The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-31
FRUlTs AND FLOWERS IN
FLORIDA.
[Cor. Troy 'rimes.l

Many varieties of tropical fruits and
flowers grow luxuriously in Florida, and
some fine specimens, orchids or air plants
are found there in abundance. From
the corridor upon which our room opened
at the Putnam House, banana leaves at
least four feet long with stalks full
eighteen feet high, Wed with the orange
branches in spreading their beautiful
foliage before the eye. The shade trees
of Palatka are the bitter orange. They
are loaded with blossoms, with ripe fruit,
and green fruit just starting. The air is
perfumed with bitter orange blossoms.
This frui, requires ten months to mature
from the starting of the blossom. After
ripening it may remain upon the tree
without decay for nearly year. These
oranges are quite large and of beautiful
color; they are not good to eat, but the
orangeade made from ihsm is u very
healthfol and agreeable beverage, and
the marmalade into which they are man
ulsctured is palatable, and by many
highly relished as "preserve. The
lemon grows here in great profusion.
The fig natures in three months and
bears two crops year; the banana re-
quires three months from the start to
ripen. The grape ripens about the Goth
of June. The pomegranate does we'll in
Florida, but little attention is paid to it's
cultivation. There are some fine speci.
mems OF cactus in Palatka. We saw one
nearly 20 feet high with a stalk full Al
inches in circumference. 1t was growing
close to an orange tree, and its branches
intertwlned with the orange, sending its
leaves even above the tree and bearing
the appearance of being grated on it.
The cedar is a beautiful evergreen in
Florida. The skilled gardener trains il
into various and fantastic shapes. There
is cedar in the garden just across the
way from the hotel growing in rich lux.
uriance. which bears the form OF a
beautifully shaped basket standing upon
table, its handle raised and studded
thick all over with the tiny cedar leaf
Then there is the magnolia tree; if MOI
the giant it is the belle OF the Floride
forest. In its perfection it is almost al
large as the ordinary chestnut tree of tn.
North, and when in blossom in the montl
of May it is covered with beautiful white
flowers. The Pride of India is larg,
tree and to be seen everywhere on thi
peninsula; it affords splendid shad
along the streets in villages. The bios
som resembles that OF the westeria il
coler and size. The live oak with it
great outspreading branches, the pal
metto of unusual growth and curiousl
braided surface, and the graceful pine O
immense height, trim and strait as a.
arrow, may be olassed as the kings of tn
forest. The flowers in Florida embrac
many varities Of the rose blossoming tn
year round. The trumpet vine, with i,
orange-colored blossoms. spreads i,
creepers everywhere, and the wild morr
ing glory. the yellow jassamine and th
olive-3reen moss constitute feature {
beauty in the forests. Unlike the flower
of the East Indies, which are general
without fragrance though richly coloret
those in Florida have a rich and di
tinctive perfume. The cameiia, whic
is cultivated with great care in our col
servatories at the North. attains here
much larger growth and blossoms in Il
gardens all Winter.