The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25
EDIBLE WEEDS.
The Department Of Agriculture Tells OF many
That May he Eaten.

From the WushtnOton Times.
The Department OF Agriculture believes that
in the plant life of this continent may be found
many additions to our dietary. Frederick V.
Coville, botanist OF the department, has spent
considerable effort to examine many OF the
plants now Chased as weeds which are capa-
BILE Of sustaining vitality In man. He takes the
position that n wider use OF green vegetables
In the dietaries OF most people, particularly
those with healthy digcstions. would be u
Chemistry has demonstrated largely the sub
stances which. the human system needs. and
great many plants, some of which are nowhere
considered as effective food for man, and some
Of which have only a local use as human food.
Mr.. Coville points out that wild herbivorOus an
imuls feed on the fats and carbohydrates stored
up in plan; seeds in the fall; They fattcn on this
Having exhausted their supply OF fat by spring,
they make green hcrbnRe their principal food.
This rc rss their muscular yigoT and vi:
BY ssS"f ffe pif nai"ns 1 on t fbs '%SFsSiy fo s.Stss.
the advance Of civilization. until. as Botanist
Covillc says, foods are, now selected more by
nre more given 10 eating salads and boiled green
vegetables than the people Of the United States
are. The greater part Of the plant food con
suned by Americans is made up OF seeds. roots,
and tubcrs. II is because OF this that the people
Of this country are bilious. =,
have us eat is chnrlock. This plant grows MS u
weed from New England to the Pacific coast,
S %hea Is d fepsias'e Of q 'Fo9n.isom Min Mssa an s ,ns
North Dakota, 1t. is closely related TO, black
pmm1n $ d. S Ssm TGr FAMILIAR weed: ,,, charioek < is
and is considered poisonous. Charlock was a
common pot, herb in northern Europe centuries
ago. but II has not been recognized as food for
man In the new world.
The leaves OF the chiccory plant are also good
ut util fa,i ant It occurs ae se as a Hs,sin in the Atlantic art ' and
Pacific States. and here and there in the interior.
It's leaves grow in the form Of q rosettc, after the
weed common throughout the Eastern states
which man might eat. 1t Is closely allied to the
winter cross, which is used as "A winter salad and
pot herb in Washington and Baltimore.
The dandelion is n weed which has already
gained considerable favor as a food in the United
States. though 1t Is not grown for market. 1t is
very common throughout the United States. OK
cept in the extreme South and west OF the great
parts OF Washington and California. The truck,
ers around Paris have been cultivGting the dan,
have develop d seycrai. horticnlturai vnrieties'
There 1t is used largely as a salad. the plants
being eaten green or blanched.
The Department Of Agriculture calls especial
attention TO the dock, two species OF which. the
broad-leafed ami tho curled, occur as common
weeds in meadows, pastures, and cultivated
as a ,po, herb in Europe, Dock was used exten,
Pimas and the Maricopas. Dock grows in The
arid regions OF Arizona. New Mexico. and Texas,
where succulent vegetation is rare.
$a'A' IiHi tSi1s u PCS VIVA W hoosO IOol lt
a weed which belongs 10 the same plant family
as, the beet and spinach. and ought 10 be used as a
table vegetable. 1t is cultivated in Europe. and
is very common tl.Toughout the United States
Marsh marlgold, or "cowsiip." Ia a native
plant of North America. 1t grows In swami
land all over the northern part or the United
States and British America. 1t has IA local use
as a pot herb. but Its value in this respect is moi
generally appreciated. Pig.weed occurs in many
fields all over this country, but the average
American Goes not know its. value ns a food
plant. II IN eaten by the Indians of the South,
! west and by the peOple of Mexico. In some parts
OF California 1t is cultivated by the Chinese.
Pokewecd is used locally in some parts OF the
South, but its more general use would be graft
flying TO the economic hOtanists Of the depart
ment OF Agriculture. The French people hay,
introduced this plant into their country anC
esteem II highly.
The department thinks It probable that com
mon ncttle. m~ilkweod, and round.!oafcd mallow
will come to be regarded as good food.
The suggestions made by The department may
be Offensive TO some people, but then 1t WASH
so very long ago when the tomato or love
apple was thought TO br poisonous, when III,
cucumber was looked upon as II fatal dose, nm,
when people OF the North were prejudice
against the banana.