The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1897-06-02
The Water Hyacinth.

Department to investigate the water
tive report on the marine pest. He
made a thorough investigation of the
plant and it's habits, method of propa-
cation and extent, with view to sug-
costing means of determination.
His report is extremely interesting,
reviewing as it does the introduction
of the hyacinth into the ST. Johns and
it's tributaries, and suggesting plans
for it's eradication, or at least control.
He is of the opinion that it will be a
task of great difficulty to entirely de-
stroy the fowery pest, and from the
tone of his report does not place much
faith in the suggestions made by the
engineer department of employing
mechanical agencies in the work. Pro-
fessor Weber is inclined to think
that the only solution Of the problem
is in introducing into infested waters
some natural disease or enemy of the
hyacinth land thus put nature against
itself.
In this belief he is strengthened by
the success which followed the intro
duction of the mytilaspis citricola
among lime trees in Florida which
were attacked by the purple scale in
sect. The fungus has completely con-
trolled the purple scale, and Mr.. Web
Der is of the opinion that some such
disease can be found which will solve
the problem of tie water hyacinth.
After reviewing the water hyacinth
from a botanical standpoint, Profess
sor Webber's report says:
In streams with deep, swift currents
it is not probable that the weed will ever
seriously interfere with navigation. In
the Ocklawaha river the current is much
stronger than in the ST. Johns, being, in
the upper part of the river, near Silver
Springs Run, about three and one-half
miles per hour and in the lower part,
near it's mouth, about two ana one-halI
miles per hour. While this stream is very
tortuous, the weed has not accumulated
to any serious extent along the shores,
and no blocks have occurred. The swift
shore as soon as they extend into the
river beyond the projecting roots OF the
trees, and hurrieS them down the stream
and eventually into ST. Johns river.
The boatmen and lumbermen who navi-
gate the Ocklawaha do not think the
weed will ever form any obstruction to
navigation here, and this opinion would
seem to be we'll founded.
Methods of Propagation.-The water
hyacinth is normally propagated by seeds
and by stolons. The writer has been un-
able to ascertain positively whether the
plant in Florida forms seeds, but the evil
dence obtained strongly indicates that it
does. The Towering is very profuse, and
there seems to be no reason why seeds
should not mature. The propagation by
StolonS is very rapid and eHectual Moth
ing accurate has been learned as to when
the water hyacinth was first cultivated
in the state for ornament 1t has been
many years under cultivation in north
ern hothouses, and has probably been
grown in Florida for a considerable time.
AS nearly as can be learned, however, II
was first introduced into the ST. Johns
river about 1890, at Edge water, about
four miles above Palatka At this place
it had been grown for some time in a
pond, and when it was desired to clear
the place out the plants were thrown
into the river. Here they grew luxurl.
flowers, which rendered the river attrac-
tive. At this time no one had any idea
the plant would become nuisance, ana
| it was carried by settlers up and down
| and introduced at different points to
| beautify the river in front of settlements.
1t was also distributed by boats passing
up and down, and it soon became abun-
! dant up as far as Lake Monroe, and
down as far as the increasing brack1sh-
ness of the water allowed it's growth.
In 1894 the water hyacinth had become
so abundant that it began to attract the
attention of steamboatmen and fisher