The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-07-07
'SOur PLANT Immigrants"
by w. E. Pabor.

the mediterranean region Ii more
beautiful than the Italian Carrubo.
the Carob or St. Johns Bread Of the
English. But few realize that this
tree Is seldom planted for It's shade
or for It's landscape effect, but for Its
pods. These are full of honey; cattle
and horses, and even children, are
fond of them. Their nutritive value
Is so high that a Wisconsin manufac-
turer makes one Of the best calf foods
on the market out OF them" II there
are fruiting trees near Los Angeles,
in California, why would they not
grow In Florida? seem to recollect
that some ten years ago the Carob
was catalogued by Reasoner Bros. OF
Oneco, but do not find 1t OF late
years.
The Mangostlei., I believe, Is known
slightly far down on the East Coast.
The department Is now pushing an
investigation to establish 1t as a new
industry In Porto Rico, Hawaii and on
the Panama Canal zone. It Is now
grown In Jamaica and Trinidad.
There are fifteen edible species In the
genus (, to which II belongs The
choicest have white fruit pulp, more
delicate than that Of the plum and q
flavor that Is indescribably delicate.
Under the heading OF "The ebay
otte, a neglected winter vegetable"
he describes cucumber like vegeta-
bles borne on a vine that can be
trained over a trellis just like a grape
vine. that will bear large crops Of
fruit, as many as 500 to vine, pre-
sumably In good soil. It Is q peren-
nial and goes on for years and years
producing larger and larger crops.
The roots are edible, the young stems
are as tender as asparagus, the fruits
can be prepared In twenty ways or
more. It's natural home Is In the
West Indies, but It Is suitable for
out door culture south OF the Caro-
linas. Why do we not hear of such q
valuable vegetable as growing in
Florida? Is there no enterprizing
seed seller who will introduce II to
the truckers of the State? In New
Orleans It Is said to be a favorite
with the Creoles, and Mr.. Fairchild
states that he has been the means OF
introducing 1t to the managers Of the
Waldorf Astoria and the Bellevue
Stratfford hotels, and these men,
Whose business 1t Is to cater to the
jaded appetities Of the rich. have pro-
nounced II an excellent thing and It
can now be found upon their menus -
Why not, then, since the lowly and
the lofty are pleased with Chayotte.
let us grow It In Florida and offer It
to the winter tourists at the big hotels
from st. Augustine to Miami and the
Windsor In Jacksonville, etc., etc?
One more new plant and must
bring this article to q close. I quote
IN full what Mr.. Fairchild says Of It,
THE curious properties OF the
Fenugreek. The great fruit growers
OF the Pacific Slope, with their thou
sands Of acres of clean-titled orchards,
have been searching for cover crop
that would increase the fertility Of
their lands and add the necessary
humus or vegetable matter to Il. We
have found this for them In the shape
OF q leguminous plant that inhabits
the Mediterranean region--the Fenu.
greek. The seeds Of this plant, GU
riously enough, are eaten by the Jew
ish women of Tunis In order to make
them fat. They--the seeds, Of course.
not the women-form part Of the
expensive condition powderp the
stockmen use to prepare cattle for the
fat stock shows, and 1t was for this
purpose that the explorers first intro
duced IT,"
This Is all he says about Il. And I
wonder--I wonder-if this plant with
the curious name and curious quail
ties would be superior, II introduced
into Florida, than begSar weed, velvet
beans, COW peas and GO forth. n n
comes. II should be re-christened; for
though shakespeare says rose by
any other name wot,Id small nc .v,nnf