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LIBRARY (OF CONGRESS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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GARDENING IN FLORIDA
mo ‘We AS
ON THE
VEGETABLES AND TROPICAL PRODUCTS
OF
BL@aR I Dx.
BY
J. N. WHITNER, A. M,,
PROFESSOR OF THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE IN THE FLORIDA
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, LAKE CITY, FLORIDA,
FCOhga=
L-S*% wernni. She
~KPR 3 18 | }
C/y 21d 1g +5 Saas ee ese eee eee 7.02
Phosphoric Acid: c.5.%c. susl.ans ss svinanegebnenhecaamands es enor 36.85
Phosphate sof Troms ..i..30. sdyossesecsawecees anaes tener sear ee 4.74
Chloride:Of Sova. cecievscie-cnccaaa steer meeerenagaaeerce sane 3.57
100.00
After well fertilizing and thoroughly breaking and pulverizing
the ground, lay off the rows for a seed bed about a foot apart,.
and sow the seed the latter part of January or first of February.
Ifa large number of plants is desired, leave a walk every four
feet. When the plants are six inches high, thin out to the dis-
tance of ten or twelve inches. In this seed or nursery bed they
remain until fall—receiving meanwhile all needed attention in
the way of work and watering. During the winter transplant to
the permanent bed in rows four feet by three. The soil should
be exceedingly rich and moist. Salt and forest leaves will tend
to promote moisture, and prove valuable additions to the manure
heap.
In propagating by suckers, begin quite early in the spring to
remove the shoots from the old plant. Select those from six to
ten inches high, sound but not woody. Remove the brown, hard
part next to the old stem. If that is tender and crisp in cutting
ARTICHOKES. ao
the plant is good, but if tough and stringy it is worthless. It is
advisable in preparing them for planting, to remove the large
outside leaves so low that the heart shall appear above them.
The frequent stirring of the soil should not be neglected. Heads
may be expected the same year from June to October, afterwards
from April to July.
The bed should receive a liberal supply of suitable manure
every winter, which must be thoroughly forked in.
At the beginning of early spring remove all except two or three
of the straightest and most vigorous shoots or suckers from the
old parent plant, being careful to select from those under the
stock. After the head has been cut for use, break the stem down
to the root, to encourage the growth of suckers.
There is said to be two varieties of this vegetable, yet they do
not differ essentially. One having a round, and the other a coni-
cal head. The edible qualities are about the same.
After the fourth or fifth year the old plants, notwithstanding
their perennial quality, fail to produce good heads, and must give
way to fresh ones, obtained as already described.
In preparing for the table “the whole head before the bloom
begins to appear, is boiled; the pod leaves are pulled off, one or
two at atime, and eaten by dipping in butter with a little
pepper and salt—removing only the mealy part with the teeth.
The bottom, when all the leaves are disposed of, is eaten with
the knife and fork.” The well known fondness of the French
for salads is also exhibited in their use of this vegetable. They
are said to gather the heads when no larger than a dollar, and
eat the lower ends of the leaves raw, dipping them first in oil,
vinegar, salt and pepper.
3 :
34 ' GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
As an article of food, the artichoke is considered wholesome,
though possessing very little nutriment. The flowers are said to
eurdle milk after the manner of rennet.
ARTICHOKE---JERUSALEM.
(Helianthus tuberosus. )
The origin of the word Jerusalem in the above name is as-
eribed to the English corruption of the Italian word Girasole,
Sun Flower, of which it is a species.
It is grown for the tuber, by which it is propagated. It isa
little less nutricious, but far more productive than the Irish: po-
tato, especially on thia lands. And this should commend it to the
swine and cattle raisers of the State. “Sandy soil of fair quality
is said to yield from 1,200 to 1,500 bushels per acre.” * * *
“The tops cured in autumn form an excellent hay, yielding five
or six tons per acre.”
The tubers are planted and cultivated very similar to the po-
tato. Itis hardier, and will withstand much more cold. ) I
usually so robust and tempting.
The object in having the rows as near as fifteen inches—as in
small plats, is not so much to economise ground, as it is to utilize
the manure, of which the supply must be most liberal—some
may think excessive, yet it is indispensable to success, even where
the land is naturally good.
Some gardeners prefer the seed bed and transplanting method.
It-may be well to give both a trial. The same deep trenching
and thorough manuring is required alike for seed aud perman-
ent beds. On the seed bed the drills need not be over twelve
inches apart, and the seeds dibbled along, and carefully covered
with an inch or so of soil. After they are up above ground, they
should be thinned to a good growing distance. Keep the ground
stirred and otherwise treated, as already described, through the
summer. The time for transplanting to the permanent bed,
which must be determined by inspecting the root—is when the
bud has commenced to grow, about the first of February—as-
suming that the permanent bed has been thoroughly prepared,
dig up the plants with the roots as little mutilated as possible,
which must be carefully spread out in drill or trench opened to
receive them, and which should be deep enough to give the
crown a covering of two inches of earth when the trench is filled
up. Probably eight inches or a little less, depending upon the
size of the plants. It will be found convenient to cut one side
of the trench vertical, so that the plants may be supported
against it while manipulating the roots. Set the plants about
AO GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
ten inches apart, and use water freely in the operation and for
several evenings thereafter if the weather is dry. Too much
stress can scarcely be laid upon the importance of using great
care in handling the roots, They should not be bruised nor
suffered to become dry.
_ The duration of an Asparagus bed varies from ten to twenty
years, determined by the treatment received. One fruitful source
of injury is excessive gathering, Shoots must be left to induce
the growth of roots for future supply. The first indication of
exhaustion should be heeded.
VARIETIES.
There seems to be a doubt, and very generally entertained, as
to there being more than one variety of this vegetable, the
CotossaLu. Mr. Gregory, of Marblehead, Mass., however, offers
what he calls a new and superior variety, called Defiance.
SEED FOR AN ACRE.
One ounce of seed will plant about sixty feet of drill. One
pound will produce 3,000 plants, and six to seven pounds will be
required for an acre.
PREPARATION FOR MARKET.
The shoots are tied up in round bunches of twenty to thirty
shoots each with bass matting.
PROFITS.
That this may be made a very profitable crop, a single obser-
vation will suffice to show. Taking the minimum number of
plants estimated to an acre of land, and allowing but two shoots
to the plant gives 30,000 shoots, then with the maximum number
of shoots to the bunch, we shou!d have 1,000 bunches, for which
the quotations in the New York market range from 75 cents to
BEAN. 41
$2.00 per dozen bunches, or from $750 to $2,000 gross per
acre. Certainly an attractive exhibit of its possibilities. And
not an illusive one with the advantages offered by the soil and
climate of Florida, especially if assisted by artificial irrigation.
BEAN.
Phaseolus.
ANALYSIS.
POMBO Re nve ote aa 82 Oceana bu danas cake esaunsletecasgn eden. Geoeules 36.83
PR eee Nas Nea wednnoltinida nManene es angeeceeas waduceamascdodecauesaus 7.75
FemeAU UTE Cape CUCL CS 101.5 nis ceisios at oeiln teats hoc osiawg ob clare aeislas's ewan ios 3.96
emeCreIMOTUC! AICI W522 2-).0tecorodessescewe secrete teaclesscaccacelseos 14.60
PPC WA. Glad its on deve cates cee ace soeanidesieyeedsvabehetoekecdlaavtes 4.09
SMUT eS OCLs 5 5 aslei ae ddaes sn <6 ssinip ss on ese ene'tesinis zavielnd 2.80
BO tee Neate casas Ao aes fet aprinide Soe wh ais ow's''s sid ira edeetsec ase eaield sie ese 18.40
IMB eSEAE ver ose cae oes aac shwetesstuln wwallaguios stasteoweddenwe st 6.33
POs phic: Ob LROMe etre conatiociansdadescsacesanedetlemcdeses\ocens 5.24
The Bran is of Eastern origin, and is said to be found grow-
‘ing wild in Persia at the present day. It has been cultivated in
the earliest ages of which we have any record. The Greeks and
Romans held it in high esteem, and accorded it a prominent
place in their most important feasts.
As an article of food “for man and beast” it is of great value,
containing ten per cent. more nutriment than wheat. Yet, not-
withstanding this, and the fact of its superiority to corn for horse
feed, it is never cultivated for that purpose in the Southern
States.
The Bean is grown on every variety of soil not too wet, and in
49 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
all portions of the State. For market, earliness is an object, the
deep soils of the elevated sections abounding with alkalies are:
best, since crops planted on hill tops are less liable to be nipped
by late frosts. Wood ashes are beneficial as a fertilizer, and so:
are cotton seed, which should be passed through a mill to crack
them, and applied to the Janda month before planting time..
Bone flour is another good manure, and old and thoroughly de-
composed stable manure. If the soil is light and sandy, fresh barn-
yard manure and guano should not be used. Frequent watering
in dry weather by some appliance for irrigation, would greatly
enhance the value of this crop—as it would indeed of all others.
Break up the land deep and close, and after the manure is ap-
plied and plowed in, lay off the field into rows thirty inches apart.
Then with a seed drill let the seed be deposited along this row
with two or three inches between. The machine of course does.
its own covering. If without a seed planter—a misfortune truly,
and one to which no market gardener can long submit—the seed
must be dropped along continuously, or two or three seeds in a
place, at intervals of five or six inches and covered with the foot.
The seed must be planted two inches deep. Where manuring in
the drill is preferred, the seeds are first dropped and the manure
distributed over them; for which purpose the “ lay off” furrows
must be larger and deeper. Of course this method could not be
practiced with fertilizers whose contact with the seed would be
hurtful. In such cases it would become necessary to interpose a
layer of earth between the manure and seed, or drills for the fer-
tilizer may be made on either side, and parailel to the seed drill.
It will be better in the end to adopt broad cast manuring, as.
the roots of the plants very soon leave the drill.
BEAN. 43
DWARF OR BUSH BEAN.
Earty Monawk is largely planted for the first crop by mar-
ket gardeners, being considered less liable to injury from late
spring frosts.
GOLDEN WAx, a very choice variety, of a beautiful waxy ap-
pearance, with round pods, stringless, and very productive. This
Bean is highly esteemed as a snap for its rich flavor and remark-
able tenderness. It is said to be an excellent shelled bean also.
Buack Wx is another of the “wax” family of beans. This
is a good variety, but not quite as early as the the Golden Wax.
Rep and WHITE VALENTINE and Lona YELLow Six WEEKS
are also early and productive varieties; round pods.
Of the Running or Pole Snap Bean, the Giant Wax is per-
haps as good a variety as any, and as a shelled bean. For winter
use, DrREER’s IMPROVED LiMa is not excelled.
CULTURE.
As soon as the Bush Beans will bear work, after coming up,
run lightly through the alleys with a cultivator to break the crust
on the surface of the ground, and destroy any embryo crop of
grass or weeds that may be springing forth. Later on, the plants
will require to have the earth drawn carefully up to the stems
with the -hoe. And if the land was properly prepared before
planting, no other work will be needed. Beans must never be
worked while the leaves are wet—whether from dew or rain—the
dirt en the leaves occasioned thereby will cause the plants to rust.
Pole Beans should be planted about three and a half feet each
way. Assoon as the bed has been broken up and fertilized—
the same as for bush beans—set up the poles and plant half a
dozen beens around each about two inches deep. The poles may
44 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
be driven in first and the manure scattered around and chopped
in. Very little after work is needed except to keep down grass
and weeds.
SEED FOR AN ACRE.
To plant one acre with Bush Beans will take from one and a
half to one and three-quarter bushels. One quart will plant 100
feet of drill. Half a bushel of seed will plant an acre with
Running or Pole Beans. ;
The Bean is regarded as one of the staple vegetables of Florida.
Not so profitable as some others, but it is easily grown, and in
those sections where it is chiefly cultivated, easily harvested.
BEET.
Beta Vulgaris.
ANALYSIS.
POCA SBA diss toca thee en tee Alans ces orp eh ihdicceeun pak CRN Gel meinen: 19.51
POOLE cis ticti' Wh cha tele wie Mtn nus mein SY aie rach elas ERG nies ey ales Gh eine 21.12
PT rhe sete divs HAistd Whore aon ars/t Capua a ass nl Ste asaleseata ich SMe scare ita ata Ie rn 8.25 —
NBD THROBIE ate tia reauantdasn best ceexrametebea tne ves Rahcarradecsmaraees 6.96
DESIR O RIOT MPO. coi ncvcvneh on conpcamenwhnbve waeeeeenen acon Oa
SUNG ASOT i iccn ie Scacataa vel vss trees ante ay Rieti ed tea rc kanenn 2.46
Cert Om 1s ACT) sie be cave -ae cyntore bu 0 Vedio gs ba aiNelaa ata ee CRIES 29.10
FPDORDUONIC. Al divs dsvparatnneeiecnajsitineseannneannn ere aey is 2.39
Chloride OF SOAiua cee ssk enue bee caw anoeite ich cea eiren etme oe 2.85
Sand and’ Silicio Asides, jade irdeeebencos es She teaN nara asseatse 14.11
This valuable esculent is said to have obtained its name from
a fancied resemblance of its seed to the second letter of the Greek
alphabet. It is a native of the seashore, and grows wild along
BEET. 45
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The best: soil is a deep
sandy loam, thoroughly enriched with ashes, salt, cotton seed,
and old stable manure. Seaweed, plowed under some time
before planting, would serve an excellent purpose.
This is a profitable vegetable to grow for market if early
enough. Our ordinary winters are sufficiently mild to permit
its open air culture with safety. Occasionally, however, they are
“nipped” by a December or early January freeze in the north-
ern districts of the State. This is especially the case when it is
planted in valleys where the soil is much more suitable—aside
from. its greater fertility. On the hill tops the crop is much
more likely to escape injury from cold.
If the crop is to be worked by hand, the rows need not be
more than twelve to fifteen inches apart, but if horse-power is to
be employed—greater distance must be given—from two to three
feet. When the saving in seed—which are costly—the better
work, and greater dispatch are duly considered, no market
grower of this vegetable can afford to be without a good seed
drill. The seed should be dropped along at short intervals of an
inch or two to insure a stand in drills three inches deep. They
should not be thinned to a stand the first going over, as they are
liable to be destroyed by cut worms. When finally reduced to
a stand, they should be about six inches apart where the rows
are close, and four inches in the wider rows. If the weather is
dry at the time of sowing the seed, the earth should be well
pressed down, either with a roller or by walking on the planted
row. The seed will vegetate sooner by being soaked the night
before in water. The young plants removed in the operation of
thinning, may be used in extending the plat by transplanting. It
46 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
is one of the very best vegetables for successful transplanting we
have. On account of which, the sowings for.a family garden
are frequently made in a box, relying entirely on transplanting.
As to the labor, it is no greater than thinning, and almost as ex-
peditious. And the per cent. of loss in transplanting beets is
quite small, scarcely appreciable.
VARIETIES.
EKeyptran Turnrp—The earliest and perhaps the best—deep
crimson, sweet, and of delicate flavor.
Karty Bioop Turnip—This was the standard among our
truck farmers, before the introduction of the Egyptian, whiclt is
claimed to be earlier.
EARLY YELLOow TURNIP
Early Blood Turnip.
Prne AppLE—An English variety of superior quality.
Similar, except in color, to the
The above are,cultivated for the table. For feeding stock and
especially milch cows, a larger variety of the Beet family, MAN-
GEL WURZEL, is extensively raised by Northern farmers. There
is the Lone Rep, and Lona YELLOW MANGEL WuRZEL.
The immense yield of this vegetable—exceeding that of the
Sweedish or Ruta Baga turnip, makes it the cheapest for stock
known.
