[ 377 1 , 



rejefted. The fafts are, at this time, undeniable^ 

 It is well known that Flag-flowers^ Hounds-tonguey ^ 

 Henbane, Mullein, Nightjhade, Hemlock, feveralD^^f^j, ' 

 Arfmart, Agrimony, Celandine, feveral Crowfoots^ 

 Marjh Marigold, Horehound, Figwort, many ThiftleSy 

 Fern, and other plants, are commonly negledled 

 by our horfes, and horned cattle, and ftand un- 

 touched, even in paftures where it might be ex- 

 pelled that necefiity ftiould conftrain them to ear 

 any thing. Thefe are but a few out of many in- 

 ftances there are more than is commonly imagin- 

 ed, and it was defirable, in confequence of thefe 

 obfervations, that a courfe of experiments iliould 

 be inftituted to elucidate this inftind, in that part 

 efpecialiy of the brute creation which is fo imme- 

 diately fubfervient to mankind. The utility of 

 fuch experiments muft be evident, ^ they muft 

 neceffarily lay the foundation of farther improve- 

 ments in the economy of cattle. The intelligent 

 hufbandman would, by this means, have it in his 

 power to rid his paftures of noxious and ufelefs 

 plants, and give room for the falubrious ones. 



In this view of the affair, it will be feen that 

 phyficians are not the only perfons who may ftudy 

 botany to advantage^ muny others would find, 

 not only a fund of pleafurc from this ftudy, but 

 numberlefs other advantages refulting from the 

 knowledge of the plants of their own country. In 

 the inftance before us, fcience has opened the way, 

 and furely it is not too much to fay, that it evi** 

 dently points to greater improvements, in one of 

 the moft important branches of agriculture, as it 

 relates to the economy of cattle. More than thifs 



©ught 



