The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-06-12
dies and Gentlemen:

Let us imagine that we nave CHOSEN
our new home. Our house and build
ings are finished, and Our grounds are
1eveled and ready for planting.
We have selected spot in middle
Florida, where the temperature oc-
casional1y touches the frost mark, and
where in extreme seasons, ice is
formed
We, therefore, must use plants and
shrubs that will thrive in our peculiar
situation. The first consideration is
our lawn. St. Augustine grass will
prove most satisfactory, for it res1sts
cold weather. When frequently clip
ped, it forms mat of bright green,
and after a severe freeze, it soon re-
gains its freshness. 1t is planted by
slips and roots, and is easily Destroy
ed when desired Bermuda grass
thrives best on dry soil, but is brown
ed bv frost in winter, and is hard to
eradicate.
Our piazzas are furnished with sup
ports for vines. Strips of poultry
netting three feet wide, are at inter-
walls, set upright two or three feet
from the ground, extending to the
caves. With this arrangement, the
beloved vines can be enjoyed to the
utmost without injuring buildings or
interfering with the painter in his
work.
First in Our list is Rhyncospermum
jasminoides Its dark, evergreen
foliage forms a thick screen during
the winter In April, it's profusion of
dainty white blossoms, transform it
into a drapery of lacework. If allow
ed to do SO, it will reach the highest
chimney with it's trail Of graceful
fragrance Akebia quinata, its char
acteristic foliage and it's clusters of
ruddy purple blossoms lasting from
early March until May, must not be
forgotten.
Chinese Wistaria, if kept in sub
lection by persistent pruning, will
give a wealth Of great, fragrant, pur-
pie pendants.
The English honeysuck1e must not
be mista ken for the paler and ratll-
pant variety, which will not be sal it's
fed with it's own space in the border,
but which will not be content unless
it overruns everything within reach,
and even usurps the grass plot and
ruins the lawn. The English honey
suck1e, on the contrary, seldom suck
ers and needs only occasional pruning.
1t will reward the grower with bloom
and delicious perfume throughout
the year The bark is red and the
foliage dark green. The buds are
deeply roseate without and the flow
ers are pure white within, turning to
cream color and finally to a dull or
ange. In the early, dewy morning,
when the perfume Of this honeysuckle
mingled with that Of the Rhyncos-
permum and Magnolia, float through
the open windows, the combination
is exquisite beyond description.
We. must not tarry too long. with
the vines, but mention in brief sue
cession, Bignonia, Venusta, that g1o-
rious vine with its masses of fame
colored trumpet flowers; another va
riety with wax-1ike flowers of white
and canary, and still another rightly
named the Gloria, with large throated
blossoms Of delicate lavender, veined
with purple These vines are hardy,
enduring any cold which visits this
section, and also thriving during the
heat Of the long summer
Many tropical vines can be success
fully grown here We must expect
them to be cut back, sometimes, by
cold weather. They spring up again
as if by magic, and seem even ben
Gifted by the disaster. Among these
are Clerodendron Balfouri, Antigonon
Leptopus, the snowy Rosa de Mon
tana from Mexico, the climbing Ala
manda with great golden flowers, SO
very noticeable at Miami: Thumbergia
Fro 1