The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-07-28
E-om lie ". Y. hdepsadeaf.
weeds i'm Pictures.
BY HENRY WARD BEECuEg.

A weed is said to be ga plant out Of
place" An excellent definition; for
what is there, when appropriately placed,
that deserves this name for vexatlouS
Worthlessness F.? But weed is often In
it's very place, when well painted. We
have learned to look upon maay Vegeta-
BILE reprobatcs with an eye Of favor. Some
weeds are exqaisitely beautiful in struc-
ture, in flower, or in leaf-forms, when
closely examined. The habits Of others
make them subjects of great interest. We
Iecollect once, while standing with one of
the first landscape artists of America be-
fore one of Baddington's views Of the
Thames, whose banks were clothed (pic-
torially) with magnificent acquatic plants,
being surprised to hear him say that in
America we had few large, succulent
plants fit for an artist among our native
weeds, Since that time we have never
gone into any meadow or field without
noticing the plants az subjects of portrait
ure. And I fcol sure that there can be
30 excuse for barrenness in the fore
grounds of landscapes from want Of mate
rial. 1t is the vans Of industry, or the
want of real lose for weed-like plants, that
occasions such meagre or conventional
pictures. It is seldom that we see plants
rendered, as Landseer or Rosa Bonhour
render animals, with an enthusiasm of
loye that never tires; that can never
pnocgh repeat them. flour right hand
had been endowed with cunning, we be-
hcye that the humber growths OF the field
shoald occUpy much of Its skill. But
one must love well to paint we'll If a
nan docs not respect a plant, if it exerts
upon him no positive aud pleas lrable in
auence, he is unfit TO represent it. /
nurse that does not love children can new
er take good eaTe Of them; and an artist
that does not love what are called weeds,
cannot do them justice. Some ridicule
has been thrown upon cur young artists
Gr painting grasses Sc much. Yhat they
paint them at all is their praise and that
they con6ne themselves to so few, and re-
peat their work so often, as if there were
but half dozen species in the world fit
for admiration. is their real fault In
stead of but few striking and effective
plants, in any direction, growing abund-
antly there are so many that one might
yell be embarrassed by riches.
There is the Dock family. None can
be less pretentious or more meritorioua.
What if it does grow in dark and shaded
places? What breadth of leaf the Burr
dock exhibits, what vigor of health, what
an oak-like spread of branches, when its
blossom stem is fully extended There,
600, is the relishful uorse-radish, Of a
broad and long palm. The EEecampanc
Is another plant of generous leaf Laying
aside all prejudices, who can deny great
merit, as robust and vigorous plant, to
the Skunl-cabbage What if its odor is
an iadispntablc fact ? Art, in this re-
spcct, has the advantage of Nature. In
a picture its peculiar and delicate green
would be beautiful, without the least
Odor.
Among upright plants the Milkweed is
notable Not for its grace, but for its
full habit and generous bearing. The
thistles, the brier- family, the sedges, the
eat-tail, the water-plantain family, the
bind-weed, the woodbine, and the black
berry, both upright and creeping, than
which, in early leaf, in blossom, orin fruit
vt every stage, nothing can be more grace
full and beautiful these all deserve care
full study.
The Mullen need hardly be mentioned
as it figures in pictures already, But
what would be more exquisite than the
spray of Asparagus, if well rendered
There, too, is the Golden Rod, the Aster
the Iron-weed (cernoma.) the Smart.
weed, the Teasel, and a hundred more
admirable chiefly for ornamental designs
and decorative patterns, but, likewise, I'll
elements for the fairgrounds Of landscapes
1t is worthy Of notice that the plant:
most valuable for culture on our cont
nent, are those which are most beauhfu
for ornamental design, viz, wheat, rye
and barley, the Indian corn, the cottor
aud tobacco plants, the grapes and tht
grape. The potato, poor homely fellow
has no merit except in its blossom; bp
almost all the plants which form the sta
pie crops, are universally beloved of artists
1t is amusing to read the description
of weeds in agricultural books. Editor
are bound to look upon the weeds only il
relation to farming. fla thing be prolific
tenacious of life, and voracious of food, n
matter how graceful its form or comely 1t
its blossom, it is hated, and all the Ugl
names of thc vocabulary are heaped on il
But that should not prevent the admire
tion Of those who have no crops to tenC
A pestllent weed may yet be exqaisitel
ornamental.
We are quite sure that it is the artist