The Waite or SuGar Beer is largely grown in Europe and
in parts of the United States for sugar making. It can never
compete with the sugar cane, however, as a sugar-yielding
product.
Beet growers for Northern and Western markets should begin
to ship by the time the beets are half grown. Crop off the top
within two or three inches of the base.
|. oe
BORECOLE. 47
Sow the seed about the first of November. The quantity will
-of course be determined by the distance between rows, and close-
ness in the drill—varying from four to eight pounds per acre.
‘When sold by the hundred it is best to ship in barrels.
BORECOLE.
Brassica Oleracea Fimbriata.
This vegetable, known also
s “Kale,” and “German
Greens,” is one of the hardi-
: Me est, and at the same time, one
= = _ of the most delicate, for table
“use, of the cabbage tribe.
% It is extensively cultivated in
=?" all European countries, and
also in some of the Northern
States of the Union, where it is raised, though not largely, for
market.
The most popular market variety is DwARF GERMAN GREENS
or Sprouts. It is slightly tinged with a bluish green color, sim-
ilar to the Rutabaga turnip.
GREEN CuRLED Scorcn, a dwarfish variety as to height—
generally about eighteen inches—but spreads to a diameter of
three feet. The leaves curl up handsomely and make an attrac-
not affected
tive bed. This is considered the hardiest variety
48 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
by any degree of cold above zero, except to be made more ten-
der and palatable.
PurpPLEe BorEcoue is the favorite variety with the Germans.
The English prefer a dwarf variety known as “ Cottager’s Kale.”
“Tt is about twelve inches high, double curled, and feathered al-
most to the ground.”
BoreEcoue has a large, loose open head, of agreeable flavor,
requiring no protection{from frosts, such as visit Florida, and the
wonder is that it is so entirely overlooked.
The culture is similarjto that of the cabbage, which 1s minute-
ly described under that head, and so of the preparation of the
soil, fertilizers, ete. It must, however, have more space than that
fixed upon as an average. In rich soil the plants should not be
set nearer together than two and a half by three feet.
Sow the seed in narrow beds about first November and trans-
plant when the plants have four leaves. Or the seed may be
sown, three or four to a hill, where the plants are to grow. It is
important to “earth up” the soil around the base of the stem to
guard against the upsetting of the plant by the wind, after the
leaves are pretty well grown. The tops become quite -heavy.
This should be done before the leaves have become too large for
manipulating with the hoe, without breaking or bruising them.
BROCCOLI.
Brassica Oleracea Botrytis.
There is no doubt that this vegetable is intimately allied to _
the Cauliflower. Indeed some gardeners object to their separa-
ee Sa
BROCCOLI. 49
tion. Although not as delicate of flavor as Cauliflower, yet it
possesses advantages which should
commend it to the attention of market
gardeners.
Broccort is a a hardier plant than
Cauliflower, and is therefore safer to
plant in Northern Florida, where the
fe Cauliflower is frequently killed. It is
said to be able to resist a degree of cold as severe as 25° above
zero, and sells for only three per cent. less than Cauliflower.
Another advantage over that vegetable, as a market product,
consists in its standing shipping better.
Like the Cauliflower, it is a gross feeder—requiring the land
and ean be much more successful-
to be made exceedingly rich
ly grown on moist, than it can on dry land.
THe Waite CaPe is perhaps the surest, of the different sorts,
to head. The heads—of only medium size—are of a creamy
white, and compact.
PURPLE Cape differs from the preceeding in 1ittle else than
eolor, which is of a greenish purple. It is thought to be a little
hardier than the white, but commands less price on account of
its color.
Earty WALCHEREN makes the earliest heads, yet not as com-
pact as some of the others. |
See Cauliflower for directions respecting cultivation, ete. Sow
the seed first of November.
5O GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS.
Brassica Oleracea.
This is another “Greens” bearing
vegetable. It is much esteemed in
‘England, where it is extensively
grown ; but it is very little cultivated
in this country. Being delicate, and
quite sensitive to cold, the Northern
winters are too severe, while here at
the South where it may be grown it is
seldom seen. By some it is thought
to be a variety of the Savoy family of
cabbages, tender and of delicate flavor.
Its appearance is peculiar. Grow-
ing to the height of four feet under
favorable conditions, and the stalk covered with little green
cabbage heads, about the size of walnuts, which spring from the
base of the leaves. The leaves drop off and the little buds or
heads are left sticking closely around the stalk.
The top leaves—comprising the crown, may be cut off and
boiled like cabbage, but the buds around the main stalk are
mostly prized and eaten.
The sprouts are good all winter, cultivate the same as Cab-
bages, setting the plants two feet each way.
Wt
tet
CABBAGE. ¢
CABBAGE.
Brassica Oleracea.
ANALYSIS.
Silicie Acid...... Peon Ae ea naa wei enc Can Se uterkinn Maltarated cet s oO 0.06
BUTI ACIG i. tasdecenc cos csemsadvesavesscneqee «ovpesicasnys'vee os 1.12
OST NOMIC! ACIDS vic sehesteeder recta cw seme steep seine sees teres awe E27
piospiat Of LAM. 7. .dscsieckasnecacenstoceessiessesampdmeuiaees 0.12
Perr os ects once ete aa ag oleae emai s stole pe ox he mclona kes sinheet ent heats 0.29
Reimers ales raas sen daeamatuienaeebeee saad ce es ae ination centeanrenen’ 0.35
PREGW GYRE bee oa te nein eho cea Cee eae Me coe ars waalnas exes bales dame tance 2.09
PRU eyias MAE Feet ASG isan aleica ve tee Seealeemals sanbiea te camaenencloneasaecite 3.02
(UTE Sea ee cc pe a ES SO 0.08
This is one of the most valuable of vegetables to the Florida
market gardener for the following reasons:
1. It can be grown threugh the winter months, to meet the
early spring demand in higher latitudes.
2. The limited area in which this immunity is enjoyed, will
always insure remunerative prices.
3. The bulk of the crop may be shipped at a season of the year
when the delay of a day or two will not materially affect its
market value.
4. It is easily cultivated ; is liable to fewer casualties in pro-
duction and therefore surer; and will bear without injury a con-
siderable amount of rough handling in transportation.
VARIETIES.
The varieties of the Cabbage—judging from seed catalogues
are quite numerous ; but there is little doubt that in many cases
the same Cabbage bears as many names as there are or have
been seedsmen—the differences claimed being either imaginary
or due to the modifying effects of climate, soil and culture,
5Y GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
Among those most successfully cultivated by market gardeners
may be mentioned :
Earty JERSEY WAKEFIELD: Is an early and very popular
variety in the Northern market. Here it does not attain much
size.
Earty Wryninestapt: An excellent kind of good shipping’
size when properly cultivated, and a sure header. It grows well
on any kind of land. The heads are conical and very firm.
VNR =
ANGI
Forrier’s Improve Earty Brunswick: Is one of the
best varieties for the general market. Heads of medium to
large size; they are flat on top, and very handsome. It is
largely planted.
~Earty Giant BLEICHFIELD: This is the earliest of the large
heading varieties. Of recent introduction and not much known,
but as far as tried has given great satisfaction.
CABBAGE. 5S
Friar Durcn: An old standard sort, and favorably regarded
everywhere. Has a short stalk and fine, large, flat head.
2
K -
! i
Nea tol
“AN Su
a RSS —— Spe SSS
Henperson’s EArty Summer: This is a good cabbage for
avarm weather, has a head of medium size.
IvprovepD AMERICAN Savoy: The Savoy Cabbages are
more delicately flavored than any others, and should always be
grown for home use. They are also planted for shipping, but
the heads are not so firm as most of the other kinds.
QUANTITY OF SEED FOR AN ACRE.
One ounce of Cabbage seed will ordinarily produce 2,000
plants. So to plant an acre two feet each way, thus allotting
four square feet to a plant would require 10,890 plants in exact
figures; the product of about five and a half ounces, but eight
ounces—half a pound—will not be too many to provide.
As the sowing of seed should begin the latter part of Septem-
ber, when the heat of the sun is intense the greater part of the
day—a cool shaded spot in the garden should be selected for
seed beds. But it will not do to rely upon trees for protection,
j4 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
for violent rain-storms and the drip from trees are about as fatal
to young plants as the sun’s rays. It will therefore be better to
provide a moveable shelter of cheap cotton cloth, one that can be
quickly and easily adjusted for sudden emergencies. With such
an arrangement, which need cost but a trifle, the plants can be
exposed to sunshine or not as may be desired. Sowing in boxes,
when practicable, will be found of advantage, both on account
of the greater facility in sheltering the tender plants, and the
better protection from insects. The boxes should be raised from
the ground two feet or more. If beds are adopted, make them
four feet broad with walks two feet wide for convenience in sow-
ing, weeding, thinning, watering, transplanting, ete.
The soil should be only moderately rich, but light and well
pulverized—very rapid growth makes the young plants too deli-
cate. Sow the seed in drills one inch deep and four inches apart,
and avoid the common error of sowing too thick. Lay a board
over each drill after covering and press down firmly. Fora seed
bed a plank laid over the covered drill and walked upon answers
every purpose. Should the plants, in spite of every effort to the
contrary, be crowded, as is very apt to be the case, remove them
to other beds or boxes, as soon as they have four leaves, and give
them a distance of two by four inches each.
Begin seed sowing about the 20th of September, and continue
with intervals of a week until Ist December. The object for ex-
tending the period of sowing through so many weeks is to multi-
ply the chances of the young plants escaping the ravages of in-
sects, and the better to insure favorable seasons for at least a por-
tion of the crop. Be sure to have an ample supply of plants.
Beginners frequently make a serious, and sometimes an irrepara-
a ~
CABBAGE. 5D
ble mistake in this matter. Better have a surplus, and submit
to the loss of a few cents or dimes, than incur the risk of a good
stand. In those sections of the State where insects—particularly
the cut worm—are troublesome, twice as many plants should be
provided as the area to be planted calls for.
Fine specimens of cabbage heads, large and firm, have been
preduced all over this State, and upon almost every kind of land.
Cabbages grown on oyster shell land near the coast, are said to
have escaped “club foot” during an experience of fifty years.
Lime in some form is essential, and must be applied to soils in
which it is deficient. Bone flour—phosphate of lime—is an ex-
cellent fertilizer, and so is stable manure, or pure guano com-
bined with gypsum—which is the sulphate of lime. Common
salt will furnish soda,.and ashes potash. Cotton seed is another
good manure. They should, however, be cracked and applied
some little time in advance. If the cake is used mix it with gyp-
sum. The quantity of fertilizing substances required for an acre
of ground will depend upon the character and condition of the
soil. Each cultivator must decide for himself, Market garden-
ers in the vicinity of New York make an annual application of
from 75 to 100 tons of stable manure, or 1,200 pounds of Peru
vian guano, or one ton of Bone flour. This heavy manuring, it
is true, is for heavy cropping, lapping one crop over another.
But will our climate not admit of raising as many crops in a sea-
son as that of New York? This is just the point. Our intensive
system must advance a few steps. Weneed more liberal fertiliz-
ing, and better cultivation, in order to realize the rich harvests
which Providence, under these favoring skies, has placed within
our reach. As long as the cost of seed, the value of land, and
56 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
expense of cultivation are as great in poor as good tillage, so
long will it be false economy to restrict the plants to an inade-
quate supply of food.
In general terms, the land, to bring a good crop of cabbages,
should be rich enough to produce sixty bushels of corn.
It is scarcely necessary to add that cow-pen lands are admira-
bly adapted to this, as they are to almost every other crop, espe-
cially if the surface is turned under two or three times while be-
ing trodden by cattle.
With the ground closely and deeply ploughed—subsoiled, if
needed—and well fertilized, the next step is to “lay off’ Some
of the early varieties of cabbage are planted as close as 12x2
feet, while the “Marblehead Mammoth” requires nearly double
the distance. Two feet each way is a fair average for the general
crop. This allows four square feet to the plant, and will give
10,890 plants to the acre. Or in round numbers, 10,000, making
a liberal discount for casualties, imperfect stand, failure to head,
etc. Ifthe land is approximately level, it may be checked off
with a plow. If so hilly as to require horizontal rows, the dis-
tance along the rows may be rapidly and accurately marked by
a spacer.
As the plants in the seed bed or boxes arrive at the proper
size commence transplanting.
Should a rainy day happen along when everything is in readi-
ness, Improve every moment of it. But do not wait for such a
spell to the probable detriment of the plants. The transplanting
can be accomplished just as successfully without as with a rain.
Its absence only imposes a little more labor, and diminishes the
number that might be put out at onetime. For if the weather is
|
4
§
i
}
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CABBAGE. of
svarm, the work had better be done late in the afternoon. The
seed bed shonld be softened with water beforehand so that the
plants may be taken up without injuring the roots. Place them
as fast as they are gathered with the aid of a trowel or wooden
paddle into a shallow vessel containing enough water to keep the
roots wet, and just before planting dip the roots into a sort of
thin mortar, previously prepared of cow dung, clay and water.
This operation is called puddling the plants; the effect of which
is to keep the roots moist, thereby inducing a quicker growth.
Set the plants deep into the ground and be careful to press the
earth well up to the roots, finishing the job with a little water,
which settles the soil between and around the roots still more
effectually.
The fall and winter plantings will rarely require any other
attention, until it becomes evident they have taken root, when
with a prong hoe, the soil immediately around the plant must be
Joosened, especially in clay lands, where it gets very hard from
the process of transplanting.
The tap-root should be pinched off if not broken by the act of
digging up; the reason for which is, its alleged interference in
some unaccounable way with the heading of the plant. Itisa
well-established fact, that Cabbages planted where they are to
remain permanently, do not produce as many nor as firm heads
as the transplants, and this would seem to favor the tap-root
heory. Some years since the experiment was tried in one of
jhe most intelligent communities in this State by a number of
ntlemen, and resulted in favor of transplanting. It will pay
the end to subject the plants to close inspection and reject all
Int are deficient in fibrous roots. They rarely come to much.
58 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
For at least a fortnight after the bed or field has been planted,
supply all missing places, caused by worms or otherwise, as fast
as they occur. .
Frequent stirring of the soil is universally conceded to be of
great advantage to the Cabbage crop, which not only promotes
its more rapid growth, but its tendency to head—since heading
is one of the wonders wrought by cultivation—and never seen in
the wild plant. The idea of working the Cabbage bed “early in
bd
the morning, while the Jeaves are wet with dew,’ quoted by
every old farmer, originated, probably, from the supposed
destruction to insects which would result from the adhesion of
soil to the leaves. The cool portions of the day is always best
for working tender garden plants, after hot weather has set in.
To prevent the heads from bursting after reaching maturity,
lean the plant over to one side thereby breaking some of the
roots and thus diminish the number of its feeding organs.
In gathering for shipping, cut the heads in the cool part of the
day, and spread in the shade several hours before packing in
barrels. Strip the head of all outer leaves except two or three
to protect from bruises, and pack very closely in the barrel, in
which should be a number of holes for ventilation, and if canvass
is used for top heading, fill the barrel until the heads project
above the staves so as to insure a full package.
After the land has been thoroughly prepared, the subsequent
culture is light and can be performed with the aid of imple
ments by hand. The garden plow and hand cultivator make t
possible to dispense with the use of the horse in several of ow
market crops, this among them, and gain thereby. Sucha
declaration may sound like taking a step backward, but it 1s
CARROT. 59
nevertheless true. Broadcast fertilizing will eventually be adopt-
ed by vegetable growers, so that it will be desirable to plant with
an eye to obtaining as much as possible from a given area, no
matter how cheap land may be.
