The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-12


An interest.ss Paper n ese iaat Pldsses
fsosu the pen IL Ctipsaia yoGk 81 RAFFoIs,
81 Madison cosnty, brings befors vls sn gig
asauaIntanee Ia ZIG Isesp ldesa ssriats, shout
which shs reaAsrs 81 Tie. Lsspstos saw so
much d few yAsn since sron tho pss OF
Rev. Mr. Ncrf, af North Carolina. BE WIS
4 cultivated aaa sincere gentleman and was
OF spinios that ths Lespedizs Wonld become
to be great blessing; especially 70 the
soushers States, where the grasses were
prone to misfsrtxse, and where the broom.
straw ruled 90 monarch of the realm. The
seeds OF the Lespeaiss being at the joints Of
the plant, conceded ia little sacks, they
were hard to get Ct, and tho manner OF
gathering them up from the ground Fur-
sued by Mr.. Moer presented . msss Of
dirt that was 60 repuisive that many were
too unfsvsrabiy Impressed with the trash to
put It upon their lands. In this dirt were
the seeds. We do not propose now TO re-
new the discussion, but only to bring to mo-
tics what Captain PATTON says OF this old
acquaintance Of ours. We thought. It was
dead--neyer to bs heard Of agsin. But In
an article absut grasses Captain PATTON says !:
aMy neighbsr (Ar. B. Barton Haxsl)
purchased OF Mr.. Mott, about four or i've
wears ago, bushel Of the dirt and debris In
which the seed was mixed. He supposes
thst II It could have been eufied and washed
there would hare been, perhaps, aboat q
Quart OF pure seed. He sewed the bushel 20
received ON an acre Of land In one Of the
fields Of his beautiful and fertile farm, Rock
land, Ia the county Of Orange. East TALL !
visited him, and he seemed much interested
in showing me his Lespediza strtdtd, speak
ing in what seemed to me strong terms
about 1t. We went to the field. On
and adjacent to the acre seWed L
saw mat Of this grass SURPRISING IN
close. dense growth -almess anything in
the way OF small vegetation that ever saw.
Not only 30, but fer 100 or 200 yards around
IL, at least in the direction l went, it had
taken almost exclusive possession, battling
it's way in spite Of the ether grasses, and It's
pickets and scouts were still further away;
not only 80, but In distant part of another
feld-perhsps half mile aWay-(wnsner.
we went to see his recently imported Cots.
void sheep I found spots where it had
formed Il mat and was evidently preparing TO
establish itself against all corners. One OF MI
Motifs recommendations Of it was that, once
seeded, it propagatea itself illimitably, and
could not be eradicated. Like Mickey Frees
father In purgatery-foot and shoulder
through tho door-no power could keep him
from going further. We found the colts
elinging luxuriously to this grass whore it
was originally sewn, and Mr.. HaXall inform
Il kkok fhofr
ground-partialitY shared with them by
all the other stock. I conclude that in our
neishborhood it is probably a good grass for
any land and fer any stock.
"Having stated my facts, add that one OF
the claims OF Its patron was Tao far as learD)
that it would root out noxicus plants, toler-
ating no rival; that it would even dispossess
broom.sedge. IF so, who would net want
It for this reason al6uee The future must
decide about this, and must also decide what,
If any, are its bad points; whether it will
interfere with crops Of better things, either
grass or cereals, 60"
Here is something, indeed, to the credit Of
she Lespediza. According to Captain PAT.
TONS statement it ls certainly more valuable
than broom straw to the farmer; but it. too,
may have its. Pestifereus features. Our
friend Major NehAND, formerly an expert.
enced farmer Of Loudsan, now merchant
Of Richmond, Ia his article In the last
Planter, stated as one OF the merits of feel.
ing cattle in the fields that they would tramp
out the broom-seAge lbut wsald they not
tramp out some grasses much mere valua.
ble!l Thss pest he thought nero due to tho
light condition Of the soil than to scidity,
and the heavy tread Of the steer would, he
thought, eKterminste it.
For ourselves, We are net alienated from
the brsom-straw since oar early recel!echons
Of il. In.theold fields it Is cover for game,
notably the partridge, and the cold hare,"
and Is delightful for spring sports Of boys.
Then the graceful department Of tho broom,
and the pride it shows when wearing Its
modest bloom and bowling TO the breeze,
all make it an object Of admiration. We have
always looked upon the broom-straw IS
q bsnefcent institution. We think it
does not 50 much root out ether grasses
as that it succeeds grasses that have
found the sun too hot for existence. and
having yamosed. The loyal broom has
covered the earth with his dense tufts and
waving plumes. The EARTH must be covered,
and tho broom does this service, while being
of much utility in household economy. Yet,
il the much discussed Lespedizs can sup
plant it, very well. From Captain PArroN's
statement it il good food, and vigorous
occupant of the soil. 1t was really .
pleasant thing to hear once mere Of plant
which our smiabae correspondent, Mr..
MORT, 80 much commended.
The Dispatch reafirms that Mr.. Dana did