The Florida agriculturist., 1907-08-28
.Jasn1ines.
Editor Floral Department:

"Agriculturist so I shall do my part
toward retaining it, by writing you
about my Jasmlnes and Jessamines.
1t seems to be such difficult thing
to make flowers and shrubs flourish
IN most parts of Florida, that [ should
naturally expect your department to
have an unending line Of inquiries for
information, from one end OF the state
to the other Sometime ago | read
a letter you printed from lady who
described different Wild-hOWers that
she had found near her home, but
which she was unable to name.
thought then that l would answer that
letter and give the right names and
also their common ones, for she had
described them so faithfully that [
recognized them all, and | know it
would be pleasure for her to recog-
nlze them by name, and many more
Of your readers who have not had the
opportunity to study Botany. But
l neglected to follow my inclination,
and SO the good deed was left undone
But this was to be a letter about
Jasmlnes, SO let's get down to busi-
ness. All over the South las we'll as
in Florida, this shrub makes a great
addition to the garden. 1t is very
easily cultivated, adjusting itself to
adverse conditions in this part of the
State, with such grace, that [ know it
will grow anywhere that the temper
ature does not drop below "a degrees.
Where my shrubs have frozen to the
ground, they always come up again,
with seemingly re-doub1ed vlgOr. And
this seems true Of everything else that
has succumbed to the cold in my gar
den. The survivors, which means
most of the frozen ones, are finer
plants after the freeze, than before,
although this may be accounted for
by the fact that the roots are never
injured, and where the tops are froz-
Ell to the ground, the new growth
has the backing of far greater root
growth than it would naturally have at
that size. Those who love delicious
odors from flowers, will find them
selves charmed with this genus OF
plants.
Jasminun sambac, or Arabian Jes-
samine, has a single flower, sweet1y
fragrant, which may be trimmed in
bush form or allowed to Chamber.
"Grand Duke" is another of the same
order with flowers so extremely dou-
bic that they resemble little roses.
The perfume from this flower is so
strong that few persons can stand the
odor in a closed room, but out of
doors on a night when a soft wind
blows, this waited odor is the sweet
est thing you can imagine. maid of
Orleans" is much like it, but the flow
er is not quite so DOUBLE Nearly all
Of the Jasmines are white, but I have
a very handsome yellow one, that halls
from India, and which is said to be
hardy as far north as Maryland. Its
leaves are compound and thick, and
contrary to most evergreen leaves of
it's substance, they are not shiny, at
least mine have always had dull lus-
ire. The flowers are a clear yellow,
and in shape resemble perennial
Phlox. The fragrance is the most
delicate of that family It is a clam
bering shrub, and find that it can
not stand too much nitrogen in the
soil. My plant was affected by some
thing that very much resembled "die-
back IN orange trees, but [ stopped
it by scattering a dressing of lime,
at its roots, which I washed in with the
garden-hose, and then [ gave light
sprinkling of Sui phate of Potash.
Jasminum gracillimum, or Gracefrrr
Jasmine, is a species that reminds me
of our Bridal Wreath" in the North.
1t has the same graceful droop Of the
branches, outlined with starry white
flowers, which are quite different
from the Spiraea, but in habit of