The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-11-13
From tho Laursnsvills Herald.
wild or Japan Clover.

Wild or Japan Clover.
Mr. Editor In an editorial in your
paper Of the 18th inst. you called on
" Franklin and Col. J.. w. w." for
information in regard to the plant
known among as ~ wild Clover"
and taking the call to refer to me a.
one Of the parties mentioned, I with
pleasure furni,l, YOU with my stock Of
information, which I have just Obtained
from high authority. Knowing moth.
ing OF Botany, and feeling great in.
terest IN the propagation Of this plant,
l enclosed a couple Of specimens, seve.
raj weeks since, to that good man and
distinguished Naturalist, Rev.. John
Bschman, D. D., of Charleston, who
sent me the enclosed articIe, sayfng.
his "Botasical books and Herbarius
were DESTROYED at Columbia, by Sher.
mans army," and the receipt of this
article had saved him the trouble of III
vestiga'ing is history. I feel truly
gratified that we at last have It's histo-
~. | regard it as one Of the greatest
blessings that could be sent us, for now
every one in this country has fat cattle
and sheep the whole summer, instead
Of the poor, half starved animals that
were TO be met everywhere before the
introduction Of this plant. We have,
in this vicinity, dense pine thickets,
with solid mass Of green heritage,
where no other grass would grow. II
has no respect for shade--grows or,
hill ard valley the bottoms of gulfies
are filed so densly that they cant
wash any more. All kinds Of stock
are fond of II, and ! believe it will sus-
tain a greater srnouht Of grazing than
any grass | have ever known. II
makesits appearance very early in the
Spring, and continues green until killed
by frosts. II. w. r." says its roots
are PERENNIAL. I am inclined 10 think
this is an error, but am not sure Of It.
| think it comes from the seed every
spring DIR. Bachman says the state.
ments in regard to blossoms differ
some say red. Others yellow. There is
plant very much resembling this,
That has yellow blossom ia May
This blossoms in September, and the
blossoms are purple, and resemble in
color the common violet, though they
are much smaller-so much so that
few persons notice the blossoms, and in
this way mistake it for the plant with
the yellow bloom, Which DR.. Bachmau
says Is worthless plant. Some per,
sons ,hiuk this plant. which We win
call BY the name suggested BY H. w.
r." Japan Clover, Injuries horses
This may be true. think on some
local. les, and in wet seasons, II sail,
them but l thiuk in dry weather and
high places, that such is not the case
or al least not 10 so great an extent. /
think our stock Of all kinds do veil on
it. The cows are rs fat rs staIl-fed an
imals; the same may be said of the
Merinoes. hope 10 see it overrun the
old fields all over our land, which
it bids fair to Go in a very few years !;
if so we viii have the best grazing
country on earth. It has all the good
qualities, and none OF the bad ones, of
the Bermuda Grass. While II win
stand any amount Of tfafnping by
stock in the pasture, 1t can't resist the
plow and hoe, to which the Bermuda
bids defiance.
Should any other Information upon
this subject be furnished me. that l
think woeld interest your readers, |
will eheelfully forward (, TO sou.
Your obedient servant,
JAMES w. WATTS.
Martins Depot, S. c., Oc.. "a, 1867.