there is an utter lack of sentiment associated with its prosaic 

 career. It is not mentioned in the language of flowers, and I have 

 not been able to find it even alluded to by any of the poets. However, 

 the following lines may held to fairly express the general estimate of 

 its character : — 



"Thou pleasest no man's taste, none gather thee 

 For sweetness, colour, fragrance, or fair form ; 

 Thou gracest no maid's bosom, may'st not come 

 'Mong gaudier mates within palatial halls." 



Still it forces itself upon the notice of the agriculturist, and has 

 acquired quite a variety of names, some of them not very complimen- 

 tary. Its most general name of " ragweed " or " ragwort " is com- 

 monly held as applying to its ragged leaves, but it is said to have a 

 much more ancient derivation, in allusion to certain reputed aphro- 

 distic virtues associated with it along with several others of the rayed 

 composite flowers. In various localities it is known as " seggrum," 

 " seggerwort," " staverwort," and " staggerwort. And this, not from 

 any virtue as a cure for the disease of " staggers," but because of its 

 repute as a vulnerary and styptic in certain operations performed on 

 horses and cattle. In Durham, I have heard it called "haygreen," 

 or possibly " ayegreen," perhaps from the vivid green of the root- 

 leaves. In Scotland, it is generally known as " tansy," possibly from 

 a similarity of general form and odour, which is believed to aid in 

 warding off infectious diseases and insect plagues. The true "tansy" 

 Tanacetum vulgare is very rare in the north. Another Scottish name is 

 " stinking willie," from its heavy rather unpleasant odour when bruised. 



