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Who Says Dandelion Is Just A Weed? by R. Chritmer The recent Country Note of John A . with its tribute to the dandelion." spoke to my condition;’ for while It is e lovely flower both in habit and in common estimate the dandelion rales high in my opinion and that of other knowledgeable folk - and well it should, for it is not only a lovely flower but also a plant of considerable worth. Were it as scarce as an orchid the ^tondeliqn wbuJd -he celebrated for its glowing beauty - and. as will be told, it is a plant of many valuable uses L . As a harbinger of Spring, perhaps the dandelion ^ ourv best known wild flower. No one has described its arrival better than Emily Dickinson, (ahd with her customary distinction and economy): "The dandeUon'i pallid tube Astonishes the grass. And Winter Inatantly becomes ‘ An Infinite alas I" If a weed is a plant for which no use has been found — (which was Emerson’s definition) - then the dandelion is no weed, for its flowers made wine, its leaves make "spring greens." (rich In Vitamin R family, iroh, and other rnlntraJs), and the fluid extract derived from its roots was formerly an official drug in the United States Pharma coped ia, our country’s foremost bdok of medicines. Its botanical name is Taracum offlciale, the second word being that given to any plant that is used in pharmacy. NOT TOO LONG AGO more than 100,000 pounds of dandelion roots were imported yearly into our country. The main ingredient in them being used for the bitter principle in many "tonics," once a favorite remedy for imI proving appetite. It was a I worthless procedure and is 1 now no longer followed. J In fact, the word "tonic” is I a misnomer. Nothing can 1 "tone up" the human body I except good food and sensiI ble living. Nevertheless, for I many years official 5 medicine advocated I “tonics," using a substance I of dandelion root, or other in- | effective ingredients. 1 We ridicule the medical Readers Have A Duty, Too:

Speak Up!

opinion

Herald & Lantern 13 May 81

SOUTH CAPE MAY MEADOR, between Cape May City and Cape May Point In Lower Townahlp. la home not only for many apeclea ol btrda. but alto lor a Went Cape May larmer'e cattle, which grate on the greater a lew hundred leet Trom the beach". Now development threatena the area, aa talk pert tall that hornet wUI he holll here.

practices of primitive people. But American Indiana who Bleeped dandelion Rowers for a tea and drank II to relieve "heartburn", were no more ill-informed than studenia in pharmacy colleges, who up to a couple ol generafllp ago, were taught that a constituent of dandelion roor could

"tone up" the stomach.

Not in America, but In various other parts of the world, dandelion roots are dried, roasted, ground and brewed to make a drink that competes with coffee. (In our country, and particularly in France, chicory roots, treated likewise are not only an acceptable coffee substitute but also a valuable coffee adulterant. Note the contents in the label of "Sunrise” Hound In many grocery shelves.) NO ONE CAN DENY the value of dandelion leaves as food Vineland now has an annual dandelion festival promoting the plant as a source of wine, and as an appealing

ingredient in soup, salads, entrees, even dessert! A number of enterprising South Jersey farmers have set aside an acre or so of their land to raise a special species of dandelion, which, each Spring they harvest at a profit. But even the common dandelion of the common lawn makes a salad or cooked green which Is as beneficial—and as tasty—as the cultivated kind A favorete dish in many Pennsylvanian Dutch homes in early Spring is one made of the finest dandelion leaves rich in the yard and served with a hot bacon dressing — on some other sweet-sour one which is that particular housewive's pride, and secret. Are there any Rowers that "age" as beautifully as dandelions? How many oldsters — like the writer — remember their naive pleasure as children blowing the silvery ball of the dandelions tiny winged seeds in the

