The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-20
make the subject one Of great import

make the subject one Of great import
anCe.
1t has been stated animals instinct
lively avoid any vegetation that might
be harmful to them. This may be true
to certain extent of animals in a
wild state, but even they ia times of
dearth will deVOur anything that comes
within their reach, while domestic
animals show very little discretion at
any time. In some parts Of our cOun-
try thousands of cattle and poultry
perish yearly from eating poisonous
plants. In sCme western states legis-
lation has come to the aid of the farm
ceived at the United States department
er, Colorado alone having expended
100000 in bOunties for the cxtcrmina-
ton Of the low weed" without sue
cess, unfortunately. So frequent are
the appeals for aid and information re-
Of agriculture from farmers all over
the country that the subject has been
taken up for Investigation by the di-
vision Of botany. Already two val
liable illustrated bulletins have been
issued by the department, containing
full description Of fifty or more OF
our native nONious plants, with infor-
nation as to their peculiar character
istiCs, effects and the remedies there
for when any are known 10 exist
These bulletins cannot fail to interest
and assist farmers and stock grow
crs. and much of the matter they con-
tain should be more generally known.
It would be well to include the STUDY
Of noNious plants, illustrated with col
orod plates, in the botanical course in
our primary schools. People well in
formed on most tOpiCs are Amazingly
ignorant of the very names of the
plants and trees that have surrounded
them all their lives.
POISON or THE LILY.
When a charming girl adds to her
charms by adorninG her cOrsage with a
big bunch of lily of the valley, for in
stance, she little dreams that it con-
tains enough poison to paralyze the
heart that huttcrs beneath it, but such
is the fact. True she neither intends
To- eat her bouquet nor compel her ad-
mirers to swallow it, but a little broth
cr or sister might do so. 50 It is as well
not to leave it lying about.
The entire narCissus family is pOis
Onous, the lovely poets narcissus'
most so Of all. The odOr of these Is
capable of causing stupor, nausea,
| and, i'm a delicate person, death. The
same properties are present in the
common daffodil, and jonquils-thosa
darlings Of the spring which come
! before the swallow dares, and take
the winds of beauty" We need not
love them less for this knowledge but
/ it should enable us to be cautious
about putting them in the hands OF
| very young children.
THE HUMBLE BUTTERCUP
The buttercup, that golden currency
of babyhood, also belongs to a class
the ranunculoceae, or crow-foot fam
ily-which contain a powerful irri-
tant poison, capable of blistering the
hands Of those who gather It. This is
especially true of the varieties grow
ing in wet places. In Europe, where
begging is a fine art, members of that
profession use the ranunculus to pro-
duce ulcers on their feet and legs. for
the purpose of exciting compassion
Cattle men sometimes use the use Of
the ranunculus TO brand their cattle,
in place of the hot iron. Cattle will
not eat these plants, except i'm a dry
state mixed with hay, when the vola-
tile acrid quality disappears. To the
same family belong the larkspurs, the
hellebores and the delicate wood ane-
none, or wind flower, that decks our
woods early in spring. But the black
sheep of this extensive family is the
aconitum, VOLTS bane, monks hood,
otc., etc, as 1t is variousy called.
This plant was once in every garden,
but is now seldom seen, probably be-
! cause its sombre beauty is no offset
| TO its deadly qualities. In old-tlme
! gardens 1t grew freely among the
/ vegetables and its roots have fire.
! quently been served as horse radish,
it's foliage as parsley, with gruesome
| results.
The poppy family is too well known
as the source Of opium to require mem
tion; yet it Is well to bear in mind that
its seeds are unwholesome ana its
| juices dangerous