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

miles from Silver Springs. This became
the seed-bed for the entire lower and
navigable portions of the Ocklawaha riv-
er. The plants multiplied rapidly, and
were crowded out into the river. The
current carried them down stream, and
| spread them along the entire lower pOr-
| ton of the river.
Distribution in Florida.-So far as can
be learned, the distribution of the water
hyacinth in Florida is limited to the st.
Johns river, it's tributaries, and few in
land lakes and ponds. 1t extends down
the river in great abundance, as far as
Doctors Lake or Mandarin. Beyond this
quantity, usually floating down the river,
but the water is evidently too salty or
the healthy growth of the plant. 1t is
abundant as far up as Lake Harvey, and
ther up the river, occurring to some ex-
tent, the writer is informed, as far as
Puzzle Lake. From Lake Harvey to
Green Cove Springs, a distance of 200
river it lines the shores from the mouth
of Silver Springs Run to the St. Johns
River, distance of about 100 miles. 1t
has spread only few miles up the Ock-
Springs Rum There is no navigation
above this point, and as the current of
the stream is swift it is difficult for the
plant to extend in this direction. The
writer is Informed by those who know
the river at this point that the water hy-
acinth has now extended about five miles
II.
plants may be observed in this stream,
but the water is evidently not suited to
them and they remain small and do not
propagate rapidly. AS far as the writer
servation and inquiry, the large lakes
comprising the headwaters of the Ock-
lawaha Gakes Harris, Dora, Eustis
Griffin, and others remain free from the
pest. Deep Creek and Crescent Lake.
through which the regular line of boats
run, and on the shore of which are ex-
tensive and valuable lumber forests, are
badly infested. Rice Creek, Black Creek
and almost all of the numerous small
tributaries of the st. Johns, are covered
by a solid mass of the plant. AS far as
can be learned, the Wekiva River, which
contains large quantities of the water
lettuce (pistia stratiotes Id has become
infested with the water hyacinth only
for a short distance up from it's conflu-
ence with the st. Johns. Certain small
lakes at Orlando, Tampa, and Ocala are
known to be infested, and it is probable
that there is a considerable number of
lakes in the state where it has been in
troduced. The navigable rivers of the
state other than the ST. Johns, such as
the Kissimmee, Withlacoochee Suwan-
nee, and Apalachicola, are as yet appar-
emily free from the weed. However, it is
liable to be introduced into these streams
at any time for cattle food or because of
it's snowy flowers, and precautionary
measures should be taken to prevent it's
further spread. Stockmen are said to
have carried the plant up the ST. Johns
river by the boatoad to introduce and
spread it as food for their cattle.
Effect on Navigation.-That the water
hyacinth is becoming a serious menace to
navigation in the ST. Johns river is UNI
questionably true. Small boats with
screw propellers find it impossible to pen
citrate a very large mass of the plants
as they lack the necessary power, and
the plants soon become entangled in the
screw and prevent it from revolving.
Parting the plant with boat hooks, ETC..
is very slow and tedious Paddle-wheel
steamers are able to penetrate the ex-
tensive masses of the plants much bet
ter, but are generally hindered and fire.
quently entirely blocked. When large
steamer going at full speed strikes
bank of hyacinths, it comes almost to a
standstill. In side-wheel steamers the
plants collect between the wheel and
bulkheads, packing in so solidly that it
is often almost impossible to reverse the
engine. This necessitates caution in APP
preaching the landings. Steamers with
low-pressure engines are troubled by the
clogging of the injection pipes so that
sufficient water can not be secured for
the condensers. In the case of some
boats the obstruction is occasionally re-
lection pipe. This process, however, is
rather dangerous, as the injection pipes
and condensers are not constructed with
a view of having heavy pressure applied
from within. Floating logs frequently
lie concealed in the masses of the plants,
and form serious danger to navigation.
Several boats have already been injured
to some extent by striking such obStruc-
lions.
In large lakes like Lake George, and
| in wide portions of rivers, there is some
danger of steamers being caught between
of the channel, and stranded. The City
! of Jacksonville, the largest and most