Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-02-18
iIPPIA. OR FOG r6u,I.
fIaAs OF Value a. = sou n,.A.-
ana Lawn Plant In Aria Re~s...

| a Plant OF Value a. = sosp ~,..
en1 Lawn Plant In Arid Re~io..-
The great value of a plant wh,.s
VIII form satisfactory sward and
prove successful soil binder under
tne CONDITIONS of the arid region win
DC reaoily admitted. The observations
ana experiments Of the Arizona station
experimenting experience in southcrn
California. indicate that these reonire.
ments are met to a large extent by lin.
pa. OF iog fruit Uippia nodiGora). a
plant belonging to the same family "A
the lantanas and verbenas.
The plant Is found in tropicoI .rA
suptropical regions and occurs in th,.
country In the south Atlantic and puIf
suites ana from Texas to California
principally along sandy shores and wa.
ter courses. 1t "is a perennial berh.-
.eous' much eranched, creeping plant.
the stems of which root extensively ut
tne houes. The thickened opposite
leaves are one inch long or less mostly
oiunt at the tips and rather sharnlv
saw toothed above. The roots become
greatly thickcned below during the an.
tumn, and this reserve food sunnlv nm.
doubtedly enables the plant to begin
growth In the spring with little or no
ram ana also to maintain itself during
long adverse periods"
IT has practically no value as a for
age plant because it develops a rela.
lively limited vegetative growth. and
ANIMALS dislike It, but the observations
or the Arizona station indicate that II
can maintain a continuous layer Of
green with less water than any other
desirable plant known to that region.
During the summer Of 1902 it main
tanned itself for eight months on the
mesa with less than two inches of rain
fall. Not only is 1t remarkable
drought resister, but It can endure
without injury extremes of temperature
varying from 10 degrees to no degrees
+. 1t is, however, only slightly resist.
ant to alkali, although it has been
found to thrive in soils too alkaline for
roses.
The plant possesses special advan-
[ages as sand and soil binder. "When !
set two feet apart in favorable situa-
lions it was observed that we'll rooted
plants of the fog fruit covered the sur
lace completely during one seasons
growth, and there Is every reason to
believe that 1t will do equally well in
moist, sandy washes, since it fayors
uch locations" 1t will doubtless prove
'qually valuable for preventing wash
ng OF reservoir and storm water en-
AS lawn plant for regions in which
he usual lawn grass is grown with
reat difficulty, If at all, lippia seems to
ave peculiar advantages. 1t is easily
'rown and forms smooth carpet of
'reen, interspersed with many small
apitate flower clusters of rose purple
arying to nearly white. In general It
Ives all the effects of white clover
avn, although forming more COM
act mass and not requiring the use of /
lawn mower" 1t is not suited to
ensely shaded lawns and will not en-
ure excessive trampling.
The plant is propagated by cuttings.
he best time for planting is during
ne spring or summer months, when If !
'ell Watered 1t will be almost certain I
secure good start" This publica-
on by the Arizona station of informal
on regarding this plant has aroused
luch local interest, resulting in quite !
xtensive distribution of plants by the >
'at1on to persons wishing to try it.. h