Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-25

In a communication lately made to the Paris
academy, NJ. Vibraye states the fact of certain
exotic forage plants having appeared in consid-
cradle numbers in the central part of France,
after the stay of the army in these localities.
He gives the following account of these plants:
Their appearance, no doubt, results from for
age supplied from abroad, the seeds of which
had fallen into the ground AT the present time
several Mediterranean plants (chieay Algerian
having braved the cold of an exceptionally Sc.
we're winter, are being largely propagated, form
ing extensive meadows, and changing soil that
was formerly arid, and produced no vegetation
OF Importance, TO veritable GASES. This may
probably lead TO the introduction of a large
number of plants into more northern region
than that which they appear naturally to occupy
and prefer.
The first notion of the possibility of such
plants being brought into French soil through
the fodder consumption of the army arose in
1870. A botanist of StraSbourg-M Buchiuger
wrote to NJ. Franchet (conservator of my col
lectiOns) some days before the investment of the
place, that on examining the fodder which was
being given to the horses, he had found IN it
forty-four species Of plants belonging to the
Mediterranean region, and most of which
were Algerian. He suggested to NJ Franchet
to make observations, and see whether some
of these plants would not appear in the soil.
The prediction was verified; and in April, 1871,
NJ Franchet found two exotic centuries and
communicated the fact TO NJ NOuel the director
Vi TUE OTlSduS llusbuul. OllCG IQeQ tneSe TWO
botanistS have made minute researches on the
subject and have discovered many more such
plants, This is briefly the history of the discOv-
cry. The places where the phenomenon has been
observed are in the department of the Loire ct
Cher: ~ On the right bank of the Loire, near
the railway; ~ on the left bank the country
about Blois. Then, too, in the communeS of
Cour, and more especially of Cheversy, which
districts were successfully occupied. 0bserva.
tons have also been made at Orleans, on the
Boulevard st. Jean, and the Isle of Arrault.
shall best recount these observations by Civ
ing them as they were written down in the order
of date.
On the 18th of March, 1872, certain new plants
observed the previous year at Blois and Orleans
had increased considerably on arid soil, which
formerly bore only some poor and stunted herbs.
Each of the district furnished about ninety 10
one hundred species. But the species we're not
the same in each district, and the total number
of species met with was 157, belonging to TWEEN
ty-one families.
On the 9th Of April my attention was called
to the large number of ANNALS and bennials
disseminated. The annual plants, which De
Candolle calls monoearpian, because they ter
minated their existence by perfect and unique
modification, are invariably reproduced by the
dissemination of their seeds when they have
come to maturity; the individual dies, while the
species becomes perennial; which duration, on
the other hand, is temporarily acquired by the
individual, when scythe, or the grazing of cat
tie, retards the last and Indispensable phase of
the plants existence.
AT this date, April 27th, treloil and lucerne
promised TO be very abundant in this Blois dis
trict. By the LIST of May an incessant appear
ance of new species was noticed, and it seemed
beyond doubt that before the end of the season
the four localities of BOis, Cheverny, Vendome
and Orleans would furnish no fewer than two
hundred species, of which one hundred and
seventy at least were peculiar to meadows and
pasture lands.
On the I'D of May new fact presented itself
During the war forage depot had stood at the
side of the market place at Cour Cheverny, but
last year no appearance of any new plant had
been discovered there, Notwithstanding careful
search. On the 3D. some twelve species of foreign
forage plants made their appearance, and others
were expected. This shows that the seeds had
remained in the soil for sixteen months without
alteration of their terminating properties. This
IS an interesting fact and corolary Of the law
OF rotation observed in all natural meadows
viz: the temporary disappearance of dominant
Species yielding for an intermediate period to
new types, which they by and by come to
displace, when they meet with certain favor
| ing atmospheric influences, not very well under
stood.
The Algerian plants withstood successfully the
frost on the 18th of May, which did much dam
age to our vines and the shoots of certain trees
especially indigenous conifers
NJ. Vicraye, in closing his note, speaks of the
ABOVE phenomena as Oelng quite an event. IL is
| not the empheral appearance of a few plants
| sparsely disseminated ,lraisng the problematic
hope Of fixing in the soil useful yegetable-it
is an exodus; the migration, not of modest
| .for,le, but of a fora, independent and com.
plete. 1t is, in word, treasure which the
central districts of France are called on to study
and to appropriate He argues that the propoga-
ton of these plants should not be left to chance.
but that human skill should be brought to bear
on it.