Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-08-23

and is cultivated for ornament and vari-
ETY.. The citron is not cultivated extern
sively. The tree is low and branching
and bears fruit which resembles a very
large rOugh-coated orange, but is OblOng
in shape. After undergoing certain
preparation it is preserved in sugar and
becomes the citron of commerce: The
orange and lemon trees are symmetrical
in shape, and nothing can exceed in
beauty grove of these trees either in
blossom or in fruit. All of the citrus
blossoms have the same rich heavy fra
GRANGE that is associated with the orange
flowers. These citrus trees all belong to
the rue family, from pungent bitter aro-
matte volatile oil which is present in the
leaves and in the rind of the fruit until it
is quite ripe, as well as from the shape of
the blossoms in their various parts.
The scuppernong grape ascends to the
tops of tall trees and swings lazily from
the branches. These vines are very num-
erous. The grapes, which ripen in sum-
mer, are said to be large and sweet. An
other vine, the supple jack, is remarka-
BILE for its smooth, very tough and 1.-THE
stems, which extend in the forest from
one tree top to another, binding several
minated by greenish white blossoms in
short panicles.
So much of the romance of tropical
countries is associated with the palm that
the traveller is predisposed to enthusiasm
over these most striking and peculiar
trees, and yet is none the less surprised
at their picturesque beauty when he &C.
tually sees them in their natural state
The cabbage palmetto attains the
height of one hundred feet or more, and
has no branches, only tuft of the large
leaves at the top. In the spring a flower
stalk appears at the top of the tree,
which, with its white star-shaped bios
SONS, forms huge thyrsus several feet
making the finest honey. The flower
stalk remains during the rest of the year
filled with small black berries; like our
black cherries, which are eaten by the
birds.
The saw palmetto, the trunk of which
creeps upon the ground, is found every
where in Florida. The ground is often
covered with the growing leaves SO that
it would be impossible to pass through
them.
The date palm and cocoa nut palm are
found in south Florida, where cocoa nut
groves are cultivated.
The banana family is represented by
the Indian shot plant, which is cultivated
in Conservatives here. The flowers are
borne on a spike and are about two in
| variegated, and very snowy. The seeds
are several, in three elled, rough-wall-
ed pod, and are round and hard, resem-
bling shot.
The banana plant is from ten to twenty
feet in height, having linear leaves six
feet or more in length. The flower stalk
rises from the center and developing a
dropping spike, the flowers clustered in
| the axis of the deep red bracts. The OBJ
long berry is familiar to all, being the ba-
mana of our market A dwarf variety,
which is grown in south Florida, is much
sweeter and more delicate in flavor than
the larger banana.
! Epiphytes are abundant in the south,
the most conspicuous being the long
| Spanish MOSS 50 called, though really not
a moss, but tillandsia usneoides, belong
ing to the pine apple family. These plants
| grow in great profusion, often hanging
from the trees like heavy gray drapery.
The til!andsia derives its nourishment en-
tirely from the atmosphere. The blossom
is inconspicuous. Hundreds of large
air plants of different variety are often
found upon single tree, to which they
cling for support.
The iris IN Florida IN spring time is
very abundant, and very like our north.
ern iris.
The coontie belongs to the gymnosper.
nous division of the willow family. The
plant is like fern in appearance, having
a tuft of fern-ike leaves. 1t has a root
like trunk, which does not rise above the
ground, and which furnishes flower
called Indian arrow root. The berries
are three fourths of an inch in length, vel
| louysoh IN onlor orA hovo ovoSov
When growing they are closely crowded
together, like kernels of corn on long,
slender receptacle. The plant has no
style or stigma, as the mouth of the ovules
receives the pollen directly.
hs SsRSEy III RfH snf Ess szs
a large plant are six feet in length and
six inches thick at the base. The flower
stalk rises from the center to the height
of forty feet, toward the top, sending out
short branches which bear the yellow
blossoms. These blossoms become little
plants, SO that soon the flower stalk is
burdened with living plants until it often
falls over from the weight. The little
plants fall upon the ground and take
root. The century plants and the aloe,
which is cultivated in Florida, have one
peculiar characteristic, the thick leaves
serve both as foliage and to store up nour.
ishment. The green surface acts as fol.
iage. The interior is full of starch and
other nourishing matters. Owing to this
the plants live long time after they are
removed from the ground.
The China tree is extensively cultivated
in the south as shade tree. The flower
cluster is like that of the lilac, a thyrsus,
purple in color and very fragrant.
One of the most peculiar plants of
Florida is the Indian pipe. 1t is about
one foot in height, smooth and waxer
and white. The name refers to the flow
er or summit of the stem which is turned
over to one side or hanging. This plant
resembles and indeed belongs to the same
genus as the false beech drops of oul
northern woods, and belongs to the heath
family.
The American mistletoe is remarkable
from being a parasite. It grows upon the
branches of trees and derives its nOurish-
ment from the trees. The mistletoe has
small, thick, oval or obovate leaves and
short spikes of greenish dioecious flow
ers. The fertile ones ripen white berries
The sweet oleander is frequently grown
as q hedge. 1t attains the height Of
twenty or thirty feet. and if left to itself
grows much like the northern willow. In
the spring time the Oleanders are full Of
blossoms, and in two or three months they
come into full bloom again, continuing
more or less in flower during the year.
There are many circumstances tha
make it very pleasant to study the flors
of the south. The plants and flowers arr
more or less striking in appearance, and
what is more favorable they are all easily
preserved. The leaves are generally ev
ergreen and thick, both leaves and flower.
retaining their shape and color for a lonl
time.
Many have gardens of cultivated flow
ers and their success only shows thai
there are wonderful possibilities in the di
rection of cultivated flowers for the resi-
dent of Florida. Roses blossom all win
ter and the finest varieties grow with lit
| tie care Some unkeDt garden NAV hoas1