The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-07-04

the water and allows him to surve,
the bottom leisurely while the boat
man rows or sculls the boat.
schooner lies at anchor near by, from
which half dozen or more of thes.
small boats fish, which returns tx
port when it is loaded or at night, as
the case may be. The men all shar,
and share alike of the cargo, the cap
tain receiving larger portion and
the owner of the vessel ! of the profit
Anclote Harbor in Hillsboro county
and Key West are the principa
sponge stations off the coast o
Florida. After the sponges are caught
and carried to port they are thrown
into pen, made by driving poles
into the sand, where the water at
ordinary tide is knee deep. In the
mean time they have died. After
they are thrown into this shallow
water they are tramped upon b.
negroes, thus squeezing and forcing
the animal matter cut and leaving
the remains or carcass of the sponge,
which is the article of commerce so
commonly used. Very few people
know when they are bathing with a
sponge they are simply using the re-
mains of dead animal, tho sponge
being the lowest order of animal life
1t has almost as many colors as there
is varieties 1t attaches itself firmly
to the coral reefs and is almost al
ways found in connection with coral.
The sponges along the coast of Florid a
act as barometer for the yachtsmen
AMI spoctsmen when they are out
fishing or Yachting. These old salts
or spOnges become very accurate in
Judging the weather and rarely make
a mistake about Il storm. No matter
how promising a day may look, an
experienced sailor either remains in
port or turns backs when he sees the
sponges coming in from the reefs, and
experience proves they do not make
mistakes. In this connection it is
also fact that the large birds of the
Gulf can be found in the little bays
and inlets when there is going to be
a storm. In the same space with the
sponges are many beautiful speci-
mems of weed and coral.
The Florida exhibit in the Horticul-
ture Building continues to excite un
cal character. Tie fruit exhibit is
very large and varied. 1t is estimated
that 5000 people each day taste the
fruits there exhibited. AS soon as the
fruits get too old for exhibition pur-
poses, they are cut up and visitors
given an opportunity to taste them.
A fruit unusual in this part of the
country is the pomelo. The amount
of this fruit produced is increasing
rapidly, but not sufficiently to keep
pace with the demand. Mr.. Weir
was offered 80 cents apiece for the
800 specimens which he has on exhi-
btion. 1000 specimens were on ex-
hibition earlier in the season. One
pine apple is shown weighing 10
pounds and others will be seen tater
twice this size. There will be 1000
exhibited in August that will weigh
Is pounds. Mr. Weir says the secret
of growing pine apples SO large is
found in the fact that they are grown
under half shade, Stats four inches
wide and four inches apart covering
the trees. The necessity of this is
due to the delicacy of the plant, which
makes it necessary to protect them
from the cold and sun. The largest
ones have been produced in this
manner. An acre of pine apples is
on an average worth about 10000.
Each plant reproduces six plants in
the shape OF suckers. These are
transplanted and in this manner the
pine apples are propagated. The
parent plant has one plant which
grows from the root and when the
old plant is cut away the young plant
continues to grow and blooms in
about three months and bears fruit
about three months later. Several
fruits are shown in jars. Among
these are extremely large pears
Growing pine apples and large
number of cocoanuts in the husk arc
shown, the latter with a section OF
the husk removed so that the cocoa
nut itself is seen imbedded in the
husk. A fine exhibit of guava jelly
is shown. Products of the palmetto
coffee and metto which are tonics.
Palmetto wine, portieres made from
the bark, and brushes made from the
roots of the tree are exhibited. The
booth which covers the entrance OF
the pavilion is covered with pal
metto leaves such as are used in
many buildings in Florida. A bale Of
palmetto is shown from which
mattresses are made. Other fruits
and vegetables of more or less inter
est are shown on large table in the
center of the exhibit.
Two cases along one end OF the ex-
hibit show other palmetto products
and interesting relics of the Seminole
Indians Several alligator skins
tanned by these Indians are to be
seen.
The sponges from the coast oi
Florida comprise many different
specimens. Among more unusual
varieties are the sleeps wool spongs
and the grass sponge.
MI. w IIlid III .COll. ASSIStaut tt'SA
intendent of Horticulture for the
American Exposition, who is in
entire charge of Horticulture has been
wonderfully successful with the 1905
rose trees which he planted near the
Woman's Building several months
ago. Among these 1000 rose tree:
there are fifty varieties. 10000 roses
are now blooming, making a wilder
ness of beauty which must be seen te
be appreciated. MIR. Scott says there
will be 10000 in bloom next week
Notable among this collection are the
Jacqueminot, the LaFrauce, the Pau
Nevron and the Ulrich Bruner. Mr.
Scott is enthusiastic in his love o
roses. He inherits the aptitude will
which he cares for flowers OF ever,
description. His father was gardene
for twenty year in the South of Eng
land for we'll known British pee
and the son has lived among flower
all his life. Their culture is prac
tically second nature with him. Th
,,rofue;op of Houarc forms a mos