Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-06-14
= A PLEA FOR THE DANDELIoN. .

A womans club at Kokomo, Ind,
devoted to civic improvements has de-
clared war of determination against
the dandelion. Filled with virtuous
ardor and mistaken enthusiasm, they
denounced our humble friends as a
weed" and decided that 1t must 60.
They even prevailed on the mayor to
issue a proclamation pronouncing it
an outlaw and setting aside day to
be devoted to it's slaughter. This
seems ungrateful treatment for a plant
which has conferred so much limo
cent joy <on man, which has so many
uses and solid virtues. which asks for
dandelion does not hurt the lawns, but
beauties them. What prettier spec
tacle than a green sward sprinkled
with those golden blooms?s Long be-
fore the rose has made its appearance,
when the lilacs are still in hiding, the
violets afraid to peep out. and the ge-,
ranium, heliotrope, gladiolus and
other aristocrats have to be coddled
in greenhouses, the little dandelion
has come to encourage and console. II
isn't afraid of the bleak March winds
It defies April freezes and May chills,
and despite backward springs it is on
hand as a harbinger. If 1t had no
other claim than that of being the
first flower" that alone should en-
title 1t to our gratitude. But It does
not rest its claim to live on sentiment
tai grounds. II can show various uses
that are valuable, not depending on
mere looks" like prize beauty, as
is the case with most flowers.
Consult any chemist and he win tell
you that taraxicum dens leonis fur
its milky Juice. Ask any housewife
and she win tell you that there are no
better greens" and salad than those
furnished by the leaves Of the dande-
lion. And the children-are they go
ing to stand by and see their best
friend wiped from the face Of the earth |
by lot of overzealous women? From
time immemoriaI its stems have fur |
nished millions of children with raw
for making curls and its
ripened seeds have supplied young low
ers with the means Of deciding their
fate. At Easter. when eggs are to be
dyed, what finer material for coloring i
them than the roots OF the dandelion2l
Il does not ask for cultivation. as all
the fashionable flowers do. It takes
are OF itself. 1t weeds 1t own row.
t does not have to be mulched, or pot
led or protected In any way. It is
winter proof In any climate, and hangs
is yellow banner on the outer walls
before other spring flowers. protected
by glass. dare to step out OF doors.
What costly orchid or imported hot
house plant has so many things to its
;redit as the dandelion? 1t is not only
pretty to see. but it is good to eat,
md with proper distillation furnishes
material for various medicinal COM
pounds. It Is the Cinderella of flow
RS. looked down on by it's sisters.
reelected by Its mother, sneered at ,
nd prosecuted by those 1t unselfishlyt ,
'enefits. Is there no fairy godmotherl
o take 1t by the hand, lead 1t into ,
cultivated ways and improve instead i,
( killing it? Many Of our finest fowl ,
rs were once weeds, but were rescued i
nd reformed by tender nursing.
amt some Burbank or other fioricul-i
lrist take up our humble little friend
nd convert 1t into gorgeous glory
hitch those. Kokomo women win not