Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-06-04
FLORIDA.
A Graphic Account of its Wonders in
Animal and Vegetable Life.


A correspondent of the Hartford
Times, writing about the wonderful
things seen in Florida, says: ....- -..
We turn sharp angle in the St
Johns river, and pass near a bed of
water lettuce, which is often carried by
the wind or current into sheltered
spots until it forms great masses of
bright green vegetation. This plant
is rightly named, for it closely resem-
bles lettuce in appearance. 1t floats
with its roots near the surface and
grows without any dependence on the
soil. In fact, that is one of the marvels
of vegetable life down here. Air plants
of great variety grow on the trunks of
trees. and 1t is matter Of no import
ance whether the tree is alive or dead;
in fact, tie the plants to theposts of the
veranda and they flourish just as we'll,
bloom and then die. Other plants
grow pinned to curtain; moss grows
in air, and luxuriantly. if damp enough.
The Spanish bayonet, tipped over and
with no root in the ground, continues
to shoot out its thick-spiked leaves.
We warp around into a creek so mar
row that in many places we can touch
the foliage on either side. Both banks
of the creek nearly all the way are
very low. The trees seem to grow out
of the water. AS the wind has little
effect from the fact that the creek is so
sheltered, the trees and vegetation are
mirrored as clearly in the water as
seen in the air above it. Only thin
line separates the upward growth from
the downward reflection. We can look
in either air or water, and scan the
trunks of the trees and their foliage
And what variety of colors There is
the bright red flower of the swamp
maple, with its following of fresh green
leaves. There is the sweet gum, with
its star-shaped leaves of all colors, from
green to bronze. The idea occurred
on the sight of this tree that the frosts
OF Winter nipped the leaves, and that
before they had time to fall Spring had
infused new life into them, and fresh
ened up the autumnal tints. In strong
contrast with the fresh green are the
dark limbs and trunks of the tree,
many of which have not yet put on
their Summer attire. Among the trees
the cypress attracts attention. Tall
and straight, with a short growth of
branches at the top,it grows very large,
sometimes having diameter of three
feet. Its branches hang with moss,
and in Spring it puts forth somber-
colored flower resembling dead leaves.
Only now and then can we see one that
has as yet put out its short, delicate
leaf, which much resembles that of the
pine, but is shorter and finer. One
wonders how they get life enough to
support such large bodies. But in these
swamps the trees throw out no tap
roots, and if the tops and branches
were heavy and spreading they would
be easily overthrown by fierce winds.
Through these swamps the mistletoe
abounds. 1t is easier seen in Winter,
for then its evergreen foliage contrasts
strongly with the apparently lifeless
tree. The mistletoe is not an airy
plant 1t lives on live tree and fastens |
its roots firmly into the branch to which |
it is attached, so the further end of the |
limb often dies 1t seems to be es-
pecially fond of the oak, and is never |
seen on the cypress or pine, though |
they may be near by. l think l have |
seen it on other trees beside the oak, |
but could not distinguish what they |
were in the distance. But as we sweep |
around some new point we are again |
brought back to admire the richness of |
the coloring. Here are the heavy, |
dark colors-the gray hanging moss
and dark trunks. Here the eye passes
on to lighter and gayer colors. Through
the green and bronze leaves the Grim
son flower of the maple and white
bloom of the wild plum are seen, and
one hardly knows which to choose, the
North with the fresh and variegated
green and flowers of Spring, or the
South with its deep and rich Autumnal
tints. Here the contrast of colors in
the Fall is not so striking. but Spring,
with its fresh and early life, is certain
ly beautiful. Perhaps one insensibly
contrasts it with SHOWS and the dead
wintry branches to which at this sea-
son of the year he has been accustom-
ed.
Some may ask about animal life. A
large number of tourists seem to act as
if their chief object in coming to Flori-
da was to see live alligator. Warm
days alligators can often be seen sum
ming themselves on log, but, as the
waves from the boat reach them, off
they slide into the water. A cool day
you may pass up and down the rivers
and not discover one. There is great
scarcity of birds this Winter A VIM
ter or two ago we could see hundreds
of ducks on the lake. This year there
there are but a few, and as Spring APP
proaches even they disappear. There
are some herons here. Once in while
we see white heron, but it is to be
feared hunters will kill them off, as
they have the paroquet. Occasion
ally we see water turkey. 1t bears
no resemblance to the domestic turkey,
except that it is good to eat. 1t is not
large, and is of dull plumage. 1t
sits like cormorant on log or tree
bending over the water, and at sight
of fish it dives, and often comes up a
long distance from its diving-place.
Snmn tima in thn Last raptIIry- IN