By Allen Hamrick, Clay County Free Press
CLAY, W.Va. — If you have been in the town of Clay and lived here most of your natural life, you should have noticed the Kudzu plant. It is the plant that has waged war on the town of Clay for over one hundred years. It was brought in prior to the year 1900 to serve as a forage crop for the livestock of that period. The root system was also great for erosion control as it spreads quickly and roots deeply. Farmers and ranchers stopped using it because it spreads very rapidly and is difficult to control. Kudzu can be seen all through the town of Clay taking over hillsides and homes, and if not stopped, it will most definitely turn the town of Clay into a tomb. The plant is often called the vine that ate the south.
Kudzu was first introduced in the United States in 1876 in Philadelphia. Because the climate is different in America, the warm moist temperatures caused it to flourish and grow nearly a foot a day. It caused widespread panic by taking over everything in its path. The weight of the plant uprooted trees and covered houses, especially abandoned ones. The worst part is if it gets completely out of control, it could upset the ecosystem of the area it encompasses. Kudzu is exceedingly difficult to dispose of and takes years to get rid of completely. However, there are some methods that can be used to help control its growth.
In recent weeks, a collaboration between the WVU-Clay County Extension Office, the Town of Clay, and the Clay County Health Department has started a war of their own against the plant.
Read more: https://claycountyfreepress.com/news/cc-local-stories/wvu-extension-office-brings-in-the-big-guns/
