This is a little off-topic, especially for those of you who don't live in The South. Those who do will likely enjoy reading how to ensure a good crop of kudzu—that vine that thrives and often takes over wherever it's planted! A few years ago, someone wrote to me asking, as manager of the Fayette Co. list, if I knew what that "beautiful vine was that was that is so prevalent in Fayette Co. AL" Hard to believe that some people thought our folks needed advice in order to make kudzu thrive! :) Monya This Month in Rural Alabama The Journal February 5, 1942 Page Three Here are a few suggestions that will insure better success with kudzu; read them over before you plant. Are You Going To Plant Kudzu? Have you planned to set a few acres in kudzu—the magic plant? Well, if you have, just remember these points and you’ll have much better luck: 1. Prepare land now for planting crowns or seedlings. Thorough preparation insures much better success with kudzu. If manure is used as a fertilizer it should be put down before the land is turned. If phosphate is used it should be applied at the rate of 200-400 pounds of 16 percent phosphate, or its equivalent, per acre along with 50 pounds of muriate or potash, or its equivalent, at the time crowns are set. Planting may be done from now until growth starts in the spring. 2. It is advisable to set the kudzu five to six feet apart in five- or six-foot rows. If the rows are made 10 to 12 feet apart some crop such as corn or soybeans may be planted in the middles the first year. Crowns are used only if they are two years old or older and have a bud or growing point and well-developed fleshy roots, eight to ten inches long. Kudzu can also be set 3-1/2 feet in the drill with 25 feet between rows. 3. In planting the crowns or seedlings should be set in an open furrow at the desired distance or holes ma be dug with a mattock or posthole digger if it is not desirable to plow furrows. The soil should be carefully pressed around each plant. 4. Never allow crowns or seedlings to dry out as this will result in a poor stand. A good idea is to plant seedlings and crowns the same day they are dug, but if this is not possible they should be heeled in and kept moist until the land is prepared. Fayette Co. AL list manager ASTON surname list manager MUSGROVE surname list manager THOMPSON surname list manager Researching: ANDERSON, ANDERSEN (Norway), ASTON, BISHOP, DODSON, FYLLINGSNES (Norway), GRANT, HARRIS, HOWELL, JORDAN, LESLIE, McDILL, McDONALD, MILLIGAN, MORTON, MUSGROVE, OWEN, PEDEN, SOUTH, STANFORD, THOMPSON and WEBSTER

Monya and all, I grew up in SC and definitely know what Kudzu is and how it thrives. Here is a link that some of your readers may find interesting. People have many uses for Kudzu and also the history behind this vine is located on this site. John -----Original Message----- From: Monya Havekost [mailto:MonyaH@conterra.com] Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 9:31 PM To: ALMARION-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Kudzu Advice This is a little off-topic, especially for those of you who don't live in The South. Those who do will likely enjoy reading how to ensure a good crop of kudzu—that vine that thrives and often takes over wherever it's planted! A few years ago, someone wrote to me asking, as manager of the Fayette Co. list, if I knew what that "beautiful vine was that was that is so prevalent in Fayette Co. AL" Hard to believe that some people thought our folks needed advice in order to make kudzu thrive! :) Monya This Month in Rural Alabama The Journal February 5, 1942 Page Three Here are a few suggestions that will insure better success with kudzu; read them over before you plant. Are You Going To Plant Kudzu? Have you planned to set a few acres in kudzu—the magic plant? Well, if you have, just remember these points and you’ll have much better luck: 1. Prepare land now for planting crowns or seedlings. Thorough preparation insures much better success with kudzu. If manure is used as a fertilizer it should be put down before the land is turned. If phosphate is used it should be applied at the rate of 200-400 pounds of 16 percent phosphate, or its equivalent, per acre along with 50 pounds of muriate or potash, or its equivalent, at the time crowns are set. Planting may be done from now until growth starts in the spring. 2. It is advisable to set the kudzu five to six feet apart in five- or six-foot rows. If the rows are made 10 to 12 feet apart some crop such as corn or soybeans may be planted in the middles the first year. Crowns are used only if they are two years old or older and have a bud or growing point and well-developed fleshy roots, eight to ten inches long. Kudzu can also be set 3-1/2 feet in the drill with 25 feet between rows. 3. In planting the crowns or seedlings should be set in an open furrow at the desired distance or holes ma be dug with a mattock or posthole digger if it is not desirable to plow furrows. The soil should be carefully pressed around each plant. 4. Never allow crowns or seedlings to dry out as this will result in a poor stand. A good idea is to plant seedlings and crowns the same day they are dug, but if this is not possible they should be heeled in and kept moist until the land is prepared. Fayette Co. AL list manager ASTON surname list manager MUSGROVE surname list manager THOMPSON surname list manager Researching: ANDERSON, ANDERSEN (Norway), ASTON, BISHOP, DODSON, FYLLINGSNES (Norway), GRANT, HARRIS, HOWELL, JORDAN, LESLIE, McDILL, McDONALD, MILLIGAN, MORTON, MUSGROVE, OWEN, PEDEN, SOUTH, STANFORD, THOMPSON and WEBSTER ============================== Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. New content added every business day. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx