The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-06-25
BEGGAR WEED, OR DEsMop1um

Just let him sit down and give him q chance
At old-fashioned pudding. and milk.
BEGGAR WEED, OR DEsMoDIUm.
For several years past a new forage plant
has been attracting the attention Of farmers
in certain dsticts, of Florida, South Caro-.
lima, Georgia and Alabama, and all who
have put it to the test Of culture are loud
In its praise as a most valuable acquisition.
Originally it was known for conlmon rs
"Beggar's Lice" but some who do not seem
to regard the last word in the name rs stand.
ing entirely in keeping with the refinement
and modesty Of the age, have dropped il
and substituted "Wecd;" therefore the plant
now usually goes by the common name of
either "Beggar's Lice" or Beggar Weed"
The plant under consideration is Des.
modtun', and hence Dcsnodium is the name
by which it ought to be known for com.
mon. vi course, l need net argue the
point as to why. The common names most
generally applied are meaningless and.ridic.
uious in the extreme, while Desmodium IS
the correct scientific name, the generic name
by which it is known tp.-scentific people
throughout the civilized world Then. il
means something, being formed from the
Greek signifying "bound," which refers to
tho manner in which the seeds arc bound
together.
There are at least twenty species of Des.
modium native to the Southern United
States They class with the Legun,inossc.
and all are more or less valuable as feed for
stock: The species under cultivation, as
already mentioned, is known to botanists as
Desnlod,uns MOLE, name given to it by
De Condolle. 1t is indigenous to Middle
FLORIDA, but seems to succeed very we'll in
any OF the adjacent States. DR.. Chapman
describes it in his "Flora of the Southern
States" as follows:
Stem tall, much braachcd, softly puber.
cent; Leaflets rhombic or -cllip iptical, obtusc
and often emarginate, tomentose beneath,
rough above; racemes panicled, slender :;
flowers, two or three together, on slender
pedlcles legume nearly sessile, black the
small joints oval or rhombic equally con.
mex On both sutures.s Stem three TO five
feet high. Leaflets three to four inches
long. Legume one inch long, pendulous."
Rendered into plain farm talk this would
mean that the plant grows to from three to
hve feet in height, taEing upon itself
branching or punching habit something
IKE that OF the cotton plant. 1t is covered
with soft, downy hairs. The leaflets arc
oval Or oblong, rather blunt at the extrem-
ity and notched they arc downy beneath
and rough above. Flowers three or four
together in loose punches. Seeds, blackish.
hanging in string, jointed together, but
easy of separation. They are somewhat
half moon shaped. and, being covered with
sharp hooks, they readily attach themselves
10 one clothes and become separated from
each other or from the parent plant, &c.
speak with confidence as to the species
OF Desmodlum under cultivation in consc.
quencc OF the fact that have been study
ing 1t carefully for several years. Both
plants and seeds have been sent to me for
Identification from Florida, ,Geoteis and
Alabama, by persons cultivating it as for
age crop, and in every instance have read
ny recognized the specimens as Desmodiun,
n.oAe Some writer's have mentioned the
"Beggar Weed" as Dcn,odiuns canescens
but this was, l am satisfied, an entire mis-
take, ior Canescens, one Of our most com.
mon species, would not be at all suited for
cultivation
Mp TsfsEfgss H tbss tbs fb0 eR0 ps4sJRRssi ST JRRsipa sa
pcrlGnce with the crop, though L am rather
OF tho opinion that il is decidedly worthy
u cuitivatl'n. 1t is closely related to the
c'overs, and may be correctly reckoned as
one OF the airfceders." This being the
case, it would, in all probability, be valu.
able crop to turn under for the purpose of
enrlchnS the soil. / know it will grow
quite well on soil comparatively thin. For
fcedinS to stock green it is excellent, and
under proper management, it is said to Weld
ao,ssplendld dry feed or hay. If sown for
this last named purpose it should be put in
quite thick, else the stalks will grow ton
coarse and woody to answer well as hay.
TOMATOES AU GnArIN-Dip the toma.
toc' IN hot water, and peel them cut them
IN half; rub baking tin with garlic, but.