SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
331 
the terror-stricken gardeners and planters in the face, and 
say with Macbeth to the ghost of EANCtuo : 
“ Thou canst not say I did it ; 
“ Never shake thy gory locks at me.” 
The notes of execration that were re-echoed from the 
seaboard to the mountains, against this pest, had scarcely 
subsided when anew discovery was announced. It was 
a grass possessing all the abundant growth of the hleans 
Grass, having neither seed or runners, which was restrict- 
ed to the bed where it was planted. This was a desider- 
atum. Now for the name. As it bore some resemblance 
to the Guinea Grass, that name was improperly applied to 
it. It was stated that the true Guinea Grass had been 
planted by the side of it, and that, in time, all were alike. 
The same results were produced in my own garden with 
the Means Grass by the side of the Guinea Grass. The 
secret was that the latter was killed in winter and the 
former lived. There was no blending, but a supplanting 
of species. 
When the specimens of this peculiar grass were sent to 
me by my friend. Col. Summer, I was absent from home ; 
the labels had been misplaced and I had no opportunity 
of examining it until yesterday, when I saw it in a lot at 
Atlanta, cultivated by Mr. Peters, from which I was sup- 
plied with specimens of the roots, stalks, and the infertile 
florets. 
My first examinations were directed to the inquiry 
whether it might not prove to be a hybrid between the 
Means Grass and the Guinea Grass, or some other species. 
Hybrids, it is known, are infertile; but they possess 
characteristics which assimilate them to both species, and 
plainly show their double origin. This, therefore, could 
be no hybrid, since it resembled the Means Grass and no 
other.* The character of the roots is very peculiar, and 
belongs to few other species of grass, and to none with 
whom this could have hybridized. 
It was not difficult to ascertain that this was a variety 
of the Means Grass, possessing such peculiarities as to 
call forth questions veiw interesting to the physiologist. 
Varieties are known to spring up in all animals aM plants 
subjected of domestication or culture. All our improved 
breeds in domesticated animals and poultry are varieties, 
produced not by the slow process of gradual change, but 
by the sudden and inexplicable appearance of varieties 
that, by being kept separate, will continue to perpetuate 
the same varities to the end of time. The same may be 
said of all cur vegetables, grains, cottons, &c. Some of 
these varieties are peculiarly striking, as is the case with 
corn v.diere each grain is covered by a separate husk — the 
pomegranate cotton, and the remarkable varieties in many 
kinds oftVuiis. Occasionally a variety s[)rings up which 
bears fruit, with infertile seeds. 1 have frequently seen 
tliis in the Apple, Pear and Plum, and once in a Per- 
sinnncn tree. Such a variety could only be propagat- 
ed by any of the modes of grafumg, which is simply 
an extension and perpetuation of that particular plant, 
and could be elFected in no other way since it bear.s 
no seed. The Utile fruit called the currant, bearing 
no seed, was produced in Zante, on the Mediterranean, 
from the common grape (toYhs of that country. 
It has been perpetuated for many ages and is an essential 
ingredient in puddings and cakes in every part of the 
civilized world where luxury' abounds In all probability, 
a single plant only of this variety w-'S prc 'need from seed, 
but it has been multiplied and perpetuated by layers, cut- 
tings, &c. It is, therefore, the same vine, every layer be- 
*AU old subscribers ot the Cultivatcr will remember 
that this is the grass spoken of by P. L- Duncan, >hq., 
of Greenville, S. C., at page 1G2, vol. 11, of iliis journal. 
— Eds. 
ing only a part of the old plant. Our common Strawberry 
belongs to the class Icosandria, containing stamens and 
pistils on the same plant and in the same c.alyx. In some 
of the varicii»?s, staminate or male plants a.s tliey are called, 
are prodneed. These, when transplanted, as far as my 
observation goes, never produce pistilate, or fruit-bearing 
plants. Thus, a bed of sirawbt rrie.s without any fruit 
may be perpetuated. One of our common shade trees in 
Charleston, with the ridiculous English name of “Tree of 
Heaven,” {AUantu^ plandnUmi) in its native country, 
China, belongs to the class Polyg-arnia, viz : having male 
and female flowers in dillcrent parts of tlie same trees, or 
on different plants. 
In our Southern States, all the trees of this species t have 
examined have become dioecious, viz : all the male or 
staminate flowers are on one tree, and all the fertile florets 
on another; thus throwing the plant completely ottt of its 
original class and order. The female tree bears many 
seeds which are pests in our gardens; I removed all tlie 
latter, leaving tfie former, and I now have the benefit of the 
shade without tlte annoyance of the seedlings. I have given 
these examples to show that the production of in- 
fertile varieties of plants is not peculiar to the variety 
of grass under consideration, and that when produced they 
may be perpetuated to the end of time by the roots or cut- 
tings. i have not an opportunity at present of examining 
the seedless variety of the Bermuda Grass, but strongly 
suspect that it is a seedling variety produced from the 
Bermuda Grass, {DigUuria ductylon.') 
The Rose bush wiiich produces what is called the Green 
Rose, is a variety which originated from the seeds of the 
common Daily Rose. It has been known for fifteen or 
more years. It was produced, as I was informed, in 
Wilmington, N. C. 1 saw it in Columbia and had a plant 
in Charleston. In this case the seeds produced a variety, 
in which the stamens, pistils and petals were transformed 
into leaves, possessing the form of the rose, with the bright 
green color of the leaves. The petals of this singular pro 
duction, were, in reality, no longer flowers, with the aid- 
ing properties of the petals of the rose, but leaves with the 
persistence and durability of the leaves of the Rose bush. 
This variety cannot be propagated by seed, for it bears 
none, but has been increased by the usual modes of bud- 
ding, grafting; &c. The process in nature, in the produc- 
tion of this variety, is precisely the same as in this new 
variety of grass, and the extensive cultivation by tubers is- 
similar to that of muliiplying liu; plant by layers or by 
grafting. 
The question, whether this variety of grass will, under 
any circumstances, be brought to produce fertile seeds, 
and thus restore to our co.st tlie old and dreade<' c- rniy. 
tiie Means Grass, i.s not positively settled in my mind ; uf 
though my experience in all other varieties, is iofavorof its 
continuing just as it is at present, infertile and witl.out the 
long runners of tiie Ivituns Grass. I have never known, 
varieties to return without an intermixture; nor can I con- 
ceive how r.n infertile pl-ant, propagated fioin the root, can 
pioduce fertile florets by any mode of liansplaining. 1 have 
however, seen a single limo in the male Ailanius Tree pro- 
ducing itmalc flowers, which, howev r, : -d not, as fir as 1 
could ascertain, bear seeds. A.n Ailantus Tree of this 
transformed male variety which 1 saw in C ui ieston -JO 
years a o, and was the only tree of the species for 20 years 
afterwards in the city, throw out many ^-onts, which were 
transplanted, 'i hey all proved male trees, like the purent. 
Under any circumstances, should a strangling shoot pro- 
duce fertile seed, contrary to expectation, the plaiit tlmt 
has it may be ea.sily removed. I am so fRr satisfied tliut 
this plcrt will retain it.-i peculiarities anti not return tc 
the Meaiib Gross, that 1 have concluded, through the kind- 
neess of my friend, Mr. Peters, to cuhivate n bed in uiy 
garden with it. 
