Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-01
Indigenous Vegetation OF the SOUTH
wesr--Hurrican.s, &C.

Indigenous Vegetation OF the South
west--Hurrican.s, &c.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTs, N. Y, Feb. "A, 1858.
To the Editors Of N. Y. Commercial. ADJ.
10 letters | receive from correspondence in
different parts of the world is much inforna-
ton that is IF interest 10 the public. | baVe
q letter now before me, from a correspondent
whose home WAS on the Southwestern m0un-
tains of Virginia, in which among other
things, he writes thus:-
"On G4uley river, near kanhawa, and in
the hurricane district of Western Tennessee,
the wild Irish potato can be obtained, and
In three years from it many varieties can be
had fresh and renewed. Near Huntsville,
Alabama, Cali be found 10 the mountains tue
indigenous tomato and the Nlcntianum To-
bago in a wild i'm perfect condition, and on
the Tennessee and Cumberland river islands
can be obtained a peculiar artlchoke, resem'
ding 10 form the sw eet potato, some samples
being one foot 10 length. 1t seems not gee
orally known that these are natives OF the
United States. On river banks, this artl-
chrk, yields from 300 to 500 bushels per
acre, and is very d ticult TO eradicate. 1t Is
the great lard oil maker Of the Southern
swamps, aud promises L annlhllate the whole
harpoon race Of destructives. There Is q
burr artichoke Of the South, which for table
use should be extensively cultivated-tne
eatable core Of the burr when boiled and
trimmed is as large as i goose egg and OF
most delicate favor. The artichOke family
was the most ancient lotus family OF the
Egyptians. aud the wild Onion, commom
among our mountains, shoots up It's stem
doubled, its top inellning downward, thus
showing the original OF one Of the most con-
mon EgyptiaD hleratc characters. There Is
a large Onion, wild 10 our mountains, called
the Rnamps-.t is strong and unpaiatatie.--
There are also numerous dye stutfs OF mir
eral and vegetable character dispersed and
useless 10 large districts, which are AZ good
as similar articles brought from foreign pls-
ces. Why does not some one look into these
things?"
In my ~ju7enile years | crossed the cont
uent on horseback from the borders OF
the Gulf Of ST. Lawrence, TO those OF the
Gulf of Mexico, and my path was along the
shores OF the great Lakes and West OF the
Of the Allegheny range OF mountains
There was not at that tune q bridge or Il
stage CDdcU "pel " VIC nlISSbhhiCS. "a
road was much Of it a bride path, marked
cut By a cut in the trees, and there called a
"blaz-d road" These cuts in the trees gave
out a phosphorescent light 10 the night;
hence the name, blazPd paths or roads. !
travelled without firearms or any hostile
weapon, and was therefore d0Goiy protec
ted. In this journey | passed over a part
of the hurricane district of Western Ten
n~essee," then almost an unbroken forest,
where my further progress was intercepted
by a hurricane ravine. A hurricane bad
passed through the forest and Frustrated
every tree in its path, and it required several
miles travel to fud an opening Tor my horse
to pass through. | visited that same district
a few years aite,-s lightning storm bad
followed 10 the path e the hurricane--the
lightning set fire t. the trees the wind had
Frustrated. and the sun ard wind had made
dry, and the tire If that lishtning followed
the hurricane path and consumed the dry
trees, ard let into the forest Il strip OF sun
shine. A new growth was the result, and
anaOng the new products was the wild Irish
potato. The hurricane, the lightning, and
the sunshine united in planting this new
field, but the germs were in nature. Among
the Adirondack mountains the ground on
which q pile of wood or brush has been
burnt, produces the year following, a hne
crop Of bluc-berry bushes. The persons er-
gagged in burning coal pits ste, rs a uniform
product, when the pit has been burnt, q crop
Of fire weed the next year.
We need not wonder ut these things, for
they are in accordance with the nantes
~tations Of all-crcative Power, and illustrate
most beautifully the account given IN the
volun Of Inspiration Of the planting OF the
rimitive garden Eastward in Eden-and lie
who created the heavens and the earth planted
that garden.
When | journeyed through the Western
wilderness there still remained evidences, IN
the Immense and extensive earth~Crks on
which some Of the largest trees In the forest
were growing, Of tia, now beautifully Guilt
waited country having once, in ages buried IN
oblivion, been Inhabited by n civilized pee
pie. In my lone path in the wilderness, |
found a comFanionship in those ahcleht
works; vet q cloud Of gloom rested on them
which gave to my thoughts a shade oi mel
anchoiv.
There is a c0mpapiOnship in nature, but
stree light was separated from the darkness
there has been the bright and the gloomy.
and so it will continue to be while the earth
remaineth. l.. MERRIAM.
Scene In the Tennessee Legislature,
In the Senate Of Tennessee, on the 10Th
ult, Just previous to the taking OF a vote
on a bill for the relief Of the banks Of the
State,
Mr.. Whitthorne arose to a point Of order,