Ribwort, ribbed grass, black plantain or cock plant; this plant may not properly be ranged among bitter plants, it not being bitter to any great degree, but I have often thought upon examination, that the bitterness in some Cheese more resembles the taste of this plant and dandelion than any other whatsoever, and in barren soils they are apt to prevail more than any other.
Arsmart, or lakeweed, is a bitter plant, well known; ’tis said to produce an essential oil, or oil extracted by distillation, which I should imagine more likely to affect the bitterness of Milk than colder plants, it is apt to grow very strong after being mowed, and I have not observed that Cows refuse or leave it untouched more than other plants in common. I think this plant much more likely to cause the bitterness of Butter in Autumn than the falling leaves to which it is generally referred, though many people are of opinion that Cows eating ash leaves in Autumn, causes the bitterness in Butter.
Meadow sweet—is a bitterish plant that Cows are fond of, especially the sort that grows on up-lands, commonly called drop-wort, the meadow sweet of low-meadows is a sort they do not readily feed on where there is plenty of Grass.
Centaury, lesser centaury or gentian, is an extream bitter plant, bears a pale red blossom with many florets, or pips, on an upright stem in old Pastures, blows from June to August, I should imagine it must be hurtful in Dairy-ground being a very penetrating bitter.
Hemlock, with stems and branches, spotted with brown, or black, and white flower; the whole plant is poisonous, it grows in hedges, orchards, or among rubbish, and is very common.
Henbane, with blossoms purple & brown—indented leaves, embracing or cleaving to the stem, grows on road sides or among rubbish, the seeds, roots, and leaves taken internally are all poisonous.
Nightshade, grows in moist brakes and hedges, with bluish blossoms, sometimes inclined to flesh colour, sometimes white.
Deadly nightshade—dwale—or belladonna is the worst specie, growing in woods, hedges, among lime-stone or rubbish; the stem is herbaceous or of a herby nature, the leaves, spear, or halbert shaped, the flowers of a bluish purple with a bright yellow thrum, chives, or pointal, appearing like the snuff of an expiring Candle, the berries grow in very handsome bunches, first green, then a fine red, next a beautiful black, are very tempting to Children having cost many their Lives, causing stupor, delirium, and convulsions, and are certain Death if not prevented by timely and plentiful vomiting; this plant cannot be too well known being so very common in most Countries, and so tempting, both to Children and Cattle.
Cow-bane, water-virosa, or water-hemlock—with rundles or flower branches opposite the leaves, leaf-stalks with blunt borders, with about seven pair of little leaves, which are variously divided and indented, petals, or leaf of the flower, yellowish pale green, grows in shallow waters, is a perennial plant, or that continues from year to year, blows in July; this is one of the rankest of our vegetable poisons; numerous instances are recorded of its Fatality to the human species; an account of it may be seen and an engraving in Martin’s Philosophical Transactions, Vol. 10. Early in the spring when it grows in the water, Cows often eat it and are killed by it, but as the Summer advances and its smell becomes stronger, they carefully avoid it; though a certain fatal poison to Cows, Goats devour it greedily and with impunity, Horses and Sheep eat it with safety.
Cow-weed, or wild Cecily, grows in hedges, blows in May, or June, with white flowers, roots like a Parsnip, and is very poisonous.
Water-wort, Water-hemlock, or Water-skeleton, is esteem’d a fatal poison to Horses, occasioning them to become paralytick, which is owing to an insect called Curcutia Paraplecticus, which generally inhabits within the stem; the usual antidote is pig’s dung, the branches of the leaves stradling—stem very thick, hollow, scored, petals or flowers white, grows in rivers, ditches and pools, blossoms in June; in the Winter the roots and stem dissected by the influence of the weather, afford a curious skeleton, or network.
Kex, or water-parsnip, with white flowers in July or August, grows in rivers and fens, is very noxious to Cattle; also the lesser Kex called upright water-parsnip, in rivers and ditches, is very common; blossoms in July and August, leaves halbert shaped, rundles or flower-branch opposite the leaves.
Drop-wort, or dead tongue, grows on the banks of rivers, bears a white flower in June, the petals or leaves of the flower sharp—bent inwards, tips purple or brown—the whole of this plant is poisonous, the stem is a yellowish red, the leaves smooth, streaked, jagged at the edges, the root is the rankest and most virulent of all vegetable poisons.
Mithridate—or penny-cress, grows in corn fields with oblong leaves, toothed, smooth, white blossoms; the whole plant has something of a garlick flavour, the seeds have the acrimony or sharpness of mustard; Cows are rather fond of it, and I should think their Milk is often affected by it.
Penny-wort, or white-rot, grows in marshy springy ground, with a pale red flower, blows in May; many Farmers suppose it occasions the rot in Sheep, but I should expect that complaint proceeds from a very different cause; though, if flowks that are supposed to be the certain cause of the Rot, or the spawn of them, are taken in with the food of Sheep, as some imagine, it is possible the Ova, or Eggs of this Insect may be deposited in this plant, which to know, may be worth the Farmer’s enquiry.
Yellow Verum—Goose-grass; the Leaves growing by eights, or eight leaves round the stem, strap-shaped—furrowed—the flowering branches short, blossoms yellow.
English Names, are yellow ladies bed-straw or Cheese Renning, or petty muguet; it grows in dry ground, on road sides, very common, is perennial, blows in July or August. The flowers will coagulate boiling Milk, and some Cheshire Cheese is said to be made with them; according to an experiment from Borrchius they yield an Acid by distillation. The French prescribe them in hysterick and epileptick cases, boiled in Allum-water they tinge wool yellow, the roots dye a very fine red, not inferior to Madder and are used for this purpose in the Island of Jura. See Pennant’s Tour, 1772, Page 214. Sheep and Goats eat it, Horses and Swine refuse it, Cows are not fond of it. If the roots will answer the same purpose as Madder it highly merits the observation of Calico Printers and others, who use large quantities of that Article, as it is the most common weed, and what in the month of July, there is more of, than any other weed, and if the flowers will dye yellow, and make Cheese, it must be a very valuable Plant and be a great help to the Poor to collect it, as it grows on all road sides, old pastures and hedges in great abundance.
I have omitted giving the Latin names of Plants, not having sufficient knowledge in that Language; but such of my learned readers who with for that addition, may refer either to Dr. Withering’s, or other books on Botany, to Chambers, Croker, or other Dictionaries.
FINIS.