usadeepsouth.com
by Marshall Dean
In winter and early spring, kudzu is temporarily in hiding. It isn't dormant --
just hibernating. You can even see the branches of the trees that it has
smothered. In a very short while, however, it unfurls its hand-size
leaves. Trees, fences, poles, abandoned buildings and cars will begin to
disappear again under its luxuriant foliage. It will also invade new
territories at a rapid rate. (Kudzu can grow a foot a day!) First time
Yankee visitors to the South will exclaim, "What in the world is that vine
that covers your tall trees?" Some will think it looks beautiful; others
say that kudzu produces a foreboding, grotesque landscape.
Kudzu is now classified as an obnoxious weed; however, it has not always had such a nefarious reputation. Back in 1876, kudzu was proudly displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was a featured plant display at the New Orleans Exposition in 1883. By the end of the century, kudzu was a popular ornamental plant. People planted it to shade the porches and courtyards of Southern homes. It was admired for the fragrance of its purple flowers and its rapid growth.
Kudzu assumed a new role in 1933. Congress established the Soil Erosion Service. The primary role of the SES was to find a way to reduce soil erosion caused by extensive cotton production and improper farming practice. Kudzu was hailed as the solution to the problem. Southern landowners eagerly sought the free kudzu seedlings which were happily distributed by the agency. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) energetically planted kudzu throughout the South. Farmers were offered up to $8 an acre to plant kudzu, and they eagerly responded to the offer. By 1946, they had planted about 3 million acres of kudzu. Kudzu was at the peak of its popularity. Kudzu clubs were formed, kudzu festivals were held, and kudzu queens were crowned.
Kudzu's popularity waned in the early 1950's. Kudzu had become
a pest. It was like a distant relative who'd been invited to dinner and decided to stay
and take over the household.
Kudzu thrived throughout the South, which provided a long growing season, warm climate, plentiful rainfall, and no
disease or insect enemies. In 1953, the Soil Conservation Service limited
its recommendations of kudzu to areas far removed from developed areas.
Finally, in 1970 the U.S. Department of Agriculture revoked its stamp of
approval. Kudzu was branded as "a common weed." Branding it did not mean
stamping it out, however.
Today, the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service at Auburn
University estimates that seven million acres of land in the South is
infested with kudzu, and kudzu covers a quarter of a million acres just in Alabama.
The plant originated in China and other parts of Asia where people still eat its
thick, starchy roots and make its stems into a fiber. It would be wonderful
if we could somehow find a way to export all of our kudzu back to where it
came from. Since that is improbable, many hours of labor and research are
being spent on finding ways to control or eradicate the pesky plant. In
Alabama, Mary Burks takes every opportunity to promote kudzu eradication.
She is an active conservationist and one of the founders of the Alabama
Conservancy.
At Auburn University, Dr. James H. Miller of the U.S. Forest Service has devoted over 18 year to researching various methods for combating kudzu. He is happy to discuss kudzu control problems and make helpful recommendations for specific situations. He has co-authored many publications on kudzu control. Dr. Errol G. Rhoden at Tuskegee Institute has done extensive research on using goats for kudzu control. Goats will eat almost anything and they love to devour kudzu.
At North Carolina State University, entomologist David Orr is working on what may be the ultimate solution to the kudzu problem. Orr and his students are perfecting a Frankenstein-like bug that's a cross between a caterpillar and a wasp. This strange critter eats kudzu at a fantastic rate but doesn't live long enough to damage other plants. Orr hopes his benevolent bug will spare farmers and landowners from expensive and dangerous herbicides in their fight against the fastest growing weed in the South. We hope so, too. If we could bug out kudzu, Alabama would be even more beautiful.
Post script: goats may be the answer. The popularity of goat meat is soaring
since the recent mad cow disease scare. A suggested slogan: Eat goat, kill
kudzu!
Marshall Dean is the author of a weekly column, "Rambling Prose," which is published in the Wetumpka, Alabama, Weekend. The column is written “from the sunny side of the street.” He is also a frequent contributor to several Web sites including Vocabula Review. E-mail Dean at yoe43K
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