The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-08-22
Vegetable Invasion.

H Is strange paradox, that man, whose
existence is only possible when he conforms
to natural laws as manifested within and
around himself, should at the same time be
obliged to spend his life in perpetual battle
with natural agencies He is at war with
the whole animal kingdom, and must neces-
sarily either subdue or destroy them, or be
himself destroyed. If he wishes for place
to lpiteh his tent or to build city, he can
only gain it by the destruction of the plants
and trees which occupy the ground. But
let him cease from his aggressive movements
even for short time, and vegetation will
assert her supremacy over him; the grass
and the shrub will hide the once beaten tent
floor, and the whole train of trees and plants
will rise above the city; the ivy will creep
around his statcliest columns, and the myriad
race of parasites and cryptoSamia eat INTO
the foundations of his proudest editices The
more minute and apparently insignificant the
invader, the more sure and fatal will be the
work of destruction.
As affording q most remarkable instance OF
the power of the minor forms OF vegetation
TO mar the designs of man, and TO chanGe the
conditions of his well-being, we give an ac-
count of the recent introduction OF small
American water-plant into Great Britain
Tn tbe fall Of 1912, botanist found in the
lake of Dunse Castle, Berwickshire, Scot
land. a small water plant, previously unknown
in Europe, and sent specimens to various
naturaIists Its discovery was noted IN sci
entific publications, and forgotten, as mat
Ter of little interest. 1t was, however, not
one of those "born to blush unseen" In
1s47, Miss Kirby, lady botanist, found it in
the reservoirs connected with the canal near
Market Marlborough, in Leicestershire, Eng
land The reservoirs had been cleaned out
only two years before, yet the plant was
found in great abundance. The English bot
anists again gave it their attention, and Mr..
Darlington Of Cambridge, published a de-
scription, and gave it the name of " Aaachar
SIS AisinaStrum." The first discOvcrcr found
that it was the same plant which he had dis
covered in 1912 in Dunse Loeb, and on ex-
animation found that it was now to be also
found in the Whiteadder, which connects the
Loeb with the Tweed.
In the same year it was found in large
quantities in the River Lene, tributary of
the Trent, and also in dense masses and great
abundance in the Watford Locks, Northanp
tenshire In 1849, it was found in the Trent
= and adjoining canals in large submerged
masses of a striking appearance; and in 1850,
in great abundance near Rugby, in Warwick
shire In 1851 it was found in the Ouse and
Cam. near Cambridge, and the attention of
the English local press has since been given
to the alarming increase of this small but per
nicious exotic.
Wherever it has appeared il has materially
interfered with inland navigation and drain
age, and according to authentic statements
bids fair, if not checked, 10 choke up many
OF the rivers and canals of Scotland and Eng
land. In eighteen months after its discovery
in the Trent, it had blocked up large
portion Of the channels in one year after
it was found in the Cam at Cambridge, extra
horses had to be yoked to draw the barges
through the vegetable mass. In the same
short period it had so filled up the railway
dock at Ely, that boats could not enter until
several tons Of it had been lifted out The
same thing has happened in several other
places and wherever it has appeared, its
tendency seems to be to choke up the mouths
Of docks sluices, and narrow water courses,
impeding navigation and drainage. An ex-
perienced engineer has calculated that in
two counties of England, it has impeded
drainage equivalent to rise of one foot III
the outlet level. In many places It mas
broken up the fisheries, and many persons
have been drowned by becoming enIallgieo
in it.
The Anacharsis is diecious that Is, the
male and female flowers are found on separ-
ate individuals. No male plant mas YET peeh
found in either Scotland or England but It's
astonishing mower of reproduction Is easily
accounted for. as every fragment of the stem
iscanab,a Of becoming an independent plant,
producing roots and leaves, and thus multi
plvine itself indefnitely. Another fact favors
its rand multiplication 1t does not like
other water-plants, require to be rooted to
the bottom, but will grow as it floats with
the stream. Large quantities Of these plants
frequently join together, and roll over ant
over, alike wool-packs," upon the bottom
accommodating in great heaps at locks O
bridges, or grounding in shallow water. Il
some places it has filed up the channels, al
most to the exclusion of the water.
The plant is said to have a round, semi
transparent, slender, brittle stem, with toothct
leaves growing in threes around it. 1t is of
deep green color, grows under water, sew
eral feet in length, branching out Irregular,
1t is said to be unquestionably of America
origin. The P0tamOgetoR densum is the onl
British plant which bears the slightest resen
blance. The Anacharsis is well known +
American botansts as the Anacharsis Ma,
tab, or tie UdOra Canadensis II is SIM
posed to have been introduced by means of
seed concealed in the crevice of loo o
canadian timber, which had been raf4af
down some Of the Northern rivers and
thence to have spread through all the con.
hected system Of water courses which We
have named.
In the large, clear, swift flowing rivers o,
America, this plant does not form immens,