The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01
THE TROPICS TRANSPLaN
PALMS OF ALL SORTS IN THE
WASHINGTON BOTANIC GARDEN.

dia-How These Tropical Plants
Are Cared For and Preserved In a
strange CIimate-NumerOus Fig
Trees. and Many Botanic CuriOsi-
ties From Far Away Countries.
washington July S1.-Under the
Mains. not in Southern Florida nor in
tropical islands, but in the botanic garden
at Washington. Here is an avenue OF
pa;ms. reaching from the main entrance
at the foot of Capitol hill beyond the great
conservatory. The palms stand in I'M
rnense tubs on each side of the walk, va
rving in hight from six to twenty-five feet.
Above them tower twenty-five different
. kinds OF trees. All are upbrageous, and
the palms flourish in their shade, whereas
the heat of the sun would injure them.
The first along the walk is cocoa palm
from Brazil. 1t has been dragged from
its tub and lies upon its side. The roots
are exposed like the roots of tree blown
down by storm. Palm roots in tubs are
condensed like pressed corn beef-matted
and intertwined so closely that water Will
hardly penetrate them. This plant is be-
ing disrooted; from,its confinement in the
tub the old roots have become caked and
matted. Two negroes are hard at work
upon it. One raises the tree to perpen-
dicular position, while the other attacks
the roots with a pickax. The roots are
torn apart and trimmed until at least half
of them are removed; then the palm is lift
ed into a great tub of fresh water, where
if remains several hours. All this time
bubbles of air arise from the roots until
they become thoroughly saturated. 1t is
next placed in fresh earth in a new tub,
and retains it's constant hue of green.
William r. Smith, superintendent of the
garden, oversees the operation. He says
that this root-trimming process is done
every year in the botanical gardens at
St. Petersburg. The plants are afterward
placed in hot beds, where they regain
thrifty condition. Here in Washington,
however, the rays Of the sun are sufficient,
whSn tempered by the shade of overhang-
ing trees
Near this cocoa palm there is fan palm
from the Isle of Bourbon. There is moth
ing particularly remarkable about it. In
fact 1t is hardly as handsome as the ma
tive palmetto Of Florida. Forty-three years
ago, however, it was a great curiosity.
There we're only six of them on the North
American continent. The superintendent
says that to-day there are 100000 of them
in the United States in pots alone. 1t first
fruited in the botanic garden, and from
there the seed was disseminated through
out the country. This is the plant from
which the palm-leaf fan is made.
Opposite the fan palm stands palm of
remarkable thrift and beauty. 1t came
from Lord Howe's Island, off the coast OF
Australia The leaves are long, slender
and delicate in appearance. They are of
dark green, and arise like water from
FOUNTAIN, swinging gracefully over the
pathway. This fountain-like appearance
gives it the name of the fountain palm.
Beneath a messy over-cup oak, planted
by John j. Crittenden a the outbreak of
the war stands a dwarf date palm from
4ndla, and near it some Japanese rattans,
small and large. The gem of this group,
however, is a female date palm from the
cape Of Good Hope. 1t is now in flower,
WIN no hope of propagation, owing to the
absence of males of the same species.
mere on the left is a beautiful palm from
Brazil. II is called the plume palm, and is
one OF the most thrifty specimens along
lue walk. Near 1t waves a feathery phoe-
NIX from the same country, and two from
lhe canary Islands. One of the two was
raised IN the botanic garden from seed
cent from the Canaries
Inc next plant is a curiosity. 1t is not
PdtueuIarly attractive in appearance, but
- me genuine date palm from the Sa-
nara desert. Thirty-ive years ago Super
mlehoent Smith bought some dates at a
tult store on Pennsylvania avenue. They
gave MIN the toothache One Of the seed
-" INTO mis- coat pocket. Finding it there
~" aus return to the garden, he planted
- ana THIS date palm is the result You
80 near 1t the honey palm from South
.tj ilca: Palm honey is sweet and palat-
- When the palm is cut, the honey
'us out. 1t Is Of a pale amber color and
Us greatly relishod by the natives. Al its
lands a wax palm from South Amer
III y produces white wax, used in the
a1 ~ uIals along the Spanish main. A tall
I, 'l' near 1t comes from Southern China.
&C. N'9"n as the hemp palm. The trunk
sseHS TO be covered with a mating ~
.oIse back hair This mating. how
,,, y part OF the palm. II gives II a
f..l"'fclaI value, although IL detracts
I'm Iatner than adds TO the beauty of
t". specimen
fan '3 9,lr palm standing near is the rat
~ l"iHI II has been in the garden for
ss,sS years, and Superintendent smith
se3t,,. Us going to cut II into pieces and
pro. . through the south, where II will
Il. w. perfection and prove Of some val
torn.-. a companion Is called chamaerops
hernn - ny Us similar TO the Chinese
TO-. ana hourlshed IN Mexico when Mon
ci'a was emperor A lace-luSe finer
Azfs.s ~ we tree like woven cloth. The
snd ~, lulized 1t by making II into TUNES
WOVEN ,,,. IL takes dye, and Is readily
Wio garments.
u 1871 Tor the palms. There are six
Hyr.'ll'i',,l's Of them on this walk alone
daIv on people pass beneath them
ana taige' unaware OF their history
Ear ,l,. are other plants here. however
nus u,ls. M 'gs'lns. ono IL the panda-
f.,r,. ~ grows Ike corkscrew Mr.
fe.tf,,s on its leaves than on hair ~
H. 49, IL grows In tropical climates.
mats INV are stripped ana woven into
onu TI'y cannot be broken nor ppiied
d. g., Thousands sleep upon tbe Vl P ua,s
anyas.r can be thrown upon the ground
ifate,t' ana no dampness can no ,,,p
ears. ~" The Flji cannlbais usea me-
sl.s Tsins iheir victims at their
iros,. nus vegetable coriss@reo, ~
3, -'ort .,.ioe shade by what n Know, 40 ~
aari..Hy puzzle. It's sclentigr na, ~
ahr.,tei y 'I9 isricata. The branches are
'rHHH.. :. Nl q nile and Poem a. f---...-s..N