The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-02
weeds.

1t is a we'll known fact iii the science
of agriculture, that many of our most
priced vegetables and fruit-bearing trees
were originally weeds and useless shrubs,
and, by neglect, they may degenerate
into the same useless annoyances. The
carrot is native of Europe and the
East, where it grows wild; and even
here, when the seeds are allowed to scat
ter themselves profusely over the ground,
and remain unmolested for few yt ars,
they become one of the most persistent
and incorrigible weeds with which we
have to deal. They exist on the road
sides in some of our best farming towns,
so as to cover the ground with dense,
unsightly vegetation some two or three
feet high. The number of seeds which
they produce is beyond calculation, and
when ripe, are scattered by autumnal
winds over the fields of all adjacent
farms. The same is true of the parsnip,
which produces many seeds, and when
these are neglected and suffered to SOW
themselves at random, they spring up
the next year, go to seed, speedily de-
generate and in the course of few years
become troublesome weed. The pota-
to was originally small, and was not
tolerated as human food for long time.
They are mentioned by old writers as a
"delicate dish," and that they were
roasted, and then stepped in sack and
sugar, or baked with marrow and spice.
They were long considered as inferior
food, and it wss not until the middle of
the eighteenth century that they came
into general cultivation. A strong pre-
judice long existed against them in
France, but they are now cultivated ex-
tensively, and market in Paris is ex-
clusively devoted to their sale. Now
they are introduced into almost every
quarter of the globe, and the varieties
IN use are entirely the result of cultiva-
ton. Celery also was originally tough
scrid plant, unfit for man or beast, as
food, but is now esteemed great delica-
cy. Chiccory, the root of which makes
up considerable portion of the coffee
of the shops, mixed with ground peas
and portion of the genuine article, is
one of the most tenacious plants in ex-
istence, and if not carefully suppressed
will overrun the whole farm. TIE root
is large, quite long, and holds on to the
soil with such tenscity that plant oi
two years growth requires a mans
strength to pull it up. 1t is cultivated
largely in England as substitute foI
coffee, and in this country its blue BIOS
som is seen in great profusion along the
rosdsides during July, August, and Sep
tember. 1t is also well known that the
peach was originally poisonous bitter
almond in the wilds of Arabia, and the
tomato poisonous weed of the night
shade order. By the use of persistIn Mt
skill, many plants may be brought uI
from bitter, tough, or pungent condi-
ton, to a mild, succulent, and tender
state, so as to furnish a large amount Of
wholesome and nutritious food for man
and beast; and all these mentioned
above, as we'll as many others, have q
tendency to go back to their original
condition, and if allowed the opportu-
nifty would probably do so. By care ful
cultivation, however, we can preserve
them
"Delectable both to behold and taste"
and give us no trouble as trespassers
upon cultivated crops in the form o.
unsightly weeds. We can also receive 9
lesson in ethics here that will be useful
in governing US through life. Many o.
our loves and aspirations have been cul
tivsted from base passions and desires
even as Darwin teaches we have pro
gressed from lower creations; and i
should be our study to so watch our &C
tions, and guide our loves into proper
channels, that they shall not degenerat,
into sensuality and lust, but rather ripe1
into the loves of the angel-world.