["H.W.P."
—The herb you have sent has kindly been identified by Baron von Mueller, who states
that it grows indigenously in countries at or near the Mediterranean Sea. Its systematic
name is Bartola
latifolia; it is related to the British bartola odontites, and like that plant not
regarded as poisonous. Nevertheless it has some strong ingredients, so that formerly
these kinds of plants were used in medicine. If this herb, which readily becomes gregarious,
should grow in spring so abundantly anywhere as to shut out much of other vegetation,
it may possibly become harmful to pasture animals. Anyhow, It is not a desirable acquisition,
as herds and flocks would not like it; and as it therefore stands in the way of better
pasturage, what often before has been recommended applies also to this case, to sow
after scarifying the ground, or turning it over, the seeds of strong perennial grasses
and fodder herbs if the land is pastural. If it is agricultural, repeated turning
of the soil may be required, or an early-developing strong crop to overpower, and
thus annihilate such kinds of annual weeds.]
["X."(Romsey
).—The plant you send, Baron von Muller says, Is the amsinkia
angustifolia from Western America. It is regarded as an annual, at all events only
of short duration individually, but may readily spread, as by the bristlets of its
foliage it clings to garments and fleeces, and is thus readily carried about. It belongs
to a tribe of plants which contains no actually poisonous species, but it may be objectionable
entering skin or wool of pasture animals.
]
