The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-01
The Sunflower Culture, a Preventive of
Chi1ls

The National AnteHiycnccr contains n long let
ter from Lieut.. Mnury, in which he gives al in
teresting account of an experiment made by
him In the culture of Surnowers, rs a preven-
tive of marsh miasma. The observatory at
Washington during the Summer months being
exposed to the decomposition of the marshes of
the Potomac, the writer was induced to make
the experiment; and in the following para
graphs of his letter, gives his reasons for select
ing the sunfowcr, as well as the philosophy Of
its action upon the atmosphere:
If it be the decay of the vegetable matter on
the marshes that produces the sickness on the
hill, then the sickness must be owing to the de.
leterIous effects Of some gas. miasm or cf1lu vium
that is set free during the decomposition and if
so. the poisonous matter, the basis of it what
ever il be, must have been elaborated during
the growth Of the weeds, and set free in their
decay. Now, if this reasoning be good, why
might We not. b planting other vegetable mat.
ter between us and the marshes, and by bring
ing 1t into vigorous growth just about the time
that of the marshes begi to decay bring fresh
forces of the vegetable kingdom elaborated
again into vegetable tissue, and so purify the
arr
This reasoning appeared plausible enough to
justify the trouble und expense of experiment,
md was encouraged to expect more or Icss
success from it, in the circun, stance that every
body said ''l'lant trees between YOU and the
marshcs-thcy will keep off the chils." But ms
to the trees, it so happened that at tho very time
when the decomposition on the marshes is going
on most rapidly, the trees for the most part
have stopped their growth to prepare for the
winter, and though trees might do some good
yet rank growth Of something got up for the
occasion mi.h do more Hops climb high !;
they nre good absorbcnts, and of q rank growth
ont there were objections to hops on account of
stakes poles, dc. / recollectcd that had often
seen sun-f1owers growing about the cabins in the
"henlthy" to have them This was 30 much
more in favor of making the experiment with
sun flowers.
An acre eofsun-fowers will absorb during their
growth many thousand gallons of water more
than are supplied by the rains They are great
nbSorhcnts. They are of ensy cultivation, are
more rank than hops-they require no poles and
the seed are very valuable i paid IS a buslel
for them This plant, therefore, apparently Of
fcred to fulfil all the conditions required to salts
fy the problem for if the suppostion TINT the
ague and fever poison be impaired to the atmos-
phere by the decaying vegetable matter in the
marshes and If this poison were set free during
the process of decay; why should not the sun
flowers i'll their rank growth absorb it. and again
elaborate it into vegetable matter. and fix it
ut least for q while, and until cold weatheri
consulted upon this subject with one of the most
useful men this country ever produced--the late
A. }: Downing, of fNcwburgh-and he thought
the idea good one.
The experiment was made by planting. belt
of fSunfowers As feet broad around the Obs erv-
atory OH the marshy side and from 100 to 200
yards from the buildings and was entirely sue
cessful The Observatory entirely escaped the
usual attack of. ugue and fever which were
more than usually prevalent in the neighbor-
ing parts Of the city. Similar experiments have
been made with like success in France.