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British Seagull 387

Arms Race Hit^Home

by Arthur Murray Appell A newspaper has many part*, all necessary and integrated to make it interesting as well as informative. I believe however, no part is more significant than* the - Editorial Page. The Herald's editorial (Development—Who is Responsible^) in the issue of April 29 proves again to be the most sentient of any I’ve seen locally Indeed, your editorials express reserves of feeling and perception that cannot but be applauded. It remains to be added that feaders have a real function themselves, to perform. They should speak up! Do they? It appears to me that countless residents of the island communities, particularly Sea Isle in these three years !’ve been a resident, are apathetic to any of that immediate acquaintance with the ethics of their forebearers. Discounting the allure of the "money-game” played so (Page 31 Please)

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by Ima Byrd Worry bird and I were discussing the politics of man while sitting on a remaining patch of dunes down by Stone Harbor Point. We sat in the sun looking at all the development down there and we recalled the days when the U.S. Coast Guard house was on the beach. Things sure had changed. ' "It’s really amazing how hufnans turn things around, Worry said as he stood first on one foot and then on the other. “Look at all this wealth and show,” he added pointing a wing toward the huge, well-kept homes which seemed to spring right out of the ground and swallow trees, shrubs, wildlife, grass and all those other things necessary to man. “Don’t those humans know how important nature is? No, everything has to be sterile today, even their minds. But one thing they did right," Worry said smiling, "they named this town correctly...STONE Harbor* Worry and I sat in ailence taking in the magnificence of the ocean and enjoying the sun’s energy. Man had not yet swallowed those two things and I wondered if he would ever get so presumptious as to believe he could. AFTER A WHILE, WORRY TURNED TO ME. "You know 387, Einstein was right - everything is relative.” "I don’t think that’s what he had in mind.” I replied, "but explain it further so my ancient brain might absorb your concepts." "Well," he said slowly, "it’s this fear thing that’s gripped the humans. You can see it everywhere you fly And it’s all tied in with their values, or lack of values. Those that have a lot of material wealth are more fearful than those without it. But those without it are fearful for a different reason. The wealthy are fearful that someMie, either foreign or domestic," he chucked, “will take their wealth away. And the poor people are fearful that they won’t have enough to eat. Both fears are real, so real that everyone is stocking up guns and ammunition to help their cause. I tell you 387, everywhere I go people have guns stored away. WORRY WAS RIGHT. I’d seen the signs myself. It reminded me of the stqries my great, great, great Uncle Ned used to tell about the days of the great Bird War. Every bird had sharpened his feathers and dipped the ends into a deadly poison. It must have been something to see as they took to the air, feathers pointed at their enemies — charging the earth with their thunder. Millions of birds from the East met millions of birds from the West in the deadliest air battle ever known to the bird world. Uncle Ned said he was one of those who tried to get the birds to listen to reason. They had even formed a bird bond with doves from the East joining in meeting with gulls from the West — but it was no use. The day of the big and only battle c£me on an early pre-dawn December day. Uncle Ned said it was the most terrible, yet wonderful thing he’d ever seen. As East met West, poisoned feathers extended outright, the birds fell by the millions. The last bird had no opponent to fight so he fell

into the sea, dead from fear and indecision." WORRY LOOKED AT ME CURIOUSLY. "I never knew birds had wars. I thought only humans did that." "Birds learned their lesson from that war and to this day have never been so stupid as to let fear destroy their common sense and reason. The bird bond grew and now whenever a war is starting to brew it is brought to the general council of the bird bond and resolved without bloodshed. You know Worry, God gave humans and birds a mighty fine brain. The difficulty is getting people and birds to use it for postitive action. Fear does strange

things to people."

Worry paced before me, digging his feet into the sand as he did. I knew he was thinking about the humans and their guns. I knew he was seeing what I saw — a massive, dangerous community of man fearful for his life... for his existence on earth. Somehow to them the material world had become more important than fellowship and love. Somehow they had lost ail their values, integrity, reason

and concern for one another.

Worry flew off to the jetty to ponder the fate of man. I watched him sitting out there a lone with the sea and his thoughts. I knew that he would be worried about tnan for a long time. He was a sensitive bird, but he was a real wor-

risome creature.

Next week: High Wire Acts

"Anm For TIm» Rich! Arm* For Tho Rich! 1