Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-08-10
WEEDS IN PICTURES.
BY HENRY WARD BEEcuER.

BY HENRY WARD BEEClIER.
A weed Is said to be "a plant out of
place" An excellent definition; for, what
is there, when appropriately placed, that
deserves this name for vexatious worthless
ness? But weed is often in its place
when well painted. We have learned to
look upon many Vegetables with an eye of
favor Some weeds are exquisitely beauti-
full in structure, in flowers, or in leaf-forms.
when closely examined The habits of 9TH
ers make them subjects of great interest
We recollect once, while standing with one
of the first landscape artists Of America, be-
fore one of Buddingtons views of the
Thames. whose banks were clothed (picto-
rally with magnificent plants, being sur
prised to hear him say that in America We
had few large succulcnt plants fit for an ar
tist among our native weeds. Since that
time we have never gone into any meadow
or field without noticing the plants as sub
jects Of portraiture. And feel sure that
there can be no excuse for barrenness in the
fairgrounds of Landscapes from the want of
mlterial
1t is the want of industry, or the want Of
real love for weed-like plants, that occasions
such meager or conventional pictures. 1t is
seldom that we see plants rendered. as Land
seer or Rosa Bonheur render animals, with
an enthusiasm Of love that never tires; that
never can enough repeat them. flour right
hand had been endowed with cunning, We
believe that the humber growths of the field
should occupy much of its skill. But one
must love we'll to paint well. If man
does not respect plant, if it exerts upon
him no positive and pleasurable influence,
he IS unit to represent Ii. \ nurse that I
does not love children can never take good |
care of them; and an artist that does not
love what arc called weeds, cannot do them
justice. Some ridicule has been thrown up /
on our young artists for painting grasses so
much. That they paint them at all is their
praise; and that they eonfne themselves
to so few, and repeat their work 50 often,
as if there were but half dozen species in
the world fit for admiration, is their real
fault! Instead of but few striking and ef-
fectivc plants. in any direction, growing
there are 50 many that one
might well be embarrassed by riches.
There is the dock family. None can be
less pretentiOus. What if it docs grow in
lark and shady places? What bredth
of leaf the burdock exhibits, what vigor Of :
health, what an oak-like spread of branch
s, when its blossom stem is fully extended,
There, too, Is the relishful horse-radish, Of.
/ broad and long palm The elecampane
5 another plant Of generous leaf Leaving
side all prejudiees, who can deny great
merit, as robust and vigorous plant, to the
kunk cabbage? What if its odor Is an in
isputable fact? Art, in this respect, has t
he advantage of Nature. In picture its f
eculiar and delicate green would be bcauti- P
u, without the least oder q
Among upright plants the milkweel Is ID
otablc. Not for its grace, but for its full S
abit and generous bearing. The thistles, b
ne brier family. the sedges, the cat-tail, Fl
ne water plantain family, the blackberry. y
rOught upright and creeping, than which, p
! early leaf, in blossom or in fruit at every e
age, nothing can be more graceful and il
cautiful-thcsc all deserve careful study. o.
The mullen need hardly be mentioned. il
! it figures in pictures already. But Is
hat would be more exquisite than the ST
ray of asparagus if well rendered > "
here, two, is the golden rod. the aster, the h;
on-weed, (rcTnOasia,) the smart-weed. the 4:
asel. and hundred morc-admirable /.
iefy for ornamental designs and decora- +,
i've patterns lu,, likewise, fit elements q,
r the fairgrounds of landscapes. 1t il or
)rthy of notice that the plants most valu- y,
lie for culture on our continent are those E
lich are most beautiful for ornamental
signs, viz: wheat, rye and barley, the :,
dian corn, the cotton and tobacco plants, -
e grapes and grape. The potatoe, poor = =,
mely fellow, has no merit except in BIOS ~
n; but almost all the plants which form
: staple crops are universally beloved of =
-istI a.