Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-30

"Chiccory," sometimes called succory," Is
the "Cichorium intybus" of the botanist, a
plant 80 hardy that 1t is likely to become natural
lied wherever ii il introduced. In some sections
Of Vermont its snowy sky-blue flowers on hard
branching stalks from one to two feet high are all
too numerous, by the roadsides, In pastures, and
on tillage land. It sa native Of Europe; was first
used in France TO adulterate coffee, and the
peculiar bitter OF its root when properly prepared,
together with the extraordinary cheapness OF Its
production, and withal its tonic and Alternative eff
feet, recommended 1t not only to the trade, who
by its use gained much larger profits; but to the
consumer, who had at his command very cheap
substitute for that expensive beverage that was
becoming 30 common in all households. Perhaps
ought also to state that popular as 1t Is, 1t
does not contain any Of the essential ingredients
Of coffee, though the use Of 1t to aduterate that
article has become worldwide As 1t has a hard
stalk with few leaves, it is almost worthless for
hay and on the whole Is one OF the most perni-
cous weeds the farmer has to contend with
Next to this, perhaps, comes the Daisy" the
BELLS perennis," OF botanists so called from the
Latin word :" beus pretty; yet that fatal beauty
has cursed New England with one of the worst OF
foreign weeds At first cultivated in the flower
garden for its snowy white flowers, sometimes
single, at others quilted double, it at length
escaped from the control Of the garden to be nat
uralized in all parts Of New England and it will
soon be so over the whole Northern United States
Like the Chiccory it has hard stalk, but will rap
idly creep in as other plants die out; and as no
soil is too poor for it, the thriftless farmer finds
little else to make hay Of, and 1t is well for him
| Al. NoI to- lie IL
liz easily pushed out by the various grasses on
rich soil, and under the hoe 1t is not hard weed
With many it is a question whether we are the
worse for 1t; but think that is easily settled by
the testimony OF those that have it. Though
have asked the opinion OF hundreds, | never
found man but what would say that II he did
not have It, he would use his utmost endeavor,
not to get it on to his farm.
Another specimen, which am glad to say does
not greatly abound in Vermont as yet, is great
pest in Canada and In Europe. 1t is usually
called Bladder Campion," or "Catch Fly" but
to the botanist is known as "Siiena Iniata. u
Like the others it came from Europe, but unlike
them 1t seems never to have been utilized for any
purpose and as Its seed balls are not only numer
Gus, but contain many seeds, it seems to spread
with rapidity that astonshes all farmers. 1t l.
from one to two feet high, with small whit,
flower; is worthless and noxious everywhere. !
is found scattered over Europe, Asia, Africa anC
Canada in America. 1t will doubtless soon b,
worldwide, and though judicious laws may checl
it, l. will doubtless override all sanitary regula-
tons and gain foothold in the end.
For all this, judicious legislation should checl
the ravages Of many Of our noxious insects as wei
AZ pernicous plants, and We trust that the presen
legislature may make beginning by passing law
) against some at least, II not all Of our pests
II. A. CUTTING.