The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-04-19
For the Jefiersonian Democrat.
Acclimating Southern Plants.

Mr.. CONVERSE I'll have made fow OK.
perimeu,s in acclimatipg somo Southern
plants, aud, IL you think tho e.ccount of my
efforts deserving place in your paper, you
ere at liberty ic publish IT,
ln the autumn of 1885, gathered near
inc city uf Natchez. Miles,, some seeds of the
Trumpet flower, (Tccomd RadtcGns,) which
l brought home, and planted the following
spring, in my yard, where they made quitea
vigorous growth the fret season, but Killed
20 tho ground the winter after. Tho next
yoar, a triflo of the growth survived the win
ter, and thus by inches they have continued
to advance, and last summer, for the hrst,
produced perfect flowers, brought also
from the same place. seod Of tho Persimmon,
(Diospyros YirgiHidHd.) II fruited about
tho ninth year, witbstaudng a Northern
winter much better than the Trumpot-howcr,
but the climate has made il nero dwarf,
Tho Persimmon is found growing wild III
the Southern parts of onnsylvania, Ohio
Indiana aud Illinois, but it is not stately
tree, in any of those places, that 1t is in
Mississippi and other Southern States.
have growing also some trees OF the Bald
Cypress. (Tdrodium Distichum famous fol
beiug the principal kind of tree growing in
tho vicinity Whero Gen. jackson achieved
his celebrated victory over Packenham. on
she 9Th JAM, 1915. This last suffers less
from the severity of our winters than either
of the preceding. I have somo Fig trocs
brought from Tennessee, that have produced
very fine fruit as good as Is raised in Ten
nessee, or even Mississippi, have eatci
fresh, ripo fruit there, as we'll as here, ant
therefore am confident. But the trees 10
dnire protection here However, the sudder
q, severe cold a deg. above zero.) OF last No
vember, caught my trees unprotected. Bu
removed them to tho cellar while frozen
and they are uniDjurod, and now beginnln
togrow. Proof that thawing,i II done rapidly
not freezing. destroys trees as we'll as fruit.
"Possum Up Gum Tree" (Liqutddmbe
Sfyraeif fiud,) that raised from seed, pro
cured at the same time with the above,
quito ornamental, and the peculiar tas.
and fragrance of its leaves are much admired
The Pecan, (Cdrya Oiiudcjormis tn
Kentucky coffee tree { (Gymociddus Candd.n
sisJ the Red-bud. (Cireis Cdnodensis) an
Hackbury Cells .Miss,ss,ppiensis )aro nearl
rs hardy 90 our natives. None OF these las
named, OK cept the Gum tree, has winter
killed in the least, and that only onco il
more than twenty years.
But the tree of trees, tho most splendl
OF ali tho Southern productions, in my est
nation, is the Great Laurel Magnolia, (Mog
noiia Grandiflora Ia this climate it ca
only be kept in the greenhouse; and
soon attains such size as to preclude
from the house. In Mississippi and Louis
ana, il grows to the height of eighty fee
The leaves are shining dark evergreen o
the upper surface, aud russet on tho unde
The fowers are delciously fragrant, of
beautiful white. and, when expanded, foe
in diameter; and tho scarlet colored, con'
shaped frui, with which the trees are lcade
In autumn, contrasted with the dark gree
foliage, 10 a very imposing sight. 1t is sal
that tree near Philadelphia stands th
winter and blossoms. Z. j. FERRISS.
LITTLE MOUNTAIN, April lst, 1861.