The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-05-20
A NOVEL THEORY.
SUN FLOWERS AS A PREVENTIVE OF AGUE.

10 the Rural New Yorker, MAINTAINS tnat the
growing of sun flowers around dwelling
located near fovef and ague region, neu-
tralizes The miasma in which that disease
originates. He was led 10 make an expert.
ment by The following circumstances:
The dwelling of the Superintendent Of the
Observatory at Washington, is situated on a
hill, on the left bank of the Potomac, in LAT.
$50 39' 53". II is 81 feet above low water
mark, and about 200 yards from lhe river.-
The grounds pertaining 10 it, about II acres,
are enclosed by wall on The East, South aud
West, and with picket fence on the North.
J The South and West walls run parallel with
the river, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
and row Of sy camores, OF some 20 years
growth, separating the wall from the river.
Ia fact, the river, with its marshes, encircles
about halt of The grounds. The house is,
, therefore, in The bend of the river, and The
place is SO unhealthy that the family OF the
Superintendent are compelled 10 vacale it
five months out Of the twelve, The marshes
being covered with rank growth Of grass
and weeds, which begin 10 decay early in
August A knowledge Of these facts led
Lieut.. Maury's mind to The following process
! of reasoning:
"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 delelerioWs effect OF some gas, miasma
or eilluvlum, that is sci free during the de-
composition, and so, The poisonous matter,
or the basis of it, whatever it be, must have
been elaborated during The growth of Inc
weeds, and set free in their decay. Now, if
this reasoning be good, why might we not,
by planting other vegetable matter between
us and The marshes, and by bringing ii into
vigorous growth just about the time that that
Of the marshes begins 10 decay bring fresh
forces 10 the vegetable Kingdom again 10 play
upon ,his poisonous matter, and elaborate il
again into vegetable tissue, and so purify the
air!
"This reasoning appeared plausible enough
TO just fy The trouble and expense of expert
ment, and was encouraged 10 expect more
or less success from II, in The circumstance
that everybody said, plant trees between
you aud the marshes-ihey will keep off the
chis.' But as to the trees, it SO happens
iha, at the very time when the decomposition
on the marshes Is going on most rapidly, the
trees, for the most part, have stopped their
growth 10 prepare for the winter; and though
trees might do some good, yet rank growth
Of something gol up for the occasion, might
do more. Hops climb high; they are good
1 absorhenIs, and Of Il rank growth, but there
were objections 10 hops on account OF stakes,
poles, &c. | recoliected that | had often
seen sun flowers growing about the cabins in
The West, and had heard, in explanation, that
it WAS healthy 10 have them. This was so
much more in favor of making the expert
ment with sun flowers"
Lieut.. haury says that an acre of sun
flowers will absorb during their growth many
thousand cations Of wafer more than are
supplied by the rains. They are of easy
cultivation, and ,he seeds, which are very
valuable, find ready market at the drug
stores. The theory or science Of lLe expert
ment is this: The ague and fever poison is
set free during The process of vegetable de-
cay, which poison is absorbed by tie rank
growing sun flower, again elaborated into
vegetable m latter, and so retained until cold
weather sets in. The result of the expert
ment is thus narrated:
| EEinoIlv I raSnIyol IN ,pata oypori.
ment at The risk Of spelling The looks OF a
beautiful lawn. Accordingly, in the fall Of
1855, the gardener lrenched up 10 the depth
OF q feet a belt about is feet broad around
The Observatory on the marshy side, aud rom
$50 to 200 yards from the buildings. The
conditions of the theory was about 10 try,
required rich ground, tall sun flowers and
rank growth. Accordingly, after beiuS well
manured from the stable yard, the ground
was properly prepared and planted in sun
flowers. They grew finely; the sickly season.
was expected with more than ordinary alxi-
ely. Finally 1t set in, and there was shaking
at the Presidents House and other places as
usual, bu, for the first lime since tue Ober.
vaory was built, the waichmen about ii wea-
lhered the summer clear of chiIls and levers.
These men, being most exposed 10 The night
air, suffer most, and heretofore two or three
relays of them would be attacked during the
season-for as one falls sick, another is en-
poyed in his place, who, in Turn, being at
lacked, would in like manner give way 10 a
fresh hand. And last year, attacks OF ague
and fever were more than usually prevalent!
| in the nelghboriug parts of the CITY,"
During The present. year, Lieut.. Mau'y in-
lends 10 repea! the experiment, with varia-
ton in Two respects. First the seeds are TO
be planted later; and, second, there are 10 be
TWO paintings, so that lhs las! crop may be
caught by the fros, while yet in Howet 1t
on second trial the result proves equally
favorable, the practical benefit of the dlscov.
cry will be great indeed, and Lieut. Maury
will have added another to the evidences he
has given, that true science is the handmaid
Of practical utility.
Il