Where horse power is employed wider rows are required—and
consequently there will be fewer plants than where the field or
patch is worked by hand, i.e., man power. To illustrate. An
acre in Cabbages for instance, which is to be cultivated by horse
power, must have the rows three feet apart, while for hand cul-
ture they may be two feet or even less, to grow the same size
Cabbage, a gain of thirty-three and a third per cent. To use
figures, the three feet rows will contain 7,260 plants to the acre,
and those having but two feet distance foot up 10,890, the dis-
tance in the drill to be the same in both—two feet. A difference
of 3,630 in favor of close planting and hand cultivation, without
estimating for those trodden down and otherwise injured by the
horse, or the space to be left at the ends of the rows for turning.
CARROT.
Daucus Carota.
This vegetable, even for stock, is not grown to any extent in
this State. In the garden, a row or two, for flavoring soups, is
sometimes seen. It is very valuable root for feeding to stock of
all kinds, either in the cooked or raw state. Combined in equal
parts with oats, it is better horse feed than all oats. Besides, it
60 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
is easily cultivated through our mild winters—requiring less fer-
tility of soil than similar plants—and very productive. In New
England, 600 bushels per acre is an ordinary crop. Smaller
plots have been made to yield at the rate of 1,000 bushels per
acre.
The varieties of Carrot, of which there are many, arg divided
into two families—
Ist. Those with a regular fusiform root, which are named
Lone CARROTS.
2nd. Those having one root nearly cylindrical, abruptly ter-
minating, but continuing with a long, slender tap root, which are
denominated Horn CARROTS.
The second kinds are preferred for their flavor, and for shal-
low soils, while the first is generally used for the main crop.
VARIETIES.
Harr Lone Rep (stump-rooted), Danvers, and Lone Or-
ANGE IMPROVED.
Analysis of the root of the Carror gives the following result:
ANALYSIS.
TR OLASSAls cai sodas Se ead Ere rages eae a ee eatin els Wet ane eee 37.55
POU Aas sicigetesalee dee cata Seu Mee es ad coebioame oe une Sebene ae aes eee 12.63
BGHING sence faadieh a deioddantiv een doch wedecen ce ere Se eioe eee eee 9.7
MA OMESIE AE eulocies sh06.c node astanebaamierle escent: oMeanemme es codes 3.78
sesqeuloxideor bron. i504 alioee cede ccen eee mace eee tet 0.7
ul pburie VA Cid <8) odocedcineccitaen P)
“blanching.” After the ridges have reached the desired height,
they are finished off with the spade, using the back to smooth
the sides of each ridge and leaving them in shape like the letter
A. About two weeks after the last operation the CELERY will
be ready for use.
Another method of blanching is to make one job of it. After
transplanting the plants, receive ordinary cultivation until full
growth isattained. They are then treated as described for blanch-
ing,except that the work is all merged into a single operation.
Among the advocates of this plan are some noted English hor:
ticulturists. They claim that larger, finer bunches are obtained
CELERY. 71
by it, and in less time; and moreover, that it “saves a vast deal
of trouble to the laborer.” The long-continued process of “ hill-
ing up,’ with the earth constantly surrounding the plant, im-
pedes its growth, they think, and induces decay. There is no
doubt that a plant will develop faster and more perfectly while
enjoying all the essentials of growth without stint.
Blanching is also effected by using boards, straw, ete. Light
being the source of all color, blanching is the result of its exclusion.
Some few gardeners still adhere to the old system of digging
deep trenches, and filling up as the plants grow. The level cul-
ture, however, is so much less troublesome that it will soon en-
tirely supersede trenching.
There are two distinct kinds of celery, white and red, and of
these there are several varieties each. The Dwarf White Solid
seems to be preferred in most markets, Boston alone excepted,
although the crimson variety is admitted to be the richest, both
in appearance and flavor.
INCoMPARABLE DwarF WHITE and INcoMPARABLE DWARF
CRIMSON are very superior sorts, solid, compact, tender, crisp
- and juicy, and differ only in color.
Boston MarKETt is grown exclusively by market gardeners in
the vicinity of Boston. It has quite a cluster of heads, instead
of a single one like the other kinds.
GOLDEN Heart is also of dwarf habit, with a rich flavor, and
of a pure golden color, very showy.
Peter Henderson claims to have produced a new variety, which
he calls Waire PLumep. It is said to possess all the good qual-
ities of the other white solid varieties, with the additional one of
a peculiarly strong, upright growth. The leaves, of their own ac-
yi GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
cord growing close, and parallel to the heart or center stem.
Beginners in celery culture are likely to become discouraged
by the length of time it takes seeds to germinate during the hot
months of summer—the season for planting the main crop—and
find fault with the seed. They will come up in less than half
the time in cool weather. A month or more may elapse after
planting before the summer crop shows above ground. And the
necessity of protecting the young plants from rain and sun dur-
ing the heat of the day must not be forgotten. The drip from
trees should also be avoided. And finally, do not neglect to go
over the young plants two or three times with a pair of scissors,
giving them a shearing while in the box or seed bed. It will in-
duce a stocky growth.
CELERIAC OR TURNIP-ROOTED CELERY.
This vegetable is rarely
seen in the ‘United States.
With the Germans, how-
ever, it is quite popular,
and is extensively culti-
vated in the Fatherland.
It is shaped like a tur-
nip, with a sweet, but well
defined celery flavor, and
is used chiefly in seasoning
meats and soups.
PON 7 The general treatment
is, with the exception of blanching, similar to that of celery. The
bulb is the only part used.
CORN.
CORN.
Zea Mays.
LER ~ e ° , .
: The cultivation of Corn is
iA
ZZ
so generally and so well un-
derstood in this State as to
make it entirely unnecessary
To
HAY)
Dor ap
Ss
Re
to enter into particulars.
The object in touching up-
on it at all is to suggest some
varieties of rare excellence,
give the analysis, and to re-
move, if possible, the preju-
dice our farmers entertain
against one of our very best
vegetables—i. ¢., sugar-corn.
If those who have been
most determined in their op-
iil; position to all of the “little
Mj] stalk” varieties will make
just one more experiment,
and faithfully carry out our
directions, we feel confident
they will never grow any oth-
er than the “sweet” sorts for
culinary use in the green
state. Besides, with a little
EGPYTIAN SWEET. care in protecting from late
‘Spring frosts and bud worm in early Autumn, those convenient-
74 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
ly located can realize handsomely by supplying hotels and board-
ing-houses right at home.
THe E@yprian SWEET is a comparatively new variety, with
large, fine ears, and unequaled flavor ; commands a higher price
than any other.
SEWELL’s EVERGREEN produces a good ear, and remains in
the green state longer than any other kind.
MamMMOTH SuGar, the largest of the sugar variety ; very fine
flavor.
TuscARORA is another standard garden variety, but not sweet.
These varieties have been fully tested in this State, and have
always given satisfaction.
Make the ground very rich, lay off the rows three to four feet
apart, and plant the Corn eighteen inches to two feet in the
drill. Frequent use of the cultivator or light sweep, to stir the
surface of the soil, will promote rapid growth and full earing,
but all work should cease when the tassels appear.
For saving seed plant at a distance from all other varieties.
Several crops may be grown in one season, and but for the bud
worm ‘all the year round,” in some portions of the State. A
simple remedy for this pest, and one that has been found very
effectual, is to sprinkle warm sand in the bud. This operation
is rather tedious, but can be aftorded to secure a succession of
“roasting ears,” so universally popular as a table vegetable.
ANALYSIS.
In 100,000 parts each of the grain and stalk subjected to anal-
ysis by Spengel, the following table shows the parts of inorganic
constituents remaining after combustion :
CRESS, 79
Grain. Stalk.
| POLIS LLL AAMT aig Oe NR ee Ree Ree ERI 200 189
ETRE et ers See tS ls Soto bia e ici otcant Gesctors 250 4
BPMIT OR ee ccle a ss Acne Sollee res sate nd Leb bhcted cakes ce 35 652
INEGPESTV GB VAL 5 vin ian dela sea nteteslaggdehsauecas toes Meek abs 128 236
{INCE UO Re ee ee CEE. Rite 16 6
MPM SOL ETON S202. gerecewek eae abc ke eae eekincs trace 4
Pxide or Mae nesta: csitscthhbescertiteeccoass —- 20
BGO S aes a cea nis Leu moms st mee chtow ee wesmscnosiee 43 2,708
BEM TIC ALCid le awcseasuars Went achscacescs ste sees Lif 106
PPS PINOTIC A CIC) se ace see eeanassegines 4.52
MEETS remiss cah 4 nga enen Ace gee hehe plena sweiie(butnaKa'ap’ Asn 08s 7.82
NEMO MESIG. ctesct: acisbie aces PLL Leen eaawanMnalnnteldtaswasieae ase A¥e 1.31
POTAS Dol pannivedcvbhopaatwareriutnak ss taste of the pink
variety.
The cultivation of Tanyan is similar to that of the Sweet
Potato. From the smaller roots which are reserved for the pur-
pose, the planting is made about February, in rows four feet
apart, and the sets two feet in the row. Keep the ground mellow
¢ hoe. After maturity the roots may
oD
and porous with a pron
remain in the bed, and only dug as used, as they keep well. For
the table the roots are roasted and seasoned with salt.
TOMATO.
Lycopersicum Solanum.
This occupies the front rank of early vegetables grown in
lorida for Northern and Western Markets. -Very early ship-
ments, if in good order, and of attractive appearance, will, be-
yond a doubt, bring what may be truly termed “ fancy prices.”
‘To realize $6.00 to $10.00 per bushel, on even one hundred
bushels is worth striving for. It will compensate for a consider-
able investment in material for forcing young plants. Yet beds
for this purpose may be constructed in many portions of the State
at a very trifling cost. Shipments have been made, it is said, so
early in the Spring as not to sell. But it is believed that the
TOMATO. 127
fault was in gathering them too green. The shipper relied upon
the TOMATOES ripening on the way, as usual. But the marked
difference in climate at that season not only retarded—it wholly
arrested the process of ripening, and decay ensued.
ANALYSIS,
TTC” AOU peter adil tis aaiad oto cus» oa veo Fu Sa'viawue Jad Ledaeete 3817
SON Ge cis sieay Came TRMMMNT RT E44 Se Sio.p pveskals.« dale TW wakes daucte napus fe Coe 0606
URC aaNet REM y yin th sain «ox esc apivunieNeidinas n5ais ban fata ad 0611
Phosphoric: Acid and Peroxide of Lron....csscsrsscsse0ars .8401
PARNER SMA Sea fig 40 a adiis cd FOV ORME Ab ANA RS Cor keds ckxaexeucnalTG eit .0026
UMMM SEA TD eM casi jadi ASU AEMN CAE Gatun cad hn sad Kod gues goin 0549
RM rary iva vss vals eu sk its VEN LAA ET RN TO Mia TaN es saa da eadises 7191
OO aaMal ES ge AER CS ne raat Ae moe ROPE SN Pg eR Se .8898
UR CIMN Oe AUR age pics a-aiv'csle ied de ent ae arama ee cuee Male Roh cou aalee oe .0952
MCU Si anh ara its Veins xv eRhs on. Visxnn Ve mwudheenaa ye dake cumin xv4iswmmee .1472
ERROR rn Ss wire vicina fis's hence s Pieedinnt Orus'¥sn ety «tana snani is L576
For an early crop, light, sandy soil, moderately enriched with
bone flour and wood ashes, or leaves composted with stable ma-
nure is best. On black meadow or bottom land the Tomato
will continue longer in bearing, and. produce larger fruit, but
these advantages will be purchased at the cost of earliness. It
is of course more economical to manure in the hill—and may be
done just before transplanting. The distance adopted by a ma-
jority of the market gardeners is five by three. Rows five feet
apart and plants three feet in the row. It is claimed by some
that if planted nearer, four by three for instance, or even three
by three, the first shipment will be ready several days earlier.
‘This is worth looking into.
Tomato land may be broken up into beds of the width the
rows are to be, and then run a central furrow for the plants; or
use the water furrow (which is the one left between the beds, in
the operation of “lelding” as it is called,) the way corn is
128 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
sometimes planted. With the fertilizer in a sack swung around
his neck, one man ean drop it at intervals of say three feet, fol-
lowed by another with a hoe to mix the manure with the soil,
and, as the finishing act at each hill, to make a hole to receive
the plant. of Africa and India. It
¥ Yi MiZ.. has been long naturalized
7 SKE: in Tropical America, very
common in Key West—
ie in the streets as a shade tree—and other portions of
Southern Florida.
Botanists assign but one species to the genus, and in this
country there is only one variety that I can hear of, though there
are three mentioned as belonging to India, viz: The Sour
FRuIrep, the Swrer, or SwEEeTisH Frurrep, and the REp
Fruitep; and while the use of all is confined to preserving, the
last mentioned, whose pulp is of a rose color, is much preferred
for the purpose.
The leaves are compound, with ten to twenty pairs of small
oblong leaflets, which form a dense shade.
TAMARIND. 179
The flowers are borne in racemes, and are fragrant; they are
white at first, but soon turn yellow, with purple and brown
stamens.
“The fruit is a legume or pod three to six inches long, straight
or curved, thick, and with a hard, brittle exterior shell. The
pods are indehiscent—do not break open when ripe. The seeds,
ranging in number from four to twelve, are each surrounded by
a tough, papery membrane, outside of which, and between it and
at least in the common
the shell is a firm, juicy, very acid pulp
kind, traversed by strong woody fibres, which start from the
fruit-stalk, and run through, throwing off branches, to the
opposite end of the pod.” :
The common Tamarind is prepared for market by first select-
ing fruit thoroughly ripe, which may be known by the increased
brittleness of the shell ; the shells are removed, they are packed
in a cask and boiling syrup is poured over them until the cask is
full; after becoming cool the cask is headed up, and is then
ready for shipment. This is the common method practised in
the West Indies. Buta more desirable plan is to pack the fruit,
freed from the shells, with alternate layers of sugar in stone jars.
,
Fruit put up according to the last method, is mostly done for
private use, and rarely found for sale.
A drink is prepared by pouring boiling water over the shelled
fruit, which is esteemed in tropical countries as a wholesome
refrigerant, used in fevers; it also possesses a laxative property.
By boiling the preserved fruit with a small quantity of water
and straining, the pulp is obtained pure, and is used in that form
as an article of diet.
The Tamarind is raised easily from the seed.
180 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
IVORY NUT, or VEGETABLE IVORY.
Phytelephas Macrocarpa.
From the resemblance of
this plant to some of the
Nt
=\
Palms in the general appear-
Vay SSS
ance and growth of its leaves,
it was at one time classed by
botanists as a member of the
palmaceae family, but on ac-
count of an essential difference
in the structure of the flower,
it is now assigned to a separ-
ate order. It is a habitat of moist localities along the borders of
water courses, in northern South America, and possibly in Cen-
tral America and the West Indies. I have seen the nut strewed
along the beach between Jupiter Inlet and Cape Florida, carried
there by ocean currents from more southerly shores.
In its native lands it is found in thick groves to the exclusion,
commonly of all other trees and shrubs. Its habits of growth
are not unlike those of the Saw Palmetto in wet places. The
trunk or stem “creeps along the ground for twenty feet or more,
and then ascends, the upright portion being seldom over four to
six feet high, and terminated by a crown of twelve or more pin-
natified leayes, eighteen to twenty feet long.
“The flowers are dioecious, the male plant taller and more
robust than the female, and its flowers in pendulous spikes five
or six feet long ; the female flowers are in bundles of six or seven,
on short, thick erect peduncles, both kinds emit a penetrating
almond-like perfume very attractive to bees.
