ON PLANTS IN RELATION TO ANIMALS. 559 
grass, and upon his head a garland of bents, kingcups, and 
maidenhair.” 
Another more modern author says : 
“ Here’s a king-cup of gold brimming over with dew, 
To be kissed by the lips just as fresh as its own.” 
Gay, the poet, tells us: 
“Fair is the king-cup in meadow that blooms.” 
In the ‘ Shepherd's Oracles’ we are told it was worn by 
lovers at betrothing time; and its golden colour was dedi¬ 
cated to Hymen in more classical history. Old Quarles 
says: 
“ Love-sick swains compose rush-rings and myrtle-berry chains, 
And stuck with glorious king-cups in their bonnets, 
Adorned with laurel slips, chaunt their love sonnets.” 
A variety of this plant has become double, and long been 
an inhabitant of gardens under the name of bachelor’s^ 
buttons; in French, Bouton d’or. 
This species is common to damp meadows, and is by some 
farmers looked upon as an evidence of good land ; but when 
it is considered that stock uniformly refuse it, and it there¬ 
fore looks dissightly in a pasture, it ought by no means to 
be encouraged as it interferes with the growth of the grasses 
and other wholesome fodder plants. 
As the cattle do not eat the plant it seeds most readily, so 
that the constant use of a field for pasturage greatly encou¬ 
rages the growth of this weed. We have lately employed 
the new Koldmoos weeder, which very quickly takes off the 
heads of flowers and seeds, and so far prevents the spread of 
the plant. 
Otherwise, merely skimming over a field with the scythe 
will prevent further mischief. 
It is stated that the acrid crowfoot is harmless in hay, but 
if the hay be well and expeditiously made there is no doubt 
hut that some of the acrid matter would be retained; but 
any how, if harmless, we at the same time conclude it to be 
useless and innutritious, and therefore there can be no ex¬ 
cuse to encourage the growth of a plant that merely takes 
room and dilutes the quality of the hay without adding to 
its quality. 
2. Ranunculus bulbosus , bulbous crowfoot or buttercup.— 
This is for the most part a denizen of the dry, arid, poor 
pasture. It is distinguised by reflexed sepals and a bulboid 
root-stock. This latter is eagerly sought after by pigs, but 
it is reported that the stimulation causes soreness to the 
