The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1906-05-18
Plants for Home Adjournment.


pr Is not necessary Tor me to come
Wforc you with any argument in
MyOr Of the ornamcntution Of the
Mme surroundings. That subject has
Ifcn SO often discussed here, that no.
ling remains to be said Oh that line.
think that we are all agreed that
1T Is desirable to do the best we can
make our homes attractive and
Beautiful 1t then only remains for Us
b consider the matter Of ways and
.means. There are a few favored NOR
PALS who do not need to consider cx-
Bbense when they wish to have a
beautiful home. They give orders that
such ana such things shall be done,
land Immediately all the energies of
Gardeners, landscape gardeners nurs.
|erymen and florists are devoted to the
task Of completing the job satisfacto-
|rily, The result is not always as
/ pleasing, to a cultivated taste, as
would be expected from the great
|outlay of money. Unless directed by
wise controlling mind, the effect Is
often spoiled by crowdlng, or by the
use of unsuitable materials. This,
however, does not concern very many
Of our number.
have thought it best, at this time,
TO try to give a partial list Of trees,
shrubs and vines that deserve a place
in our door.yards and are available to
every one.
Last year, the present chairman Of
the committee Oh Ornamentals, recon-
mcnded the Live oak, Quercus ylrens,
and the Water oak, Quercus aquatica
Both are desirable, the Water oak
makes the most rapid growth, is sym
mctrical and beautiful 1t is, perhaps
not so long lived as the Live oak, but
trees of the Water oak that were over
~ feet high ana with trunks over a
foot in diameter twenty years ago,
are still thrifty and vigorous
There are two other native evergreen
trees that should hr added 20 the list,
Magnolia -tu.uprl ana Magnolia
glluca. the latter u.s. commonly known
As Sweet Bay. o. given plenty ~
room. in open ground where they
will not b" shaded by older trees,
both species will grow rapidly and
form symmetrical heads They Hre
highly ornamental at any season OF
the year but are especially so when
in bloom.
The Camphor tree, Clnnamomum
camphora. is one Of the most de
SiraGlc shade and ornamental trees that
l know. 1t thriyes best on moist soil |
but will grow wherever an orange
tree will live
There are two smaller evergreen /.
trees that would be more commonly |.
found in cultivation if it were not /
for the fact that they are very difficult /
to transplant, successfully. l refer TO .
the two larger varieties Of Holly, lex |
opaca, the common prlckly leaved .
species ana Hex Dahoon. The latter
is much like the first except that it is .
OF somewhat smaller growth and the
leaves are smooth. Hollies may be .
transplanted by cutting the trunk off |
close to the ground, in winter, and |
then moving the roots at once with as
little disturbance as possible. | have
known Holly trees to be transplanted !
with the tops on, but there are more
failures than successes. Hollies are
diecious, that is the stamlnate and
pistllate flowers are borne on differ
cnt trees. None but the pistillate trees .
ever bear fruit, and they will fail UNI
less there is a staminate tree within
a reasonable distance. If you live near
hammock where there are wild .
trees you may safely set out pistil-
late tree with the expectation that it
will bear fruit But If not, it is use
less to look for berries unless you
have both kinds on your place.
In some locations, shade is not de-
slrable all the year, or at least not
necessary in winter, in such places a
deciduous tree may be planted One
OF the very best of these Is the soft
maple Accr rubrum. This tree always
excltes admiration when in bloom or
in fruit II usually blooms In Feb
ruRry and the fruit ripens and falls
before the leaver appear.
4 close second to the Maple is the
Sweet Gum, Liqudamber staracihua.
II is not striking in appearance when
In bloom, but its foliage Is attractive,
in the autumn just before
1t drops of The corky winged
branches are quite curious in winter,