Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/257

 REED 241 large part of both continents, on the edges of ponds, in ditches and marshes, and where it occurs abundantly looks at a distance like a field of broom corn. In Europe the reed is utilized in various ways ; it is planted by the margin of streams in order that its long and branching rootstocks may bind the soil and prevent the encroachment of the water upon the banks ; animals will eat the herbage when quite young, but it soon becomes too tough for them. In northern Europe the stems are valued for thatching, being much more dura- ble than straw, and rude huts are sometimes constructed from them ; and they are used for making hurdles and for other domestic pur- poses, among which is that of weaving mats for screening wall fruit, covering hotbeds, and protecting plants in various ways ; it is said that the flower panicles are used in Sweden to afford a greenish dye. As the plants form dense and tall thickets, they afford protection to various water and marsh birds and quadru- peds. In ornamental grounds where there is a moist locality, the reed may be introduced with good effect as an ornamental plant. The Cyprus reed, arundo donax, is a much more robust plant, growing 15 ft. or more high, with abundant leaves and very large terminal panicles of a brownish white color ; it is found in southern Europe, eastern Asia, western Africa, and on this continent in Mexico and Texas ; and it is apparently the reed mentioned in Scripture. It is used as supports for vines, for fishing poles, and various other purposes. There is a variegated form, A. donax versico- lor, in which the leaves are marked with very distinct bands of white and green ; it is one of the best of variegated plants, holding its markings under the hottest sun, but it does not grow so tall as the green kind. Both forms are occasionally seen in northern gar- dens, where it is necessary to give their roots a good covering of litter when winter Bets in. The large reed or cane of the south- ern states is described under OANEBEAKE. Sea reed is calamagrostis arenaria (ammophila of some authors), a coarse rigid grass 2 to 8 ft. high, with abundant firm running root- stocks ; it is frequent on the coast of Europe, and on our shores from New Jersey to Maine, and along the great lakes. The plant is capa- ble of being utilized to retain blowing sands. Besides the names above given, it has been called psamma and maram by authors. REED, Andrew, an English clergyman, born in London, Nov. 27, 1788, died there, Feb. 25, 1862. He studied at Hackney college, and in 1811 was ordained pastor of the Independent congregation in New Road chapel. In 1831 he removed with his congregation to Wycliffe chapel, Stepney, where he continued till his death. In 1834 he was deputed, with the Rev. James Matheson, by the Congregational union of England and Wales, to visit the United States and report on the state of religion and education there; and on his return he pub- lished with Mr. Matheson " Visit to the Amer- ican Churches " (2 vols., New York and Lon- don, 1836). He founded the London orphan asylum in 1813, the infant orphan asylum in 1827, the asylum for fatherless children at Croydon, the asylum for idiots at Reigate, and the royal hospital for incurables, and left be- quests to these institutions. He published " No Fiction " (London, 1818 ; 24th ed., 1860); "Martha" (1836); "The Day of Pentecost" (1839) ; " The Revival of Religion," and " Ear- nest Piety essential to Eminent Usefulness" (1839); and "Advancement of Religion the Claim of the Times" (1847). See "Memoirs of the Life and Labors of Andrew Reed, D. D." (1863), by his sons Charles and Andrew. The former is a proprietor of the London " Daily News" and president of the Sunday school union of England and "Wales ; he was elected to parliament in 1872, and in 1873 was a dele- gate to the conference of the evangelical alli- ance in New York. REED, Henry, an American author, born in Philadelphia, July 11, 1808, died Sept. 27, 1854. He graduated at the university of Pennsylva- nia in 1825, was admitted to the bar in 1829, and in 1835 became professor of rhetoric and English literature in the university of Penn- sylvania, retaining this post till his death. In the spring of 1854 he visited Europe, and on his return voyage was lost in the steamer Arc- tic. He wrote the life of his grandfather Jo- seph Reed, in Sparks's "American Biogra- phy;" "Lectures on English Literature from Chaucer to Tennyson" (1855); "Lectures on English History and Tragic Poetry, as illustra- ted by Shakespeare" (1855); and "Lectures on the British Poets " (1857). REED, Joseph, an American patriot, born in Trenton, N. J., Aug. 27, 1741, died in Phila- delphia, March 5, 1785. He graduated at the college of New Jersey in 1757. In 1763 he went to England, where he studied law until the troubles produced by the stamp act began, when he returned to Trenton, entered upon the practice of his profession, and in 1767 was appointed deputy secretary of New Jersey. Revisiting England in 1770, he married a daughter of Mr. Dennis De Berdt, agent for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and on his return settled at Philadelphia, took an active part on the side of independence in the po- litical struggles of the time, and through his English connections opened a lengthened cor- respondence on the subject with Lord Dart- mouth, secretary for the colonies. In 1774 he was appointed a member of the committee of correspondence, and in January, 1775, presi- dent of the first provincial convention held in Pennsylvania; and he was a delegate to the continental congress which met in May. On the formation of the army he was appointed aide-de-camp and secretary to Gen. Washing- ton. In 1776 he was made adjutant general, and by his local knowledge contributed to the successes at Trenton and Princeton. In 1777