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2004
Soap Box Archives Kudzu Calamity 08/20/04 You folks in the Northeast and other parts of the country who are not familiar with a plant called kudzu please bear with me, but I just finished a swing through a goodly portion of the Southeast and was amazed at the headway this pernicious little green vine has made in the last few years. Kudzu is not
like other annoying and unwanted weeds that spring up in our flower
patches and vegetable gardens. When I believe that if it was planted around the base of the Empire State Building that in a year it would completely cover that august structure from the sidewalk to the red light on the topmost tower. Kudzu is native to Japan and was brought here in 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia celebrating the 100th birthday of America. Then in the 1920’s when it was discovered that animals could eat it, it was promoted as forage for grazing animals. During the depression the soil conservation service had hundreds of young men out planting kudzu to prevent soil erosion. After all the hoop de do, in 1972 kudzu was declared to be just a common weed. Kudzu has been used to make baskets, paper, syrup and jelly, animal feed and even quiche. Now I’d be the first to admit that there is a certain charm to a growth of kudzu. A forest that has been covered over with it resembles a deep green city from a distance because the vines grow over even the tallest trees and covers every inch of ground. There’s symmetry to it that I guess you could say was akin to beauty. The problem
is that the stuff is so prolific and grows like a If you’re
ever tempted to pull over and take a closer look at a field of kudzu,
be sure and keep the windows closed on your vehicle
Pray for our troops. What do you think? God Bless America Charlie Daniels
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