The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-28
rOT tne DIspaICH
LESPEDEZA STRATA.

=. The experience of B. W. Jones, Esq. >, who
has an article on this plant in the Deem
Der No. of the Farmers Gazette, differs
materially with regard to it from that of the
undersigned: Some time ago it was men
toned in the Richmond Dispatch that
plants volunteering on some land of mine
very poor but spaded up full foot deep
and well pulverized-had in several in
stances spread themselves over circle of
thirty-six inches diameter, and were so
covered with seed that not doubt could be
left in my own mind that by June next en-
been growing would be densely covered
Jones appears to have been somewhat
less favorable, especially as the ground
on which he sowed WAS carefully cultivated
and uncommonly rich. His failure, if it
can properly be said to have been failure,
may be accounted for in several ways.
In the first place, the seed may have been
covered too deeply. 1t seems they were
planted or sown in drills, and like most
things managed in that way, may have
been incautiously covered deeper than they
ought to have been. Hence, probably,
rather than in consequence of the rain and
cold, as MIR. Jones seems to suppose, the
tardy appearance Of the plants, and the
failure of part of them to appear ct all.
A few struggled through the heavy cover
ing; those which did not succeed in doing
80 in all likelihood are lying in the bottom
of the drill TO the present hour, ready to
start forth and bourgeou as soon as the
hoe or some other implement, at the fit
ting season, shall expose them properly
to the action of the elements. 1t is proper
that all persons about to make sowings next
spring should be cautioned on this point.
The slightest covering is' useless except,
perhaps, as protection against birds. A
slight brushing would probably do no harm ;
narrowing might do much; blowing would
be destructive. Just scatter on the surface,
and the work is done. 1t is in this way
nature is sowing all around us here it was
in this way l sowed last year, and the re-
suit not only satisfied but it surprised me.
In the second place, Mr.. Jones's plants
may have been injured by the weeds which
he suffered to grow up and for while
check their progress, after he began te
despair Of their doing anything. Checking
in the growth by bad treatment Of any kind
is bad thing in the case of either plants
or animals. If anything, it is worse
than even bad outset. It is on this
account l have said so much in the
public prints of the comparative advan.
tages Of sowing in old fields, where weeds
viii be less likely to interfere with this
plant in its earlier stages. No doubt, il
weeds could be kept down properly, the
richer the ground the better. But the
plant, on its first appearance from the
earth, is exceedingly delicate and feeble
resembling some very fine kinds Of moss
and if not actually smothered and killed
might easily be much retarded by the
means referred to-. How it might struggle
along with and finally overcome mass Of
surrounding heritage is Lard to say but
have more than once limited ct the difficulty
twill be likely 10 meet With in very rich
and weedy lands in this way for awhile
Had Mr. Jones's plants been kept entirely
clear Of weeds from the outset, there il
reason to believe that instead Of twenty
inches IN all directions, rs I suppose hi
means, they would have made q growth
OF at Least twenty-four every way from
.ns crown OF the root; in other words
D S s nave covered circle of four fee
asmeter. How many such plants would
a ssoo an acre for the second season I? About
o,oVV' my calculations are correct
therefore $500 seed, or an ounce. --Snr
there must be that many in an ounce Il
We can judge by the size Of them--wonid
be enough for the first year.. If Mr.. Jone.
will not disturb the ground on which hi
plants have grown, except 50 far perhaps