, 1879-08-01
TIE s DEVILS PLANT"
a Weed Which Has lsccn n Farmers Pest.
Proves to lIe Worth @1O,O0D,oOO . Year
to tho Country


Proves to iie Worth s1o,o0o,oo0 n Year
to tho County, -
Fai7aat.phta H<cor1'.
"see h5ar, boy; dyc knaW wot pcsky fool
The scene was The other side Of Camden, just,
on tho borders OF Coopers Creek, 1t was !,
Jersey countrynan that asked the question. and |
~ hc spoke ho pointed to q lnrgo tract OF land J
sieht ot the planta that inspired his 5isgust.
Right before him was onc OF The finest pieces Of
ground IN the neight1orhond, md vet what ha |
characterized ns a darned old weed " had been :
allowed to take complete possession.
This "wccd y Is what Is known iu botanical I
language as the "Absstkon apictun9.n Every
farmer knows 1t by sight, but few would recog- J
ntzo 1t By Its sclcntt1c natuc. To them II Isl
It's appearance among tho corn, the potatoes,
the berry bushes, IN fnct here, tliere, and every
where, and no devica known 10 the farnlera will
rid them Of 1t: Il one is pulled up. another isl
not stop growing until 4 is head and slouldors{
noove the sallest OF tail men. It will ttrtvo In
the hottest sun. and It's secda-for aach plant
seatters ounces prom'scuously eyory sGason--|
TIC hardest frost, In fact, both, p!ant and seeds
"Dcvil's rJant" Is Tie sobriquss wl'ic1, many
farmers have given It, anu II an explanation lsl
that only tho Evil Quo could have saddlod suchl
q most upon the agricultural community.
Yet the "Dovll't Plant" has proved to DO al
blessing In disguise, and d biz ono ut that
nsr,o- ~ I,5sar inta Ta ~ tit.o1.nr,S sus
beoneht sho,,t ,aIn hv Ianc ftans,onn We
+ rtane vho "a res!letl + America ior about
'd ~ ~ a.Ha III on not1ae @ p,aHs
~ tha N.,sa.a! HS',t, Un ~ saP5se1 R
i,,- In "ntnmn,.1 hc can" ~ rn,ido ~ phi,sna5
phta, and devoted some Ut bis sparo time In an
examinntsono Of tue 'hrous plants Of New Jcr.
eJ & ac s..i Mt.snc.ea ~. W as.cut
,h t.ncsfo @ ,1tiu Ill., n int soessd nl W
sat,soi" .., ,I u n,u,is tossncosea ~ ~
soss, H. 'a ot,
sGe!Ss p.oSess oL " OVID snyeh.on aMa ionntl
as rI ILL., asonH ,W. Io fti ar ,ah ,.
nr Mas h9oneht to tha rnnon rcont2c hs
stau.acss' hn ad a,,ai - ~ MuutH % mns|
sno"n psononhgea !. eQ4ai 10 5no lnte tmpofled1'
" s .t io oea. t sos 10 M rsads sd ,as uaso .onn
ilat she snpFt moses eonM nn .Rao INTO new
u, .,ss.;n nen a:,. tao.ic.
li,ls % !aspostant oIeeovery Tas not 70 nc al!oWea
W. nssav n.cam 10 81 a,e,ts,;ns " 10 @ tmg
Industries @ ad % eso ucteEnned to 70 p iuto 1l1o io
tt'4aManstutS y 4,u, o. atc hnn u'e RAISING OF tno
..o..,,Is, o.His tlaIs; @ lnt bureau eaYc !ls ~
fln aa % ,ssusu, ,s G mGner ~ o ~ ~, ~ M1es
tsom ~ 20 frane 10 pay ~ yer ton ior straight
}ats s'alks, not ieas thuu thEEo or four feet IN
night. aellsercd III Catnaen. ING circular also
auv!sea farmers 70 60 mug the cultlvatloh 81 tio
lanl, ana Ease lthportaat inIof'hat1on fclatNo
ami o.lcr particulars; f'i4 circular was the
hrst ihlort'at1on Which l'ie Jersey hgttenlturiss
seeSlVea oi sl!e DIES which WIS contained III
h141r ,1, 'ori%rr n',,,1, ensn,y , uno.,, d,
Inc cn!t'yatloh ot the "DeTil's rant y 10
70 ccncFa.'y followed n different parts OF New
Jetsey ~. az te lnnt ~ nls9 to ho tonna 10
i!,.a nlate, IL - nntae9pa'en slat tGnnsy,yanla
iarlners 'nay hnd T. to IN lles profit to deyoto
.oa'e attssstlon 1 10 u, I've discovery is calea.
lutca 10 havo u. important otiectup the trade
o. EN - country ~ n!tinaso result Tilt IN
aoanteasy - to fenuef tl'a United statos mae
pendent o. the worla ior co''fttodity wh!ssi M LIZ y
now eGstis 1llf a!inf1iilaesureIs f1lliy SlouUoo
annually Ltir total inlortatis'1ls ot lIct.1h aa1.
rnii'se, n.y. }atn 'nto this country arc Yasued at
over esaoo09o yenr. Tho jutc atono repro
seuis oe,third ot th!s amount: Tie supply rotnes
cxclus'Sey lrotn India niu tic latter's trade 10
T. has become the leading staple of Dongal.
IN tM,s country lnse L. hel for nuWbc5.
leAs purl!oscs. among tlirtn Tor rope ard carpet
hacks' II y also frequently miyed with linen
~ the man4tacti!1e OF cloths England, anu III
iart fhn whole Of Eurnpe. nrc dependent upun
the Indian piantatlons tur their supply. THO
New JerseY bureau to authority for tho state
iAcnt ts!ut "extens1v8 jute rope manufacturers