The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

Each sorrow that cries In the he And. as gently we hoat oo"h 'Ae
 broad Alabama. Or rest on its banks, wilio"-cro", ,. Like the wise Lotus-eaters, "eh ioSo
 all our sorrows.
 In the beauty and fragrance arouho' To the traveller from the bleak ana frozen North. where for many months the earth is covered with snow ana lce' the woods of Alabama. by their won derful variety of plants and the oeaut? and fragrance of their flowers. form revelation of beauty and delight which never fails to charm and there Is no region which offers to the amateur botanist a wider or more interesting field for study than does this. Embrac- ing, as it does. all varieties Of lana. from lofty mountains to rich prairies. and from sandy beach to moist ana fertile swampland, and being blest with a soft and balmy climate, almost every known species of plant finds here ready home, with the soil and climate best suited to its nature; and there IS scarcely a month in the year In whlcp there cannot be found some native now CT to charm the eye. and to fill the sur rounding air with Its delicate rag rance.
 Early in the year. just as other trees
  and when the earliest breath of spring has banished the Frost-King from our midst the dogwood-Cornus Florida dons It's robe of snowy white. and pro claims to all the world that spring Is near, while to the Southern darky it brings the welcome tidings that Its time to go fishing, as the piscatorial season is supposed to begin with the dogwood blossoms.
 No poet ever dreamed of a sight more beautiful than this tree, as 1t stands. a mass of snowy bloom amidst the bare and leafiess trees of the surrounding forests. The dogwood is as useful as 1t Is ornamental. The wood is highly valued by cabinet makers for its beau- tiful grain, while of Its slender branches distaffs were formerly made for spinsters. The bark, infused in whiskey. forms an excellent tonic. and in fact, the whole tree is so valuable that a century ago. according to Kahn the eminent botanist when. in the spring, cattle were sick or diseased. a branch of the dogwood was tied around the neck to strengthen them.
 In all sections of the State f1ourishes the crabapple first cousin to our de- licious orchard fruit and there Is no tree more admired: not only for the beauty of it's flowers. but for their de lightful fragrance as well. The frul' is sometimes used for jelly, but Is too acid for most tastes.
 Pe.haps we have no native tree which combines the two qualities of beauty to a greater extent than does . the wild cherry In the spring the fra grant white flowers yield large sup ply of honey to the busy bee, while Tn the autumn thousands of birds are uourished by its fruit. In England and Belgium the cherry is planted for the
 F. @f~I, nt1A t France it Is protected by law for the sake of the poor peasants. who find in this fruit a welcome addition to theil scanty food supply. The Japanese who arc great lovers of flowers. cultivate the cherry, solely for its flowers, and in the spring picnic parties are formed to 60 out and admire them. The wooc of the cherry Is popular with wood workers on account of its beautiful colors. while the bark Is an important ingredient in cough syrups and ton ics.
 Scattered over valley and hillside. wt find the lovely hawthorne beloved by poets:
 "Ah, me, what lovely tints are there,
 Of olive green and scarlet bright. In spikes. in branches and in stars.
 Green, red, and pearly white.
  species: the small fruited and the dot ted thorn bush, both beautiful anc both bearing edible fruit.
 "A thing of beauty and a joy forever Is the wild plum. or sloe. which grow profusely all over this State. It's whit' flowers are exquisitely beautiful. anC are possessed of a fragrance unsurpass ed by any flower, while the intensel! sour fruit is a favorite with Southern housekeepers for the making of jellte and preserves. The plum. like thu cherry, Is cultivated by the Japanes' for its flowers. Where
 Calmly, softly, as a maiden
 On her midday couch of slumber,
 The broad river lies reposing,
 Drinking in the rays of ligEt.
 We find the catalpa. so well known a an ornamental tree on the lawns 0 the North. As 1t gracefully droops 1t slender branches loaded with exquisit lilac blossoms over the clear water. seems as if Narcissus-like. 1t were fas cinated by the reflection of its owl beauty. This tree Is a favorite wit fishermen because of the hideous worm which devour It's leaves. and which ar famous as bait.
 It Is disputed point as to whethe the Chinaberry or Pride of India, Is native of this country. but if not or iginally indigenous to our State 1t ha become so thoroughly acclimated, an is now so widespread. that we feel tha we may justly claim 1t our owr And surely 1t Is a tree of which an country might De proud, both for 1t graceful foliage and for It's beautifl lilac blossoms. Unfortunately. the olde of the flowers Is so overpowering tha many people find the proximity of tn tree unpleasant. The berries are gen orally considered poisonous. but South ern children often eat them with T evil result. though birds have bee known to fall from the tree in a stu pefed condition after eating them. l Catholic countries the hard round seed are made into rosaries for the monks
 Profusely scattered over old field and in fence corners is found the Calll carpia Americana, better known a English or Spanish Mulberry. Tn small white flowers are somewhat in significant. but the bright red berries which extend almos, the entire lenGt of the branches. give most attractiv appearance. In fact. the name orlgi mates In Greek word signifyin beautiful fruit" These berries pre- sent most beautiful and temptin appearance. and form a favorite foo for birds. but to any human palat more fastidious than that of a schoC boy they are tasteless and insipid
 On rocky banks and .hillsides flour isheS the Buckeye (Acsculus Pavia ftN1 ~1t nf