Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31
Trees and Flowers of Texas

\ correspondent recently wrote as fol-
lows from Texas
.' 1t would require the pen of an expert
enced and practical botanist to describe
the numerous varieties Of trees, plants.
shrubbery and flowers peculiar to this
section, and to mark the different species
"a we gradually approach the tropics
We fnd here the jessamine, the oleander,
the orange and lemon, the hg, the pome-
granate, the wild plum and the plantain
the cape myrtle was Of frequent occur
aence wherever any attempt was made at
cultivation.
d" In the swamps and morasses the palms
grow most luxuriantly, while clusters of
waxen pond lilies float gracefully on the
surface. The trumpet flower, or American
creeper, clings to hundreds of trees, and
the blossoms attain far richer depth Of
color than in our northern climate
Our ride on the Mississippi afforded
a magnificent sight We noticed hedges
eight or ten feet high, and Of dense foliage
composed entirely Of what they call the
Cherokee rose-resembling the white tea
rOse-perfectly hardy and a perennial
bloomer. The magnolia grandIfora tree
grows very large. and as we passed along
It's blossoms emitted delicious perfume
and noble lawns fronting the levees, and
connected with grand old plantations, were
adorned with clusters Of cape myrtle.
oeanders, magnoias and jessamine, and
orange and IL trees in endless profusiou.
The variety known as the fig celestia
IS Just now in season. 1t requires a cuI-
tivated taste to appreciate the dg. 1t Is
considered a great luxury by the south
erners, but TO stranger at FIRST seems
insipid. When the outer coating is re-
moved, however, and il is served with
sugar and cream, the flavor is greatly i'm
proved, and after one or two trials. and
Just as we were bidding farewell to Louis
Iana, we found ourselves really acquiring
q iondness for it.
A." The oleander fourishes in extraor-
dinary luxuriance in the city of Galveston.
1t borders the sidewalks. and thousands
of blossoms Of the doube-pink variety are
to be seen on single tree. The white
species is also a fayorite in this part of
the country.
" The rose tree and the cape iessamine
are peculiarly adapted to this sandy soil,
and bouquet can be gathered IN the open
air at almost any period Of the year The
China tree, or Pride Of the South, Is
great favorite. 1t is Of a dwarfsh and
busy growth, blooms early in the season,
and IS just now loaded with seed pods
On the prairies we noticed the mus
quite tree Its foliage is light green and
ieathery. 1t bears a bean pod, which is
said to form an excellent substitute for
bread, and is relished by both man and
beast. The mustang grape hourishes lux
uriantly in the swamps and lowlands and
we noticed many large clusters OF unripe
fruit. The prlckly pear, variety of cac-
tus, Is found in abundance, and hundreds
Of varieties ofhowers are to be seen on cy-
cry hand. Among these, | may mention
white and crimson poppies magenta
colored thistle of rare beauty and endless
profusion, a new variety of the lupin, Of
flesh color, tinted with scarlet, delicate
white blossoms of various kinds, yellow
and pink star flowers great clusters Of the
blue verbena, petunias Of many colors, the
corlOpsis, portulacca, blue lilies with
brown and golden centers, the standing
cypress plant with great spikes of scarlet
colored blossoms, the passion vine covered
with bloom, daisies marguerites and asters,
| and many other specimens Of Horticulture
with which | was not familiar.
" Delighted as we were with the glorious
wealth OF flowers, we were informed that it
was too late in the season to see them to
perfection. During the latter part of May,
and from that time to the middle of June,
it is said the prairies present the appear
anees Of vast flower gardens. Most of these
plants seed profusely and annually multi
ply themselves almost Indefinitely, while
others are perennial. The Commissioner OF
Agriculture at Washington could do moth
! ing better than to send agents to the Texas
prairies to gather seeds and plants instead
of importing them from abroad.
"The variety is quite as extensive as
those we now secure from the foreign mar.
kets, and there is no doubt most of them
would readily adapt themselves to the lat
itude of the middle, and northern states.