NUTMEG. 181
The fruit is a collection of six or seven drupes (stones), each
containing seven to nine seeds; these drupes are aggregated in a
mass something like a rounded cone, its exterior being formed of
the crustaceous covering of the drupes, which is rough, with
woody protuberances.
“Each mass weighs about twenty-five pounds, and there are
six to eight to each tree ; these are called by the South Americans
cabezas de negro, or negro heads.
“The ovoid nut is about as large as a hen’s egg, with a blunt
prominence at one side showing the point of attachment, and
often more or less flattened and angled by mutual compression ;
the testa or outer covering of the seed is hard and brittle, and
within is the copious, white, ivory-like albumen. In their earlier
state the seeds are filled with a clear, tasteless liquid, which after
a time becomes milky and sweet, and gradually acquires greater
consistency, until at length it is nearly as hard as ivory.”
Animals and birds are very fond of it while soft.
It is exported in large quantities to this country and to Eng-
land, and used in the manufacture of cane heads, buttons, ete.
NUTMEG.
Myristica Fragrans.
The tree producing Nutmeg is from twenty to thirty feet high,
and is thought to resemble a Pear tree. It is found most plenti-
fully in the islands of Asia, though it is also indigenous to Trop-
ical America.
The leaves are “ petioled, and alternate, five or six inches long,
oblong, acute at the apex, entire, dark green, somewhat shining
above and whitish beneath.”
182 j,ARDENING IN FLORIDA.
“The tree is dioecious, but except when in flower, the two
sexes are not distinguishable.”
The fruit is pear-shaped, or nearly spherical, about the size of
the peach, and consists ofa fleshy pericarp or capsule, which at
maturity breaks open into two nearly equal valves, and exposes
the contained seed and its appendages; this exterior portion of
the fruit is about half'an inch thick, of a yellowish brown color,
and has an astringent juice; in collecting the crop this is thrown
away as useless, but in its young state it is sometimes made into
a sweetmeat with brandy and sugar.
The tree bears in eight years from the seed, reaches its maxi-
mum in fifteen, and continues to bear for seventy to eighty years.
The average yield per tree is five pounds of nutmegs and one
and a half pounds of Mace—the substance enveloping the seed
and also a valuable export.
So desirable an exotic should have a trial in our State.
PISTACHIO aN tT
Pistachia vera.
The Pisracnio tree is “a native of Western Asia, and is gen-
erally cultivated in Southern Europe.” It is usually “ twenty
to thirty feet high, its leaves with three or five leaflets ; the small
flowers are dioecious, the males in close clusters, and the females
ina loose raceme; the fruit is a sort of dry drupe about the
size and shape of an Olive, the exterior portion somewhat woody
and enclosing a seed which is known in commerce as the Pisra-
cuto Nut. The seeds are irregularly oval, about an inch long,
of a reddish green externally, and within of a bright green, ex-
- ceedingly pleasant to the taste, and in the countries where they
BUTTER TREE. 183°
grow, largely eaten as a luxury.” Indeed it is alleged, that the
scant supply ever seen in market, is owing to the extravagant par-
tiality to them by the Turks and Greeks. European confection-
ers use them in place of Almonds in making sugar plum candy.
There is also found in their cotyledons a harmless green color-
ing matter, which is preferred to spinach juice by confectioners
and pastry cooks “to color ices and similar articles.” The nut
is also said “ when fried in butter to form a delicious addition to
the dessert.”
“ The tree is hardy in England in sheltered places, and in fav-
orable portions of France.” It would without doubt it is believed
“sueceed in our Southern States,” and particularly in Florida.
BUTTER TREE.
Bassia.
Thisis a genus of Sapotucee,
to which belongs many delicate
and valuable fruits. Among
which may be mentioned Sapo-
dilla, Star Apple, etc. We
learn from the American Cyclo-
peedia that “the Indian Butter,
fulwa, or phulwara tree (Bassta
butyracea) grows wild on the
Almora hil!s in India, the tree
often measuring fifty feet in
height and five or six feet in cir-
THE SHEA TREE, (BASSIA PARKII), . z
OR AFRICAN BUTTER TREE. cu mference, with broad oval
184 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
leaves, from six to twelve inches long, large pale yellow blossoms
and pulpy fruit about the size of a pigeon’s egg, containing two
or three roundish brown seeds. The fat expressed from the
seeds, of the consistency of lard, is white, will keep for months,
and is used asa substitute for animal butter.
The Indian Oil or Illupic tree (Bassia longifolia,) similar to
the above, grows in plantations on the south coast of Coromandel,
and the fruit by pressure yields an oil used by the natives for
soap, in cooking, and in their lamps. The wood is hard and
valuable.
The Mantva, Mapuaca, or Mapnwooxka tree, B. latifolia,
native of the mountainous parts of Bengal, furnishes a hard,
tough wood ; the flowers distilled afford a strong, intoxicating
liquor, and from the seed is expressed a greenish yellow oil used
in lamps.
The Sura TREE, or AFRicaNn Butrer PuLant CB: Parkit), is
not cultivated but grows naturally in great abundance in the
equatorial part of Africa. The fruit resembles the Spanish Olive,
and from the kernel, dried in the sun and then boiled in water,
is extracted a sweet, white, firm butter, which will keep for a
year without salting.
All of the above species are of easy propagation from seeds,
by importing which we can test their adaptability to our climate
at a trifling expense. In selecting for experiment, the hardiest
and smallest growing kinds should be chosen. Though the
natural effect of so distant a translation would induce a more
diminutive growth.
CALABASH TREE. 185
CALABASH TREE.
Crescentia Cujete.
This tree is found
generally in the tropi-
eal regions of America,
and could be grown it is
believed, in this’ State.
The great number of
uses to which it may be
applied, renders it al-
NETS
= most indispensable to
=the uncivilized tribes.
The shell of the fruit is
“quite thin, but very
hard, and furnishes the natives with a variety of domestic uten-
sils, such as cups, bowls, goblets and even kettles for cooking.
For these shells “ are so hard and cross grained, that when filled
with any fluid, they may be put on the fire and used for cooking
like vessels made for the purpose. They are also cut and
carved—variously stained, and polished as ornamental vessels.”
The tree is described as being “about the height and bulk of
the Apple, with crooked horizontal branches, along which, and
the trunk, its wedge shaped leaves and pale white flowers spring
forth.”
The fruit is roundish, and varies in.size from a few inches in
diameter to a foot or more.
The pulp is not eaten, but is highly esteemed for the medicinal
properties it is said to possess.
186 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
RICE PAPER TREE.
The true botanical : ane
of this cufious tree is Fuat-
sia papyrifera, as estab-
lished by Decaisne and
Planchon, and not Aralia
“S papyrifera. It is thus de-
scribed in the American
Cyclopedia: “The tree is
a native of Formosa, rarely
growing more than twenty
: S SS feet high, and branching
above. The young stems, leaves and inflorescence, are covered
with a copious down of stellate hairs ; the leaves on long petioles»
are often a foot across, round, heart-shaped, and five to seven
lobed. The flowers are small! and greenish, and are produced in
pendulous panicles, one to three feet long at the end of the
branches. The plant has such ample leaves, and so stately an
aspect, that it is a favorite in sub tropical planting. A single
young and vigorous specimen as‘a center to a bed of lower grow-
ing plants, produces a fine effect. The vigorous stems have a
pith which is an inch and a half in diameter, and of a snowy
whiteness. After the woody exterior is removed, the Chinese
cut the pith into sheets by paring with a sharp knife from the
circumference towards the center, unrolling it as it were, and
then flattening it out and pressing it under weights until dry,
when it remains as a flat sheet.” In that state it is imported,
some, however, comes in the stem, to be used in the manufacture
COFFEE TREE AND FRUIT. 187
of artificial flowers. It is the material more generally known as
Rice Paper, on which “ beautiful paintings of flowers and insects
brought from China were executed.”
It is quite hardy enough to be grown iu the open air in many
parts of Florida.
COFFEE TREE AND FRUIT.
The Coffee plant belongs to the
order Cinchonacee. The name Cof-
} NN
ayy fee is supposed to be derived from
Kaffa, a district in Africa, south of
in great profusion. It is widely ex-
tended as a cultivated plant, and is
found in the West Indies, Central
America, South America, notably
in Brazil, Guiana, Peru and Bolivia; in Java, Ceylon, the
Western Coast of India, Arabia, and several of the Pacific Is-
lands. The range of its successful culture is from the 25th par-
allel, or thereabout, of North, to the 30th of South latitude. It
is produced at an altitude of 6,000 feet above the level of the
sea, and thrives best where the temperature does not go much
below 55° Far.
The Coffee tree is propagated from the seed. The plants are
kept in nurseries until one year old, when they are transplanted
to the field and set out in rows of convenient distances. At three
years old they begin to bear, but do not reach the maximum of
production until the fifth year.
The flowers are pure, snow white, they come in thick clusters
around the branches, and in contrast with the dark green pol-
188 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
ished leaves present a most beautiful appearance. By pruning,
the Coffee plant is somewhat dwarfed, restricted to a height of
eight to twelve feet, sometimes though it reaches fifteen feet or
more. The fruit resembles a cherry, of a red color when ripe,
and,ghe flesh surrounding the two seed usually found—having
their flat surfaces opposite—is said to be sweet and palatable.
When for some cause one of the seed fails the other becomes
entirely round. “As the fruit dries, the pulp forms a sort of
shell or pod, which is removed by a process of curing in order
to prepare the seed for market. In the West Indies the fruit is
picked by hand at intervals during the season of harvest, but in
Arabia, where no rains prevail which would beat it from the
trees, it is allowed to remain until ready to fall, and is then
shaken off upon cloths spread upon the ground.” This is sup-
posed to give to the famous Mocha Coffee, which is considered to
be the very best, its chief excellence.
Coffee sufficient at least for home use may be grown in the
southern portion of our Peninsula, and for this purpose seed of
the Mocha, which is small, and of a dark yellow color, should be
procured from the Province of Yemen in Arabia, its home. As
an ornamental evergreen, the Coffee tree would be an acquisition
to any grounds. The natives of Africa prefer using the roasted
leaves in lieu of the berry.
TEAK.
Tectona Grands.
This East Indian tree is remarkable in several particulars;
and is worthy of a place, should its introduction be practicable,
among our most useful timber trees.
PALM. 189
It is represcnted as one of the most magni" cent of trees ; at-
taining the great altitude oftwo hundred feet, grand and stately
in its symmetrical proportions.
The leaves are elliptical in shape, measuring from twelve to
twenty-four inches in length, and so rough as to be a fair substi-
tute for emery, in polishing wood.
The flowers are “small, white, and fragrant,” they appear in
terminal panicles, having the structure of the family verbenacee,
to which the Teak belongs.
For ship building it is said to have no superior in the world,
not even excepting our own highly-prized Live Oak. The wood
is very hard, and consequently heavy, and of unequalled strength
and durability ; instances of its having been in use for a century
without decay are recorded. The tools employed in working it
soon become dull from the large amount of silex it contains.
The wood is of a brownish color, permeated by an oil which
even ina green state prevents the iron nails or bolts from rusting,
thus dispensing with the necessity of using the more costly copper
nails. A cubi: foot of the wood weighs from forty-two to fifty-
two pounds.
PALM.
Palma.
Of all the trees or shrubs capable of production in this invit-
ing land of health and beauty, the Palmacee, or Palm family
stand pre-eminent, both for ornament and utility ; for general use-
fulness they are ranked next to the grasses.
There are, it is said, nearly one thousand species of Palms
190 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
belonging to fifty genera, and these are grouped into five well
marked tribes, or sub-families, according to their affinities.
Under the pame Palmetto are four species of Palm indigen-
cous to two or three Southern States. The tall or CaspacE
PALMETTO, SABAL PALMETTO, Is the largest species, attaining
in this State, as is well known, to the height of sixty to eighty
\
a)
A?
CABBAGE PALM. PALMETTO.
feet, and a diameter of twelve to fifteen inches. The terminal
bud furnishes the vegetable which gives the species the name
Cabbage. Boiling for three or four hours, changing the water
several times, and then fried in butter with crumbs of bread, it
is a very palatable dish, yet the sacrifice of so noble a tree for a
savory dish can scarcely be justified, unless demanded by neces-
PALM. 191
sity, or when the tree is required to yield its place to something
better.
The second species is the SAw Patmerro, Sabal Serrulata,
“30 called on account of the sharp spiny teeth along the edges of
the petiole, having a creeping stem (usually called the root, but
really the trunk) from four to ten feet long, from which arise
leaves two to four feet high.”
The third species is the Dwarr Patmetro, Sabal Andersonii,
“has its short stem wholly underground, and leaves two to three
feet high.”
And there is the BLur PALMErTo, Chamerops hystrix. “This
has a creeping stem with somewhat glancous leaves, three to four
feet high ; at the bases of the leaves are numerous erect strong
spines, like porcupine quills, which serve to distinguish it from
the other Palmettos. It prefers a richer soil than the preceding
and is often found in moist shady woods, and on the margin of
‘sswamps.”
Besides these species, common to every section of the State—
though the CABBAGE is confined to the coast region in the
northern and western counties—is another, found only in the ex-
treme south, and called Royan Parm. Never plentiful, it has
been so much sought after for making walking canes, etc., that
but few are left. This Palm, from even an unsatisfactory view
of a single specimen as it towered aloft in its native swampy fast-
ness, near the shores of Biscayne Bay, surpassed in majestic
beauty anything of the kind I had ever seen. The exterior of
the trunk of this endogen is similar to the Cabbage or Cocoanut
Palm, and the length of the leaves is about the same as the latter,
seven to ten feet or more, but in the Royal Palm from the center
192 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
rib, the leaf is split into ribbons as if with a fork, and the long;
silvery-green fringe, waving gracefully to the gentlest breeze,
presents a scene of rare loveliness.
The Saco Patm as seen in green-house collections—or in this
State in flower gardens—Cycas revoluta—althongh possessing
considerable starch, does not produce the sago of commerce.
There are two distinct species of the true Saco Patm—Sagus
laevis, the Smooth, and Sagus Rumphii, the Prickly ; both natives
of the Indian Archipelago. ‘“ The smooth species grows from
twenty-five to fifty feet high, while the other, which differs
mainly in having its leaf-stalks and the spathe or sheath to the
flower cluster armed with sharp prickles, is rarely over thirty
feet. Both have graceful crowns of large pinnate leaves, and a
one-seeded fruit an inch and a half in diameter, covered with
shining reversed scales. Left to themselves the trees attain their
full growth in fifteen years, flower, produce their fruit, which is
about three years in coming to perfection, and then die.”
“The Bere, Nur
Paum,- Areca Catechu,
4 also known as Areca
| Nut, and Catechu Palm,
Hand called Pinang by
j the Malays, is a large
tree growing tn. India,
Ceylon, and the Moluc-
FRUIT AND NUT OF BETEL PALM. cas. It has very fra-
grant flowers which are used in Borneo for decorating, and a
drupe-like nut about the size of a hen’s egg, with a fibrous rind
half an inch thick; the seed is about the size of a nutmeg, which
PALM. 193:
it also resembles in the mottled appearance of its albumen. The
nuts are very astringent ; by boiling in water and evaporating
the decoction, a form of catechu is obtained.”
The species Areca lutescens
is a pretty specimen of the
z,, Areca family, adapted to pot
With Za culture. From the early de-
cay of the primary roots, and
the compact mass of second-
ary, the plant seems to be
supported by props.
