JUNE. 
211 
are called lords and ladies." They have a most putrid 
odour^ when the flower fades. 
F, — The root of the different species of Arum is fleshy 
and tuberous ; it is highly acrid and even poisonous when 
raw ; but heat dispels this quality^ as it does in some other 
vegetable substances ; and when cooked^ it contains a fari- 
naceous nutriment. This species of ours is sometimes called 
Indian turnip, and is said^ when boiled^ to taste like cassava. 
C. — The Buttercup ( Ranunculus Acris J begins to show 
its familiar yellow blossom in the fields : is it a native ? 
F» — I think it is probable that the seed has been intro- 
duced among grass seeds from Europe. It is a plant per- 
fectly useless to man,, cattle uniformly rejecting it : yet it no 
doubt answers some purpose of utility in the great economy 
of Creation^ and the chain would be imperfect without it. 
But we may observe another field plant blossomings which 
is of essential service to the agriculturist : I refer to the 
Red Clover f Trifolium Fratense ), the general cultivation of 
which is undoubtedly one of the greatest improvements of 
modern husbandry. It yields an abundant crop of herbage^ 
fit for mowing, to be cured as hay^, or to be fed to stock when 
green^ called soiling. It opens the soil^ and by the rotting of 
its roots admirably fits it for the succeeding crop. Our 
American farmers here are prejudiced against it as hay, 
pleading that it becomes hard and dry ; but the cause of this 
is obviously their mismanagement. Clover should be cut 
just as it comes generally into full blossom^ at which time it 
possesses more nutriment than at any other ; but it is usually 
sown here with Timothy (Phleum Pratense), which pro- 
duces the best hay when cut in ripe seed. This grass does 
not blossom till the middle of July, at which time most of the 
clover has ripened its seed^ and become dry stalky almost 
worthless as hay. But our haymaking does not usually 
commence till late in July, when timothy is in the best 
