Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29
house the superintendent pointed out a
tree which resembled an ordinary shrub.
Leaves Make Strong Brandy.

Leaves Make Strong Brandy.
That's a very dangerous tree to in
troduce in a country" he announced.
IF it got firm foothold here it would
arouse all the fire and antagonisn Of
the prohibitionists Imaginable. That is
the mate tree or the Paraguian tea
tree. The Paraguians dry the leaves
and brew tea which has a taste OF
strong brandy and has the same II not
worse, effect. We gained possession
OF two specimens, Of these trees num-
Der OF years ago and they nave peeh
thriving for US ever since.
Near the mate trees Mr.. Smith sim
gled out another tree very small. with
large, irregular leaves, which he called
the Monstera Delicioso, from Central
America. The tree bears what was de-
scribed as the most tasty tropical fruit
known. 1t is a light yellow in color.
shaped like cone, and the meat Is not
unlike that Of a peach.
Il don't know the local name for it
the vulgar name-but the fruit is
splendid. although very perishable.' the
superintendent said. THE first speci-
men we had ripened when Gen. Grant
lived in Washington. and we sent 1t
to him. He liked it so well he sent
back for more the next season"
Northeast of these trees and toward
the Peace Monument was another large
round bed about 100 feet in diameter. in
the center of which was what was termed
1.-The Washington banana plantation On
the mound stood a dozen or more true
banana and plantain trees. Two of them
bore green fruit. and at the end of each
stem was deep red bud. described as
the banana blossom" Most of the trees
were raised in the garden hothouses from
trees originally shipped from Central
and South America and the West Indies.
We've been raising bananas here for
good many years. Mr.. Smith said.
The fruit develops outside in the sum-
mertime and later, i'm the fall, rfpens
when we plant the trees in the green
house. We have feast every fall
Close to the central path of the gardens,
near the front entrance the greenhouse,
stood a century plant with ten or
twelve foot stem rising from the center.
The plant was on the verge of towering.
A Youthful Century Plant.
mo, it's not a hundred years DID, only
about ten or twelve the superintendent
explained. THE reason people don't see
century plants blossom is because they
are continually cutting their plants down
If they are let alone and cultivated the
blossoms will appear regularly. Inc
flower Is very curious and delicate.
In the rear of the century plants were
found the cacti beds, of which the gar
dens possessed about $50 specimens They
ranged from the brOad-leafed forage GAG
tus of the southwest to delicate little
balls covered with almost Invisible nee
dies found in the tropics. Practically
every cactus of any note in the botanical
world, from the isthmus to its northern
most limit of existence, is seen In the
collection.
One of the most curious trees In the
gardens is an old Japanese maple, which
Mr. Smith declared was between eighty
and ninety years old. 1t was shipped to
America from the south of Japan IN
1879, planted and exhibited at the CEN
tennial exhibition in Philadelphia year
later After the close of the exhibition
the tree was brought to Washington and
placed in the Botanic Garden.
We've taken the utmost care OF 1t,
Mr. Smith said, land it's in nearly as
good condition as it was twenty years
ago 1 watch the seeds and gather them
myself. In consequence, we nave raised
a good many trees and sent them to Varl-
Gus sections of the country. The FAILURES
among these seedlings have been very
few indeed"
Within the course of several weeks the
gardens will be in shape for the winter
months, with all the tropical plants which
have been standing out in the grounds on
their own resources comfortably trans
planted in their winter quarters. IL Is
during the winter months. after the trans
planting has taken place, that Mr. Smith
begins planning for sthe gardens next sea-
sons display.