“Several species of the
South American genus @no-
carpus have fruits with an
oily flesh, and the oil obtained
SEA: :
A ° Ny j
O67, pt
Se at e
SSK Sty -
Rey :
PSR NES
p ne
4 . ‘G
(bey -&
d
7) S) 7
te "4 ~
bo (oN Vu
N\\\ ~ 1
th Van.’
Sam fh BR \(
= ~
3s) r i
J a +,
vis fe ~ FA “tg
pf g A Ara
I re
AYA Ii ot :
Tes .
{{ Y Y
cM \
wD
i
fy
=
oF
eee tor
Nis nae.
a)
from them is used for cooking
and for lamps. It is said to
be mixed with olive oil in
0
Para as an adulteration. The
een
Ne Wee
BRON eres, eye
stiff nerves of the leaves of
ABECAS EU PESCENS. these Palms furnish the In-
dians with arrows for their blow guns, which are made by bor-
ing the leaf stalks of other Palms of this tribe.
The Toppy Pam, Caryota urens, a native of India, derives
its name from the wine and sugar made from the flower spikes.
The tree is said to be large and very beautiful ; from the leaves
is obtained a fibre of great strength, called kittul, out of which
mats and ropes are made. The trunk also yields sago.
“The species of this genus are favorites in cultivation, as this
15
194 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
is one of the few with bi-pinnate
leaves. When the tree has com-
pleted its growth the flowers are
produced in drooping tassels; a
flower cluster is produced at the
base of the uppermost leaf, then
one appears at the next lower
leaf, and so on, until the lower-
most leaf has produced a cluster
from its base, when the plant
dies.”
“The Wax Pato of Colombia,
Ceroxylon Andicola, is a lofty
tree growing in elevated regions.
TODDY PALM. It is remarkable for its swollen
trunk, which is larger in the middle than it is above or below,
and is covered with a whitish wax-like substance, which is col-
lected by felling the tree, and scraping. The product of each
tree is about twenty-five pounds. It consists of a resin and a wax,
and though too inflammable to be used by itself, it makes gootl
eandles when mixed with tallow.”
Of the smallest Palms is the CaLamus tribe, Calamec, con-
sisting of ‘ Sarmentos, or runner-like plants, and some trees; the
pinnate or fan-like leaves are often terminated by a long appen-
dage which is furnished with hooks.” : ‘3
“They are known as Ratran and Cane PaA.ms, the stems of
several being found in commerce under these names. Some are
low bushes, while others, with stems seldom over an inch thick,
climb to a great distance over trees to which they cling by means
PALM. 195
of the hooked spines upon their leaf stalks.
* ** Rumphin’s statement that they grow
from 1,200 to 1,800 feet long has not been
verified, though it is not rare to find them
300 feet long.”
The strength of the stems of these Palms
is said to be remarkable, which quality,
combined with their great length, renders
them useful for ropes for catching elephants,
cables for vessels, etc. “In the Himalayas,
1
AG
SS
<7 RR
SAMAR _
»
2
; “the stems are used for building suspension
__ |. bridges.’
— a a The flowers are “rose-colored, or green-
RATTAN PALM. ish, and ‘come in long, branching spikes.
>) b]
i( \\ }
Nin
1
MN}
{a
i)
The fruit consists of a single seed, surrounded by an edible pulp,
which is enclosed by a covering of slimy scales.”
“The Rattans of commerce are afforded by Calamus rotang,
Calamus verus, Calamus rudentum and others, they are cut
twelve or sixteen feet in length, once doubled and made into
bundles of one hundred each ; immense numbers of these canes
are imported into Europe and America, and as new uses are con-
stantly found for them, the consumption rapidly increases ; the
ease with which they are split, and the strength of very small
splints, adapts them to a great variety of wares.”
They are used in making articles of furniture, settees, sofas,
lounges, chairs, in bottoming chairs; carriage and buggy bodies
are also constructed of Rattan. Malacca canes, so highly es-
teemed for walking sticks, are the stems of Calamus Scifionum ;
the joints are so far apart that a good cane may be made from a
196 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
single internode. The rich reddish brown color is due to their
being smoked and varnished with the bark on.
CaLamMus Draco, a species which some botanists place in the
genus demonorops, is said to furnish a portion of the resinous
drug known as dragon’s blood. “The remaining genus of this
group, valuable for its products, is Maurtria, the Morrcue or
Ira Pam of tropical South America. Jf. flexuoso, especially
abundant on the Amazon and other rivers, supplies nearly all
the wants of the natives; during the great inundations they
even suspend their dwellings from the trunks, the skin of the
young leaves is spun into cords for making hammocks, the trunk
supplies sugar in abundance, and both the sap and the fruit are
converted into beverages.
‘Another family of the
Palms is the BorassiInem,
“The principal genus consists
of only two species, ene of
which, borossus flabelliformis,
is the magnificent PALMYRA
Pautm, found throughout
tropical Asia, and celebrated
for the great number of its
useful products. Its trunk,
|
i
iy
1
from sixty to eighty and even
one hundred feet high, bears
a magnificent crown of leaves
of a circular fan shape, which, -
including the petiole, are ten
PALMYRA PADM.
feet long ; these are used to thatch houses, to cover floors and
PALM. 197
ceilings, and to form a great number of useful articles, from
bags and baskets to umbrellas and hats. They also serve as
paper, which is written upon with a style. All the important
books in Cingalese are written upon the lamine of this Palm.
“The fruits, about the size ofa child’s head, are in bunches of
fifteen to twenty, each containing three seeds of the size of a
goose’s egg, the albumen of these is eaten when young ; the coat-
ing surrounding the seedsis a thick fibrous pulp, which is roasted
and eaten.
“The most important products of this Palm are wine and sugar,
(toddy), which are also yielded by many other species, and in
other countries.
Borassus AETHIOPIUM, of the central part of tropical Africa
° 9
is the remaining species of this family of Palms, and furnishes
similar products to the Asiatic species.
Perhaps the most re-
markable of Palms is
the Doum, of Egypt,
which also grows in
yi
‘
aN, Arabia and Abyssinia,
zi | Hyphene Thebaica, or
Crucifera, its peculiar-
ities consists in its hav-
ing branches, with a
trunk not exceeding
thirty feet high. “ It is
simple when young, but
See
| age
a
Fa
EF 337
in old trees is forked
198 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
three or four times, each branch being terminated by a tu‘t of
large fan-shaped leaves.
“ The fruit is produced in large clusters of over one hun Ired ,
each the size of an orange, irregular in shape, with a highly pol-
ished yellowish-brown rind, enclosing a single horny seed. The
rind, which is dry, fibrous and mealy, is said to taste exactly
like gingerbread, and though unpalatable from its dryness, forms
a common article of food among the Arabs.”
There is a Palm growing on two of the Seychelles Islands,
Praslin and Curieuse, north of Madagascar, which was named
by La Billiardiere Loporcea ScHELLARUM, with a curious
history.
“The Double or Sea Cocoanut, Coco p—E Merr, was longa
great puzzle to naturalists. Its large, deeply-lobed nuts, appear-
ing like two Cocoanuts joined for about half their length, were
occasionally picked up at sea, and their origin being unknown,
they were in olden times invested with remarkable virtues. The
albumen or meat of the nut was regarded as a preventive of var-
ious diseases, and the shell, used as a drinking cup, imparted
similar power to the liquid it contained ; enormous prices were
paid for single specimens, and they were regarded as among the
most costly of regal gifts. With the exploration of the Sey-
chelles Islands, however, in 1748, the source of this wonderful
miracle of nature, the most rare of marine productions, was
ascertained.”
The tree is dioecious, of slow growth, attaining ultimately the
height of one hundred feet. The fruit is of immense size, weigh-
ing as much as forty pounds each, but the shell is the only part
about it of value. The most delicate baskets and other fancy
PALM. 199
articles are made from the leaves. This tree might be grown by
a corporation as a curiosity, but would hardly pay an individual,
as the tree does not blossom until thirty years old, and requires
ten years to mature its fruit. There seems to be serious appre-
hension of its becoming extinct by the wasteful felling of trees to
obtain the nuts as well asthe terminal buds or cabbages.
Similar to our Royal Palm is “ the Bossu of the natives of the
Southern Amazon, which is Manicaria Saccharifera, the only
species of the genus, and grows in the tidal swamps. This is dis-
tinguished from other palms by its entire leaves, only occasionally
divided when old by splitting; they are frequently thirty feet
long, four or five feet wide, and strongly furrowed from the mid-
rib to the margin. The spathes of this Palm are fibrous, and
when cut around at the base of the flower clusters, they may be
pulled offentire. The spathe is dark brown, and its very strong
fibres are so interwoven that it may be stretched to several times
its proper diameter without tearing, and forms a very serviceable
seamless bag, or if cut off it may be used as coarse cloth.”
“The tribe CoRYPHINE®, consists of trees or stemless plants,
with fan-shaped, rarely pinnate leaves, the pinnules with erect
margins. * * The genus Corypha includes several stately
species, one of the best known being the Tatrpot Pau, Corypha
umbraculijfera, of Ceylon, and other parts of the East. Its
magnificent leaves are remarkable for their regular plaiting, and
form a fan, which is nearly a complete circle, four feet or more
in diameter. The numerous segments are split and form a double
fringe to the margin. These leaves require little preparation to
make the fans used by the Cingalese, as emblems of rank. They
are put to many other of the uses of Palm leaves, including the
200 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
making of paper. The trunk also yields Sago.
“The Tura Pam, of Bengal, C. taliera, and the GEBANG
Pam, of Java, C. gebanga, are both useful in various ways.
The Wax Parm, Copernicia ceriferu, of Brazil, bears upon its
young leaves a coating of wax; this is collected by shaking the
leaves, melted, and run into moulds. It is harder than bees-
wax ; but no method of depriving it of its yellow color having
been discovered, its use in candle-making is limited. A kind of
cane was known in commerce as Penang lawyers, a long time be-
fore its origin was ascertained ; it is now known to be the stem of
asmall Palm of this group, licwala acutifida, of the Island of
Penang; the stem is seldom much more than five feet high, and
has a diameter of aninch. The canes are prepared for walking
sticks by scraping the surface and polishing. The genus Cham-
crops is noted as being the northernmost of the Palm family,
one species, C. humilis, grows wild in Southern Europe as far as
Nice; another, C. eacelsa, is found in Asia as high as latitude
44° N. The most important of this tribe is the DATE PAM,
phem« dactylifera.
“The fifth tribe Cocorne®, includes both large and small
trees. * * This tribe takes its name from its most important
genus, Cocos, of which there are about a dozen species including
C. nucifera, the Cocoanut Patm. The PEacH Pawn, Cusliel-
ma Speciosa, a native of Venezuela, and cultivated in other parts
of South America, is a lofty tree, and its stem is armed with
small sharp spines. Its fruit, borne in large clusters, is about
the size of an Apricot, pear-shaped, and scarlet and orange col-
ored when ripe. The outer portion abounds in starchy matter
and when roasted is said to taste much like the potato.” It
PALM. 201
furnishes both food and drink to the natives, for an alcoholic
beverage is made by fermenting the fruit steeped in water.
“The trees of the genus Maximiliana forms a striking feature
in South American scenery. The Inasa Pawn of the Amazon,
Maximiliana regia, reaches over one hundred feet, and has a
crown of immense leaves, which are thirty to fifty feet long.
The spathes are five to six feet long, about two feet broad, and
tapering at each end to a narrow point. They are used as pack-
ages in which to keep and transport flour, and will resist the
action of heat sufficiently to serve as cooking utensils.”
“The Coquira PALM
of Chili, Jubea specta-
bilis, is one of the most
southern species, and
furnishes the Palm
honey, so much used by
Chilians. This is ob-
tained by felling the
tree, removing the
crown, and catching the
sap which runs from the
wound. The flow is
kept up by removing a
thin slice of the end
each day, and it contin-
ues for several months,
each trunk yielding
COQUITA PALM. about ninety gallons.
202 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
The sap is boiled down to the consistency of molasses, and used
as a substitute for sugar.
“The small nuts of this tree are edible, and are a consider-
able article of export. They are deprived of their husks ina
singular manner. Cows and oxen which are very fond of the
green husks, are allowed to feed upon the nuts; they only
masticate the husks and swallow the nuts whole, when afterwards
they chew the cud, they reject the nuts, and when the animals
have finished ruminating, these are found deposited in small
heaps perfectly free from the husk.”
= “The Prassata, of Brazil, Atta-
= MAS yee lea funifera, furnishes a strong and
yy te == wa
sone ll a valuable fibre in the decayed
bases of the leaf-stalks. It 1s also
called Monkey Grass, and Para
Grass, and is used for various pur-
poses. Each fibre is the size of a
small quill, smooth and stiff; con-
siderable quantities are sent to
Td England, where it is made into
coarse brooms; the brushes of street
cleaning machines are made of it.
The fruit of thisis different from that
exes NL EN 1 Z
SAY EW eee in any of the allied genera ; it being
ABA Nome eee
Su sea oa =< three-celled and three-seeded. The
——
PERSE Pe ee nuts are an article of commerceand
known as Coquilla nuts. They are about three inches long, of a
rich brown color, and have an extremely hard and bony tex-
ture. They are used for knobs and other small wares similar
PALM. 203
to those made from Vegetable Ivory.
One of the most important products of this family is Palm
Oil, which is obtained from the fruit of ELais GuINEENSIS of
Western Africa, where it grows in immense numbers.
= ane
— se
et AN
N\A)
Sy
OIL PALM (ELZIS GUINEESIS). HARDY PALM (CHAMAEROPS EXCELSA)
“Two species of Chamaerops are hardy in France and in por-
tions of England. Those, C. Excelsa, from Nepaul, and C. For-
tunct of North China, also called Chusan Palm, are of great
value in sub-tropical gardening, as their large fan-shaped foliage
is unlike that of any other plants. These withstand a cold con-
siderably below 32° F., and would be quite hardy in Virginia
afd Southward.” And in Florida, not only the last mentioned
would find congenial homes, but very many, in fact all, with per-
haps one or two exceptions, of those described in this article,
204 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
might be successfully and profitably grown in our beautiful
State. Let us begin at once to import the seeds.
So highly is this tree of magnificent foliage prized for decor-
ating buildings and ornamenting pleasure grounds by those who
can afford it, that immense sums of money have been expended
for suitable places in which to grow it. There is a building at
Kew, England, made of glass, for this purpose, which is three
hundred and sixty-two feet long, one hundred wide, and about
seventy feet high, surpassing, it is believed, any structure of the
kind in the world.
The material for the foregoing article on Palms was obtained
chiefly from that standard work, American Cyclopedia, the
greater part of which is quoted directly, without any change or
modification whatever. It will be found interesting to all, es-
pecially to those without ready access to the original.
GUAVA.
Psidium Guaiva
This sub-tropical plant, a native of
South America, is more or less culti-
vated in most of the Peninsula coun-
ties of Florida. In tropical countries,
and even in the extreme southern
counties, it is, or may be trained into a
tree fifteen to.twenty feet high, of ex-
& ceeding beauty. Its dark shining
foliage, pendulous branches, numer-
uh? by
\ ) ous white flowers, contrasted with the
bright yellow of the fruit; together
GUAVA. 205
with the smooth, close bark of the trunk, like the Crape Myrtle.
makes the GuAVA an attractive ornament to any grounds,
Where liable to injury from frosts, the GUAVA is cultivated in
bush form ; numerous stems spring up from the same root.
The flowers are solitary, or three together in the axils of the
upper leaves; white, and quite fragrant.
The fruit, of various shapes and sizes, begins to mature in
warm latitudes early in June, and the flowering, fruiting and
maturing continue without interruption until December. Where
frosts sometimes kill down the bushes, the bearing time is delayed
to July, and even August.
Fruit has been gathered the last of August, by the Author,
from the new growth of a root, whose stems had been killed down
to the ground by the cold of the previous winter, whence it is in-
ferred, that under proper treatment asmall crop may be obtained,
though the bush is killed every year, or every two or three years.
Such a result has been secured in southern Texas. Complete
protection must be afforded for several years, in places where
the plant is liable to be killed, until the roots have thoroughly
established themselves. ‘The soil, if practicable, should be alluy-
ial, oily, and moist from fertility, and the plants copiously
watered in dry weather.
The Guava is usually propagated from seeds, which is readily
done, and the plant will bear fruit in two years. It is safer,
however, to propagate by cuttings, or better still, by layers where
it can be done conveniently.
Strangers to this fruit turn away from it in disgust at first, but
it is surprising how kindly and voraciously even ‘they take to it
after a little perseverence, especially when reduced to the ex-
206 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
tremity of Guava or no fruit. A relish for it is thus formed,
which is exceeded by that for no other fruit. Even those accus-
tomed to the most luscious peaches, have, after acquiring a taste
for Guavas, unhesitatingly given the preference to Guavas and
milk, over that rarely equalled dish, “fresh milk and peaches.”
And since peaches do not succeed well south of about 29° 30’,
this popular substitute should receive the consideration it so
deservedly merits.
The seeds are hard, small, angular, very abundant and distrib-
uted all through the pulp, after the manner of figs. They seem
to be greatly in the way in the first effurts of Guava eating, but
the annoyance as such, soon ceases.
The principal cultivated varieties are called maliforme, apple-
shaped, and pyriforme, pear-shaped, from the form of the fruit.
Carriey’s, Psidum Cattleyanum, though imported from China,
was doubtless carried there from South America. This is a
purple or claret colored Guava, and appears to be more highly
esteemed in India than any other. It is claimed to be much
more hardy than any other, which should strongly commend it
to growers in the northern districts of our State. This kind,
although smaller than the common Guava, is remarkably fruitful.
It also contains more acid, and on that account would probably
be better adapted for making jelly. Says an Eastern cultivator,
“Tt is perhaps the most perfect and graceful evergreen that an
amateur of plants ought to desire, or even can possess.”
STRAWBERRY: About as large as a medium sized peach, of
pale yellow color, whose soft pulp possesses the delicious fra
grance and flavor of the Strawberry. A very choice kind.
GUINEA Guava: P. Guinense: Represented to be of about
JAPAN PERSIMMON. 207
the size of the preceding, and “ of exquisite taste.’
Besides the jelly made from the Guava, a popular sweetmeat
wherever known, is Guava marmalade, of which most every one
is fond. For fruit rolls, or old-fashioned dumplings, it is not
excelled by any other fruit.
JAPAN PERSIMMON, or DATE PLUM.
Diospyros kaki.
The opinion entertained by some persons that this is a tropical
plant is entirely unfounded, since its successful culture in the
“cotton growing belt of the Southern States,” is claimed to have
been abundantly tested, and well established.
It is said to have been carried from Japan to California by a
United State naval officer, some ten or fifteen years ago, but its
208 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
introduction to the fruit growers and nurserymen of this State is
of a much more recent date.
Firminger, under the name Date Plum, speaks of it as a
native of China, where the tree, of large proportions, bears
abundant crops “in the neighborhood of Calcutta.” He describes
the fruit, which ripens during the month of August, as “ about
the size of a large Apple, with twin almond-like stones in the
center.”
The genus to which this species of hardwood belongs, includes
also the East Indian ebony, D. ebenaster; Ceylon ebony, D.
ebenum ; and a beautiful cabinet wood of Ceylon, D. quesita.
There is no question of the rapidly increasing popularity of
the Japan Persimmon, as its many good qualities become better
known. In Japan, whereit is held in high esteem, both dried and
fresh, there are said to be as many varieties as of the Apple in
this country, and quite as susceptible of improvement by intelli-
gent cultivation.
The dried fruit, put up after the manner of the Smyrna Fig,
is pronounced far superior in flavor, and it is not improbable
that, prepared in this way, it will become an important export
from Florida.
The general appearance of the fruit is similar to that of a
large smooth Tomato. In color it is a bright red, or delicate
crimson, and of various sizes and shapes. Like its American
kinsman, it is quite astringent in its premature state, and its
flavor is also said to be improved by exposure to a light frost.
This however cannot be permitted when it is designed to keep
them fresh for any length of time, since the frost will induce
early decay.
JAPAN PERSIMMON. 209
The productiveness of this fruit tree is no less remarkable than
the early age at which it begins to bear. The statement of its
not being uncommon “to see aone year old tree planted in the
spring, producing a crop of from twenty to fifty Persimmons the
following year,’ would scarcely be credited if made by a less
careful cultivator than P. J. Berckmans, of Augusta, Ga., to
whom Florida is much indebted for fruit favors.
The only reliable method of propagation is by grafting and
budding on to the native Persimmon, which are grown in nur-
series from the seed for the purpose. The efforts of those who
have attempted to propagate from seed have generally resulted
in vexation and disappointment. In the first place, it is difficult
to procure seed of the better varieties, because they are mostly
seedless, and where that objection has been overcome, the flowers
in most instances were sterile. So that grafting or budding will
be found more economical, and much more satisfactory.
Mr. Berckmans recommends, and describes the following var-
ieties as probably the best, two of which are known by several
names.
AMoneG: round, nearly globular, orange red, two and a half
inches in diameter, exceedingly prolific. keeps late.
Hacxeya ; also called Tomato, Imperial, etc., usually oblong,
though globular specimens are quite numerous; two and a half
to three and a half inches in diameter; orange red, good quality
and keeps late.
Hyauvme, called also Pound, Seedless, Tanenashi, Mimokaki,
etc., very large, nearly globular, deep orange red, three inches in
diameter, and nearly always seedless ; keeps late.
Kurokumo; round, somewhat flattened and ribbed, of a
14
210 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
bright vermillion color and averages three inches in diameter.
Zixct: the smallest of the list, nearly globular, averages two
inch+s; pulp quite dark, very sweet and rich, best quality ; very
productive and matures during October.
KUMQUAT---OTAHEITE ORANGE.
Citrus Japonica.
This popular little tree, bearing miniature Oranges is a native
of China, but has been successfully grown in this State as a
garden ornament.
It is a profuse bearer, and its fruit, though not larger than a
Damson Plum, is used by some persons for making preserves.
It can be propagated by budding, grafting, layering, or by
seeds. Mr. Fortune remarks, “in order to succeed with it as well
as the Chinese do, one little fact should be kept in view, viz: that
all the plants of the Orange tribe which bear fruit in a small
state, are grafted.” Which fact may be turned to good account
in orchard cultivation, where trees are much more plentiful than
suitable spots of land to grow them upon. Quicker moneyed
returns may also be obtained by acting upon the above suge
gestion.
LOQUAT.
Eriobotrya Japonica.
This tree, native of the far east, was some years ago introduced
into Leon county, of this State, from New Orleans, under the
name “Japan Plum.”
ORANGE. Alig |
It has been tried in many parts of the State with fair success.
A small but very handsome tree having thick leathery lanceo-
late leaves, whose upper surface is finely polished, and the lower
with a brownish duwn. As an ornament alone to the garden or
yard it is much prized. |
The flowers appear in upright bunches, of a creamy white
color, and a most delightful fragrance. |
The fru.t is in clusters almost as close as grapes, about as large
as a good sized plum, with a thick skin of a dull roseate or pink-
ish color. The pulp is fleshy like the Plum, in the center of
which is the stone or seed of varying size.
There are no distinct varieties given, yet there is very manifest
difference in the flavor as well as the size of the fruit as grown in
this State, and also in its native land. Some trees producing
sweet agreeable fruit, while that from others is entirely too acid
to be palatable.
It is believed that the flavor can be greatly modified by culti-
vation, especially by a copious supply of water, if the weather be
dry, between the flowering and maturing periods, with an occa-
sional application to the roots of good liquid manure.
The Loquat comes readily from the seed, which should be
planted very soon after they are taken from the fruit. It would
be better to rely upon budding or grafting from known choice
kinds.
THE ORANGE.
Citrus Aurantium.
This is undoubtedly the great staple fruit of Florida. A native
O12 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
of Asia, it was introduced into Europe by the Portuguese in the
fourteenth century. By some, the word “Citrus” is supposed
to have been derived from “ Citron,” the name of a little town in
Judea. Except in orangeries and conservatories, Orange culture
in Europe has from climatic requirements been chiefly confined
to the Latin races, and by them extended into all parts of the
world favorable to its growth and development. The bitter and
sour Orange trees growing wild inthe rich hammock and bottom
lands of east and south Florida, are known as the SEVILLE
ORANGE, the seeds of which were doubtless brought over by the
early Spanish navigators. All the sweet varieties are believed
to have sprung from this wild race, transformed by the wonderful
effects of cultivation. In Italy, under the name “ CEDRANGULO,”
it is highly esteemed for grafting or budding the sweet varieties
upon; preferred on account of its superior hardness.
VARIETIES.
The varieties of the sweet Orange are quite numerous ; among
which may be named Sitver, Eac, Wuirr, NAVEL, MALTESE,
MaAnpaARIN, NONPAREIL, St. MICHAEL’, etc., of foreign im-
portation, and the unsurpassed SourH FLorrpa, or INDIAN
RIVER ORANGE, the seeds of which most likelf came from Cuba.
SOIL, SITUATION, BTC.
The best soil is a deep, rich loam, sufficiently loose or porous to
admit air as well as water to the roots, and the situation elevated
enough to keep the roots out of stagnant water. Many erron-
eously conclude, because the wild Orange sometimes inhabits
wet places, that low situations are best adapted to it. In such
localities, however, it rarely attains to the dignity of a tree, no
matter how old, even when not liable to the objection of being
ORANGE. 213
over-crowded. The most thrifty wild groves are found in high
hammocks and the more elevated bluffs of lakes and water-
courses, where the soil abounds in vegetable matter, often inter-
mixed with decomposing shells, or other forms of lime.
PROPAGATION.
This is effected by budding, and from seeds. Grafting is sel-
dom practiced, as budding is simpler and generally successful.
There is a sort of compound of the two, called “side-grafting,”
or “ bud-grafting,” much in use. It consists in making a diag-
onal incision across the stock or trunk—inserting an end of the
scion, previously sharpened like a wedge, between the bark and
the wood, and binding as in ordinary budding.
The best time for budding is as early in Spring as practicable,
while the sap is freely circulating and the tree in a thriving con-
dition. This gives a long growing season to the new bud, and
enables it to withstand the cold of the succeeding winter better
than the tender, succulent shoots of midsummer or autumn.
It requires seven to eight years after the seed is deposited in
the ground before the appearance of fruit. This for the general
rule ; of course there are exceptions. The soil for a seed bed
should be very rich, and the seeds sown in drills eighteen inches
apart as thick as English Peas. A brush arbor to protect the
young plants from the noonday sun, after warm weather sets in,
will be of advantage. When one year old, transplant into the
nursery in rows three to four by two to two and a half feet, res-
pectively.
Sweet seedling stocks have been more extensively used of late
years for budding upon than sour; andthe superior hardness
pee GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
el.imcd for the 'atter is stvutly d nied by orange growers of |. ng
expericuce and intelligence.
A four or five year old stock may Le made to bear in two years
by using buds from a healti.y, full bearing tree. This has the
effect of dwarfing the trees, and consequently they may be placed
much nearer together in the grove. Some have adopted this
plan for getting early returns—planting over one hundred trecs
to the acre.
ANALYSIS OF THE ORANGE,
Root. Stem. Leaves. Fruit. Seed.
BO teeSui these eM oan seas eee 15 43. 17:69. 16.51 365420 apse
OG eye nies te sas anne PEt Ae HE 4.52 53.07 1.68. di42 0.92
MUNG eh sat lena d ee anceaeth esau scac ers 49:89 © 65.138 56.88 (2452) ea
RIO CSIR. Joes ctie tse sr's Rie onwcuee ens 6.91 6.34 5.72 8.06 8.74
BERQUIOKIde (Of Tron 2 hoses encenone 1:02 0.57 0.52 0.46 0.80
UT OMMEe) ACA cs keaetns secs oenckee 5.78 404 4.43 3.7 5.10
POPLIC TG WON ee Pere ER etre pence: 1.75 122 4.83 0,44 1.15
PHOEPHOTIC WAC de ease. xc cstaee sens 13:47. 17.09 3.27 \ TORE ase
Chioride. of Sodium, ....0.csc.c0cuses 1.18 0.25 6 66 3.87 0 82
From which it appears that ground bones—to furnish phos-
phoric acid and lime, and wood ashes the potassa—are the prin-
cipal mineral constituents required by the Orange. Excellent
resuits are obtained from the droppings of cattle, or cow-penning,
as better known in the stock districts. Muck, composted with
stable manure, cotton seed and gypsum, makes a valuable fertil-
izer, There are also special manures manufactured by dealers,
which answer a good purpose. Almust every cne has a favorite
fertilizer. Ours, for this and fruit trees generally, is ground
bones liberally broadeast and plowed in the beginning of spring,
with at least one good crop of pea vines turned under the latter
part of summer.
ORANGE. 215
SETTING OUT.
After a thorough preparation of the soil by grubbing, plowing,
manuring, ete., the ground is staked off in rectangular or diagonal
rows thirty feet each way. The dimensions of the holes should
be regulated by the size of the trees to be planted, care being
taken to provide ample room for the roots, and not to s+t the
tree deeper in the ground than it originally stood.
Formerly the “ rainy season” was considered the only ti:ie for
transplanting Orange trees with safety, but intelligent observa-
tion, supported by numerous successful experiments, has uj set
this theory. The Orange tree possesses so much vitality that it
may be removed short distances, with judicious management, at
any time. But the winter season, after the descent of the sap, is
the most propitious, especially when large trees are to be handied,
and the transportation considerable. Copious watering, during
the process, and heavy mulehing afterward, should not be
neglected, more particularly if the warm season is selected for
the operation.
CULTURE.
Much diversity of opinion prevails as to the best manner of
cultivating a grove, both before and after it comes into bearing.
The main object is, or should be, to keep the ground mellow and
open, nut only to supply the roots with air and moisture, but to
encourage them in roaming about in quest of food. It is bad
policy to expose the naked ground to the scorching rays uf the
sun during the long hot summer. It shuuld be shaded by sume
covering. Field peas are admirable for the purpose; but even
grass and weeds, except immediately around the trees, would
916 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
prove far less detrimental than the burning effects of the sun on
the denuded surface.
One or two plowings in the sprine when fertilizers are applied,
and again in the fall, to turn under the green crop of pea vines or
grass, will, with the use of the hoe to clean immediately around
the trees, give abundant cultivation.
TIME OF BEARING, ETC.
In a budded grove, where the buds are taken from bearing
trees, and the stocks four to five years old, fruit may be expected
in two years. A grove of seedlings, the trees of which were four
years old when transplanted, will begin to bear in about four
years thereafter. The first crop ranges from a single Orange to
thirty or forty per tree, increasing with more or less rapidity each
succeeding year.
Trees do not yield much revenue until ten or twelve years old,
nor reach their maximum of production under thirty years from
the seed. In groves numbering from 500 to 1,000 trees, 1,000
oranges per tree at fifteen years old would be an excellent
average.
LeCONTE PEAR.
There is no fruit in Florida, the Orange alone excepted, that
excites more interest at present than the LeConrE Pear. And
therefore, as one of the very valuable market products of this
State, especially to the Northern, and elsewhere clay sub-soil dis-
tricts, I deem it but just to devote a few words to its history and
treatment.
It was introduced into Liberty county, Georgia, in 1856, by
LE CONTE PEAR. 217
Major John LeConte, who bought it of some Northern nursery-
an for a seedling of the Chinese Sand Pear, which it was
Keb ean“ ~
LE CONTE PEAR.
labeled, and from which circumstance it is to this day incorrectly
called the “ LEConrr, or SAND PrEaR,” in many places, whereas
215 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
it is totally distinct and different from the “Sand Pear,” which
is of little or no value as a fruit.
For a long time the good qualities of this Pear were over-
looked, from the fact of its coming into bearing about the break-
ing out of the Jate civil war. The country is largely indebted to
Captain Varnadoe, of Thomasville, Ga., for the development of
the LeEConrE PrEarR; and its history as a market product of
great value is such as as to commend it to every one living
within the favored region of its suecessful growth.
It is a hybrid, and must, therefore, be propagated by cuttings
or slips, by budding or graiting. The cuttings should be about
one foot in length, and placed so deep in the soil as to leave out
but two buds. The rows may be twelve to eighteen inches apart
and the cuttings three or four inches in the row. When one
year old, they are transferred to the nursery and planted about
three by three feet, and left to grow ancther year before final
removal to the orchard; or they may, if preferred, be removed
directly from the cutting bed to the orchard. In either case, the
long switch stem should be cut off two to three feet from the
ground, divided into twe've-inch slips, and planted out in the
eutting bed.
The trees begin to bear in four or five years from the rooting
of the cuttings, but do not become remunerative until seven or
eight years old. At ten years, it is said they attam a height of
twenty-five feet, and a width of top of as many feet, and bear ten
to fitteen bushels. It is further stated that, at fifteen years old,
the width ef top reaches thirty-five feet, so that it would be man-
ifestly unwise to plant the trees in the orchard nearer tog: ther
than forty feet each way.
LE CONTE PEAR. 919
As to the fruit itself, it is very palatable, and has steadily ad-
vanecd in price in market from $2.25 to upwards of $5.00 per
bushel crate. From the fact of its having a tough skin, it bears
shipping admirably.
While it is claimed that the LEConre Pear will flourish in
sand as well as clay soils, there is little doubt that a subsoil of
clay is to be preferred.
The natural inclination of this tree is to grow too much like
the Lombardy Poplar, hence the pruning must be to induce as
much horizontal growth as possible.
Asa guide for fertilizing, the following analysis of the com-
mon Pear is given:
ANALYSIS.
Sap- Heart- Bark of
wood, wood, Trunk.
aero ieee sake e adie iced avssdemeb asc vsesnaodeeta eb dssenuhivns 22.25 26. 94 6.20
PA ath a2 Sy) a com tin slaie s capteide cis wie os se si's)e sis isle eleeislwmiaisiajen MB aN” creates demented ‘
PAN ro. sabe awcacsaaniciscilse GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
lower end of the bud and push gently down, being careful to see’
that the bud lies flat against the naked wood. The next opera-
ticn is to cut of the top part off the shield (Fig 6) even with the
horizontal cut, in order to let it completely into its place, and to
join exactly the upper edge of the shield with the transverse cut,
that the descending sap may immediately enter the back of the
shield, and protrude granulated matter between it and the wood,
so as to effect a living union.
The parts are now to be immediately bound round with a lig-
ament of bass or other suitable material, previously soaked in
water, to render pliable and tough, beginning a little below the
bottom of the perpendicular slit, proceeding upward closely
around every part except the eye of the bud, and continue it a
little above the horizontal cut, not too tight, but just sufficient to
keep the whole close, and exclude the sun, air and wet.”
“Tn a fortnight at farthest, after budding, such as have ad-
hered may be known by their fresh appearance at the eye; and
in three weeks all those which have succeeded well, will be firmly
united with the stocks, and the parts being somewhat swelled in
some species, the bandage must be loosened, and a week or two
afterward finally removed.”
A bud is an organized plant in embryo, with roots, branches,
and foliage, and, like a seed, possesses individual vitality, capable
of development and the re-production of its species. The process
of budding is the transferring this embryo plant from its parent
tree to another tree which must at least be of the same genus if
ro. of the same species.
The Apricot and Nectarine may be and generally are budded
upon the Peach ; the Plum and the Peach are budded upon each
BUDDING. 221
other; and the Pear and Apple may be worked upon the wild
Crab and Hawthorn. The Pear is put on to the Quince to pro-
duce dwarf trees. To render the transfer or budding successful,
three things are requisite,
1. The bud must be in proper condition ; it should be matured,
that is of full growth, and yet not so hard and firm as to cause
injury ins. parating it from its parent.
2. The stock must be in condition to receive and nourish it.
It must peel freely, as this is necessary for the insertion of the
bud, and indicates the presence of what is termed the Cambium :
which is the soft, partially formed woody matter underlying the
bark, and which ripens into indurated wood.
%
3. The operation must be skillfully performed. As the Cam-
bium is the source of nourishment to the bud, and the bond of
union between it and the stock, great care must be used to avoid
injury specially to it, und also to the bark. Both stock and
graft should be in a thrifty growing state, and for the Citrus
tribe, the earlier in the Spring the better, always provided the
essential conditions are complied with. A cloudy day is desir-
able, but showery and intensely warm weather are unfavorable.
In the South of France, Orange growers make the transverse
slit at the bottom instead of the top 6f the perpendicular cut.
By this method it is said the bud rarely fails to “take,” because,
it is alleged, it receives abundance of the descending sap, which
it cannot receive when it is under the cross cut.
Since the bud is to be nourished at first by the leaves above it
on the stock, the best place to insert it is close beneath some leaf
jin activity, it is not therefore the most open and smooth part of
the stock which is to be selected, as commonly advised,
22% GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
For the same reason it might appear injudicious to shorten the
branches into which the bud is inserted, but if the shoot is not
topped, the rising sap will be attracted to the youngest leaves:
and expened in their increase, while on the other hand, if the
shoot is topped the sap will be forced laterally into the buds
already forming on its siles, and the new bud will participate in
this advantage. The bctier plan therefore would be to cut away
only a part of the shoot into which a bud is introduced, until it
gets under full headway of growth. When however the budding
is deferred too late in the season, no cutting or heading in should
be allowed before Spring, as the object should be to encourage a
dormant, quiescent state for fear of injurious cold.
A portion of the leaf, if small, or of the foot-stalk, if large,
should be left.
There is another mode of budding of ancient date but now
obsolete. Itis called flute-budding, and consists of peeling off a
ring of bark from the stock just below a terminal bud, replacing
it by a similar ring with a bud or two upon it taken from a scion,
and then binding down. This is performed only in the Spring.
It is said to be quite suceessful.
SQUARE SHIELD BupDDING is another mode and is thus de-
scribed by D’Albret: “From a strong tree remove a square
patch; raise froma strong branch another piece of the same
shape, but larger and furnished with an eye; fit this piece into
the place of the first, and cover it with a piece of paper pierced
with a hole for the eye, securing the whole by a ligature. This,
is to be employed with trees of very thick bark and large eyes
such as Walnut and Mulberry.” And doubtless Pecans and
other nuts.
GRAFTING. 229
European gardeners are particular to remdve every parcicle of
‘wood from the bud, resorting to the use of a silk thread or fine
wire to run under the bark, where difficulty is experienced in
‘slipping it off with the thumb nail as commonly practiced. In
our country, repeated experiments have led to the conclusion
that the wood is not only not hurtful, but is of positive advan-
‘tage in several respects.
GRAFTING.
Grafting, like Budding, is designed to form a union between
plants and trees classed under the same natural order. It does
not aim to effect this union by applying the inner surface of the
bark of the scion tv the outer surface of the wood of the stock, as
in Budding, but it is done by bringing the wood of the two in
contact, and joining their bark at the edges.
‘Asa general rule, Grafting is most successful when the scions
are quite dormant, but the forces of vegetation in the stock are
active. Fruit tree scions may be cut at any time after the fall
of the leaf before the buds begin to swell, and kept in damp sand
or sawdust.
Before beginning operations provide wax for spreading over
the bandages (a paint brush is best for doing this) to keep out
the weather. Several formulas are given for preparing grafting
wax. The following is from an English horticultural journal:
“Take twenty-seven ounces of common rosin, and when re-
duced by a slow heat to the consistency of a syrup, add ten
ounces of alcohol. Shake thoroughly and pour the mixture
into a well stopped vial. When the graft is inserted and tied in
its place with a strand of matting, cover the surface of the whole
with this mixture which is not affected by heat, cold or wef.”
239 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
Lindley gives two recipes.
One is simply a mixture of equal parts of tallow and beeswax,
laid on while warm, with a paint brush.
The other is much _ better.
“Take four parts by weight of piteh, four of rosin, two of bees-
wax, one of hog’s lard, and one of turpentine, melted and well
mixed. When this or some similar composition is spread on
brown paper, it forms grafting paper as it is sometimes termed,
which being cut into slips can he easily applied.”
Some operators use a mixture of fresh cow manure and clay,
bringing it by thoroughly mixing with water to about the con-
sistency of soft mortar.
I make a wax somewhat similar to that
produced from Lindley’s second recipe.
Indeed the only difference is I do not use
pitch.
There are very many methods of Graft-
ing, each with its special advocate. And
where there is such a field for operating
as our State presents, we should be pre-
pared to adopt the one best suited to the
particular case in hand.
Wuip, or ToNGUE GRAFTING Is per-
haps the most common kind, and is per-
furmed “ by sloping one side of the stock
—which should be about the same size as
the scion—with the knife, to a very acute
angle. A scion, having two or more buds,
is cut with a slope to correspond with that
* GRAFTING. at
upon the stock; then upon each slope or cut surface is cut a
tongue; the scion and stock are locked together by means of
these tongues in a manner that will be understood by an exami-
nation of the engraving. The barks of both being made to cor-
respond, a piece of waxed cloth or waxed twine is wound rcund
them to hold them in place. After the graft pushes its buds,
the binding should be loosened and finally removed when the
adhesion is completed. This method is used in root grafting,
and may be practised also with flowering shrubs.”
Although more tedious than the preceding, SADDLE Grart-
ING is said to be far better. It is thus described by Lind'ey:
“Pare the stock obliquely on both sides, till it becomes an in-
verted wedge, then slit the scion up the center, and pare its sides
down until they fit the sides of the stock. In tis
method, the greatest possible quantity of cellular sar-
face is brought into contact, and the parts are n:utu-
ally so adjusted that the ascending sap is freely re-
ceived from the stock by the scion, while at the
same time the descending sap can flow freely from
the scion into tke stock.”
To execute SADDLE GRAFTING properly the scion
and stock should be of the same size, and where that
cannot be, a second method where the scion mry be
much smaller than the stock is described by Kuizht.
It is never attempted until the usual season of ¢raft-
ing is past, and the bark is readily detached frei: the
alburnum.
Cut the head of the stock off by a single stroke of
the knife, obliquely, so that the incision commences
239 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
about the width of the diameter below the point where the
medulla appears in the section, and ends as much above it on
the opposite side. The scion, which should not exceed in diam-
eter half that of the stock, is then to be divided longitudinally
about two inches upward from its lower end, into two unequal
divisions, by passing the knife upwards just in contact with
one side ef the medulla The stronger division of the scion
is then to be pared thin at its lower extremity, and intro-
duced between the bark and wood of the stock; and the more
slender division is fitted to the stock upon the opposite side. The
scion consequently stands astride the stock to which it attaches
itself firmly upon each side, and which it covers completely in a
single season.
What is called Herbaceous Grafting depends -entirely upon
the same principles as common Grafting. In order to secure
success in Herbaceous Grafting, the scion and stock, being pared
so as to fit together accurately, are firmly bound to each other,
without being crushed; parts in full vegetation and abounding
in sap are always chosen for the operation, such as the upper
parts of annual shoots, near the terminal bud; perspiration 1s
diminished by the removal of some of the leaves of both stock
and scion, and by shading, and by degrees as the union becomes
secured, budsand leaves are removed from the stock, in order
that all the sap possible may be impelled into the scion. This
method, if well managed, succeeds completely in about thirty
days, and is useful as a method of multiplying lactescent, resin-
ous, and hard wooded trees, which refuse to obey more common
mcthods.”
Crerr GRAFTING is the most common, and is generally a very
GRAFTING. 233
successful method of propagation, whether applied to trunk or
branch. “The stock is cut off horizontally
with a saw, and pared smooth with a knife ;
then with the grafting knife anda mallet make
a cleft or split some two inches long. The scion
is prepared by sloping its lower end inthe form
of a wedge about an inch and a half long.
The cleft being kept open with a wedge, the
scion is carefully pushed down to the place fit-
ting its inner bark on one side, so that the in-
ner edges of the bark of stock and scion may
co-incide (see cut). The wedge is then with-
drawn, and the scions are retained in place by
the springing together of the cleft.” The oper-
I fas) ro) oD p
ation is completed by covering the graft.with
wax previously prepared. The above descrip-
_ tion ws intended—except in root grafting—for
cases where the difference in size between the stock and scion is
considerable, and where two scions are used in the same cleft.
If but one scion is to be inserted, the stock is sloped on one
side to a thickness nearly equal to the scion.
When the stock and scion are of equal size, “ cut the scion
wedge-shaped at the base, then split down the middle of the
stock, and thin the two parts so that the wedge-shape part of the
scion may coincide in every point. (See cut.)
Another mode of CLerr GRAFTING is in the side of shoots of
the same size as the scion, and is thtis described: “ Whatever
may be the nature of the scion, its base should be cut in as
lengthened a wedge-shape as circumstances will permit. The
O34 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
place intended for it should be previously fixed upon, and always
in the fork of a small ramification of the young stem, or in the
axil of one of its leaves, or of an eye. The stem should be cut
back a little above the place intended for the insertion of the
scion, always taking care that the stump has one or two eyes
left, or some small branches, leaves, ete. Make in the stock ¢
cut somewhat slanting downwards, till it reaches the pith, divid-
ing it into two nearly equal parts. The cleft should be made by
a single cut, and as quickly as possible, so that the blade of the
knife may not have time to deposit iron rust, which is always in-
jurious to vegetation. The place being thus prepared, the scion
is inserted, and must be maintained in
its position, and otherwise attended ac-
cording to the practice in other cases.”
Crown Grartine “Is by many
preferred to Cleft Grafting, as there
is no split in the stock, which often
leads to decay. It is practiced upon
large trees, of which the wood is
too hard and stubborn to be cleft,
iar =| or upou small stocks. Several scions
iliel|N\ |
are pared away on one side of the
lower end for about two inches, so
as to make that side flat, and leav-
i il | ing a shoulder forming a right angle
i | with it. The head of the stock being
a \ sawn off horizontally, and the cut por-
:. tion smoothed, the bark is gently
raised from the wood and thin wedges
INARCHING. 235
inserted. Ihe scions are now pushed under the bark, their
shoulders resting on the crown of the stock ; the wedges being
withdrawn, the whole is covered with wax or wax-cluth. After
the grafts have grown and made long tender shoots, which they
will be apt to do with much rapidity and vigor, they should be
secured to long stakes planted near the stock, and rising above
it to prevent the wind from breaking off the newly-formed top.”
There is another mode of grafting called PLuG GRrarrina.
Thorin affirms that “this was used by the Romans in grafting
their olives and vines, and is mentioned by geoponical writers,
The operation, which is performed in the spring, is as follows #
A shoot of the previous year is taken, and shaved into a Jongish
eylindrical form, immediately below the lower eye; a hole two:
or three inches deep, and as large as the scion is then bored in
the side of the stock ; the scion is placed in the hole, and driven
in until it fits exactly, leaving no space between itself and the
stock.”
The chief advantage of plug grafting is its easy application.
It requires no ligature, and is quickly inserted.
INARCHING.
INARCHING is distinguished by the circumstance that both the
individuals intended to be united live on their own roots, and.
mutually cooperate in forming a union. Two stocks of two dis-
tinct plants are brought close together, and the prepared sur-
faces are matched and tongued as in whip grafting. The two
plants tobe Inarched must be brought near to one another,.
which is usually accomplished by having one of them in a
pot. In some cases, the same object is effected by placing the
lower end of the branch to be Inarched in a bottle which is kept.
236 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
supplied with water. Inarching takes the place of Grafting
altogether in India, and is thus described: “Procure a seedliig
of about one or two years old of the plant to be Inarched, or
where a seedling is not to be obtained, a rooted cutting of the
same age of the plant that is to supply the stock. Put it in a
pot, and when it is well established, it will be ready to be operated
upon. Slice away from one side of the young stem a piece of
bark with a thin layer of the wood beneath it, and about two
inches long ; do the same to a young stem of the plant to be in-
arched from, and then bring together the two stems that have
been thus operated upon, so that the cut parts lie close in contact
face to face, and bandage them with cotton twist. In course of
time, when the parts have united, head down the stock and dis-
sever the scion from the parent plant by cutting it through be-
low the bandage. The grafted plart must then be put somewhere
in ashaded place, and not removed from its pot till it has made a
vigorous growth, and stock and scion have become thoroughly
incorporated.”
. . LAYERING.
LAYERING is a method of propagating plants by burying the
middle of a branch and keeping the end erect, while still attached
to and sustained by the parent tree. In the case of cuttings, a
portion of the stem or branch containing several buds is severed
from the tree, and planted in the ground, observing to leave
about two buds out. When the plant is in a healthy, thrifty
state, there is nutriment enough accumulated within its stem
and leaves to enable it to throw out roots through which it can
derive sustenance. But with the layer the parent sustains it
during the process of root forming.
LAYERING. I3T
In difficult cases of layering it is usual to form a “ tongue” on
the buried stem, by cutting* half-way through it in a sloping di-
rection. If this wound is kept open, and it may be prevented
from healing by inserting a wedge under the cut part, the roots
will form readily.
Layering, as practiced in India, is thus described by Fir-
minger :
“Select a branch of ripened wood of the plant to be Layered,
that will bear being bent down to the earth without breaking.
Cut the branch half through with a sharp knife, just under one
of the leaf buds towards its extremity, and then pass the knife
upwards so as to slit the branch about an inch or two up. The
slit piece, with the leaf bud at its extremity called the “ tongue,”
should be kept open by inserting a small piece of tile. Remove
the earth to the depth of two or three inches from, or place a
flower pot over the spot just where the tongue falls on the branch
being bent down; then carefully bend the tongued part of the
branch into the earth or into the flower pot; secure it in that
position by a-peg, and cover it over with earth, which should be
pressed down and watered. It is recommended to head down
the branch when layered, but it is not always done.”
Experience has decided that it is much better to form the
“tongue” on the upper rather than the lower side of the buried
portion of the branch.
“For layering herbaceous plants such as a Carnation, an in-
genious plan is given in Le Bon Jardinier. A piece of oiled
paper is folded round the stem to be layered, so as to form a fun-
nel, and held together with a couple of pins. Soil is inserted
nd
38 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
into this, and retained therein by moss thrust into the mouth
and kept constantly moist.”
It may interest the curious and inquiring to read of and per-
haps test by experiment, the production of what in some places
in the East is called the “ Trifacial Orange,” in others, the “ Or-
anger Hermaphrodite.” Mr. St. John, in his “Travels in the
Valley of the Nile,” gives the following account, says Lindley, of
this very curious tree in Boghos Bey’s garden at Alexandria:
“Here I was shown an extraordinary fruit tree, produced by an
extremely ingenious process. They take three seeds, the Citron,
the Orange and the Lemon, and carefully removing the external
coating from both sides of one of them, and from one side of the
two. others, place the former between the latter, and binding the
three together with fine grass, plant them in the earth. From
this mixed seed springs a tree, the fruit of which exhibits three
distinet species included in one rind, the division being perfectly
visible externally, and the flavor of each compartment as differ-
ent as if it had grown on a separate tree. This curious method
of producing a tripartite fruit has been introduced by Boghos
Joussouff, from Smyrna, his native city, where it is said to have
been practiced from time immemorial.”
In confirmation of the above, the Rev. G. C. Renouard report-
ed while Foreign Secretary to the Royal Geographical Society,
having seen the fruit of an orange and lemon combined which
had grown on a tree similarly produced. Mr. R. described the
fruit as having “the size and appearance of a large orange, with
two or three patches of lemon neatly stuck on it ; the color, almost
to the very edges of the different pieces, being distinctly that of
the respective fruits; and on removing the rind, which, as in a
LAYERING. 239
common orange was all of one piece, the portions beneath the
lemon-colored parts, had not only a considerable degree of acid-
ity, while the orange had its proper degree of sweetness, but they
were separated from their sweet neighbors by a distinct mem-
brane, which in some degree accounted for their difference in
taste.”
TALLAHASSEE the Capital of Florida, is attractively situated
upon one of the beautiful hills of the high rolling country of the
Middle District. It has long been noted f r the culture and
refinement of its people, the profusion and rar2 loveliness of its
flowers, and its unsurpassed surroundings of woodland beauty.
And while not precisely centrally located geographically, there
are too many attractions and advantages in favor of the present
site, to render a removal of the Capitol at all probable for many
years to come.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Governor— Derm, 4 Years. sf cacet nes snotan seueee sen Salary, $5,500
Governors Private Secretary... s:inweswavestenre ree ‘ 5OO
Lieutenant Governor, 10c mileage and...... ...... es 500
Lieutenant Governor is ex-officio President of the Senate.
State Officers.
Mepretaty, OF State....i:)-sie.t saad peste mennane Salary, $2,000
mitorney Genera lt. ccccsssencse. deer net neat Fite Bee oF 2,000
Adiitant Grenmeralicds cs. wucse.st cs tnier screamo e: 2,000
Superintendent Public Instruction.................... 2,000:
Comptroller(seneral \i...:hyac sesso tte gee 7 2,000
Gommpproller’s Clerk... cr. .30:-+s etwas haan aan ee eee ne 1,200
Tie aeter Ls .cass Son ase RR er te Mareen Wt i 2,000
TPreasnner’s “(Clerk iisc sci. eect ere ce eee aaa eae yi 1,200
Commissioner of Lands and Immigration............ " 2,000
These officers are appointed by the Governor and approved by
the Senate.
STATE OFFICERS. 241
COMMISSIONERS OF STATE INSTITUTIONS :
The Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Comp-
troller General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Adjutant General, and Commissioner of Lands and Immigration.
BoarRbD OF EDUCATION.
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary of State, and
Attorney General.
BoarpD OF PARDONS.
The Governor, Justices of the Supreme Court, and Attorney
General.
TRUSTEES OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
The Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and
Commissioner of Lands and Immigration.
A clerk is allowed at a salary of $1,200.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
There are two Congressional Districts,
THe Frrsr of which is composed of the counties of Escambia,
Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun,
Franklin, Liberty, Gadsden, Wakulla, Leon, Jefferson, Taylor,
Lafayette, Levy, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, and
Monroe.
To THE Second District are assigned the counties of Mad-
ison, Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia, Alachua, Bradford, Baker,
Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Sumter, Marion, Vo-
lusia, Orange, Brevard and Dade.
242 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF THE STATE.
West FLoripa consists of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton,
Holmes, Washington, Jackson and Calhoun counties.
MippLe Froripa embraces the counties of Gadsden, Liberty,
Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette,
and Hamilton.
East Fioripa includes the counties Suwannee, Columbia,
Baker, Nassau, Duval, Bradford, Clay, Levy, St. Johns, Put-
nam, Alachua, and Marion.
SourH Frorrpa is composed of the counties Hernando, Sum-
ter, Orange, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee,
Monroe, and Dade.
NUMBER OF PLANTS TO AN ACRE.
There are 45,560 square feet on an acre of ground, and if that
number is divided by the product arising from multiplying the
distance of the rows apart, by the distance the plants are set in
the row or drill, the quotient will be the number of plants on an
acre; and it is better to remember this than to be bothered with
a table. 7
Example: Suppose it is decided to set Cabbages two feet from
each other, in rows three feet apart, and the number necessary to
be provided to plant an acre is desired. You divide 43,560 by
the product of 3x 2 which is 6, the quotient is 7,260, the required
number to plant an acre 3x 2.
MEASURES AND WEIGHTS. 943,
Parallelograms---Each Containing One Acre.
5 yards wide by 968 yards long equals one acre.
10 yards wide by 484 yards long equals one acre.
20 yards wide by 242 yards long equals one acre.
40 yards wide by 121 yards long equals one acre.
70 yards wide by 69 1-7 yards long equals one acre.
80 yards wide by 60 1-2 yards long equals one acre.
60 feet wide by 726 feet long equals one acre.
110 feet wide by 396 feet long equals one acre.
120 feet wide by 362 11-12 ft. long equals one acre.
220 feet wide by 198 feet long equals one acre.
240 feet wide by 181 1-2 feet long equals one acre.
440 feet wide by 99 feet long equals one acre.
One ounce of seed will produce, of
Asparagus, about five hundred plants. .
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Pepper and Tomato, cach
about three thousand plants.
Celery and Lettuce, each, about four thousand plants.
———
WHAT MAKES A BUSHEL.
ARTICLES. POUNDS.
Dried, Aqeples. vo 22...25. 1. veannt ct tan onee ss sinciacine gelscesainnnea oss aesass 26
TEP CI ete LSA Sea ea ie AR ES iS er eee 60
GG Ce ree ora ae ees aortas wiacaoudsednsean ascanrenendwsesieg 60
DUVET EG VENER IIS tS cscites = coc hc poctint acne ssncso emneccisgecs av cers ceemsens 60
TWO SLOT MECANS: steve {see bce et gd ara: Biu.ig ese scaecereceeduceat 46
244 GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
Buckwheat. fin dsesoiess desege acess Go. cen oe oe See eae enol ECE 52
Stone! Goals cis ci cccce ck ieas dese cawre-cate ne eet ecee ea ale clase iielora ater ce 80
Shelled ‘Corner in ccc oiices Teer ae Seno ee ce cost enenae eeeeeee 56
Gorn ‘in: thre Hari... ei vee ica a shear cree done altos ee nuceeeee 70
Corn Wheel a scee eg a ocd a a PEN cr ana etn lee mend cence 50
COOMBS Sek eb oc Sa haces erobotee Sanle ahaw apeaterstemla Remmi ecet ar aan 56
Dried Peaches, unpeeled 2. ces acsa- sane nceweenina tee Mab stad 36
Dried Peaches, peeled sci 5.22.22. dsc seqece-nee toneeesormes steers 40
Erigh * POtatOGs ccc wieseosoase vc cuecdasecs dessacmas dete. epens loneneee eee 60
Sweet ce OLMtOGS..cccccesscaceessaenerceuent HL YR a 50
WO AS ar icles aeons sada tele OES u hays o clv SEGAL Seicls Oilers Dane since tee eemmnten 60
Coarse Sale sec s5s sede ees aca te cee ve saline tisselo daemeeecere seat eames 50
Ming: Salts. Jo. Bisse. de eb eedsssash lease We tacameciee seen hee ueememmeemes 55
ADWETLPS. geo. jscasinees ge conse scecetears stdleactalslecincncteepe)ess/memieteca 55
HOUSEWIFE’S TABLE.
Wheat Flour, one pound i8..........cccecesescncecsreceerececesccenecen oe one quart.
Indian Meal, one pound two ounces is...........++ a seis stele ears ene one quart.
Butter, when soft, one POUNC iS............cseecseeeeee eoceeceeecenseres one quart.
Brown Sugar, one pound two OUNCES IS.......sseeeseeee eee ee eee eee ees one quart.
Loaf Sugar, One pound i8........ccceeeeeceeceeeeeeeeeeeneecseeerececeerses one quart.
Quantity of Paint to the Square Yard.
New wood requires about one pound of paint to each square
yard of surface for three coats.
Powdered chalk added to common glue strengthens it.
CEMENTS. 245
FORMULAS FOR CEMENTS.
FOR BROKEN CHINA.
Stir Plaster of Paris into a thick solution of Gum Arabic, till
it becomes a viscous paste. Apply it with a brush to the frac-
tured edges, and draw the parts closely together. In three or
four days it may be used.
DIAMOND CEMENT FOR CROCKERY.
Glue one pound, white lead (dry) one quarter pound, one
quart rain water, and half a pint of alcohol. Put the three first
ingredients in a kettle, and set the kettle in a dish of water.
Boil until the glue is dissolved, then add the alcohol and _ boil
again until all become thoroughly mixed. Keep in well stopped
bottles, and use in the same manner as glue. Should it become
too hard, soften by placing the bottle in warm water.
TRANSPARENT CEMENT FOR GLASS.
Dissolve one part by weight of India rubber in sixty-four of
chloroform, then add sixteen to twenty-four parts of powdered
gum mastic. This should be kept warm for two days and shaken
frequently. Apply with camel’s hair or other fine brush.
CEMENT FOR GLASS AND IRON UNDER WATER.
Sift together one gill each of litharge, plaster of Paris, dry
white sand, and one-third of a gill of rosin, finely powdered.
Keep corked tightly and use as needed by mixing into a putty
with linseed oil, and adding a little patent dryer. Mix each lot
at least fifteen hours before using. After applying let it dry a
few hours before letting on water.
DAG _ GARDENING IN FLORIDA.
WATER-PROOF GLUE.
Render glue soft but not liquid in cold water, then dissolve it
by gentle heat in linseed oil. It dries quickly and water will not
affect it.
A cement is made of two parts ashes, three of clay, one of sand
mixed with oil.
PRR AT A.
On page 29, second line from bottom, read Caula for Caulo.
Page 42, first line, supply where after the word market.
Page 45, thirteenth line, the sentence should end with the
word any, and there should be simply a comma in place of the
period after the word bean.
Page 58, twelfth line near the end, read are for is.
Page 65, first line, substitute a comma for a period after the
word climate.
Page 76, sixth line, last word, read gathering for gardening.
Page 85, second line, read Caula for Caulo.
Page 88, eighth line from bottom vead CAaNnraLouPE for
CANTATOUPE.
Page 92, supply do not at the beginning of the seventh line.
Page 97, second line read rose for nose.
Page 97, tenth line, near the end, supply on after the word
come.
Page 97, second line from bottom of page, read serve for
season.
Page 112, in last line of analysis, read silica for silicic.
Page 122, third line from bottom of page read thinning for
thining.
Page 123, fourth line read shallot for shalot.
Page 127, bottom line, read bedding for ledding.
Page 138, fourth line, read its for their.
Page 154, nineteenth line, read chestnuts for ehesnuts.
Page 145, seventeenth line, read contains for contain.
Page 146, second line, read nutritious for nutritions.
Page 155, fourth line from the bottom, read imply for apply.
Page 160, fifteenth line, read civet for civit.
Page 166, eighth line, read stamens for stamen.
Page 213, seventh line read practised for practiced.
Page 115, first line, omit the word himself.
Page 197, sixth line from bottom, read consist for consists.
Page 205, last line, read perseverance for perseverence.
Page 213, last word on page, read hardiness for hardness.
Page 225, top of page, read propagation for propogation.
Page 231, third line from bottom, read albwinen for alburnum.
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