The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-14
BOTANIC GARDEN
 DOES GOOD WORK
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Washington, November 13.-One of the most celebrated places of interest to the tourist who visits Washington during the the best institutions of its kind in the United States.
 William R. Smith, superintendent of the garden, in speaking of its work to an American News Service reporter, said
 There are 4000 or more object lessons in botany here arranged scientifically and geographically, inside. and outside of the buildings. This is a garden where the public can study the best liv- ing specimens of botany that can be ob- tained. Anyone with an ordinary know ledge of botany may walk through these gardens with text book and readily recognize many of the plants and trees"
 There are many curious and rare plants nourishing in the big garden. This years exhibits Superintendent Smith con- siders the best and most complete, from a scientific standpoint, in many years.
 Let us take 'botanical walk" through the wonderful garden. Accompanied by
 
 to every nook and corner of the big gar dens, and the botanical construction, the habitat, and the history of many. spec linens examined and explained. He is an enthusiast in his work and often he found himself in the depths of a scien- tif1o description of some rare flower or plant beyond the comprehension of the layman.
 The first part of tho garden visited
 hoI foo in pfv conference, to the southwest of the main greenhouse, where are planted twenty specimens of ornamented grasses, rang ing from the most delicate specimens to the coarsest of jungle blades from the tropics. In the middle of the bed was a magnificent specimen of the Abbysin- ian cabbage banana. It Is light green in color and has delicious flavor. Pres ident Roosevelt has probably tasted it during his African expedition. No at- tempt has been made to grow it in the United States, although 1t would flour ish in Florida, and would prove a val uable addition to our list of common garden vegetables.
 One of the rarest and nost curious plants growing near the Abbyssinian cab bage is gigantic red-leafed and highly ornamental looking plant called the Acai- apera Wilski, discovered and presented to the garden a number of years ago by the wilkes exploring expedition in for ests in the southernmost point of South America. If propogated. this plant would soon become ><0he of the chief flowers for ornamental purposes in. American gardens
 Another rare and curious plant is the zebra plant" so-called because its long, narrow green glades are crossed diagon- ally with thin yellow stripes, giving 1t an appearance similar to the animal of that name.
 Nearby, in a small bed, surrounded by hardy mountain plants, stands a four ishing specimen of the papyrus plant. Similar plants were used 4OO0 years ago in Egypt to make paper It's leaves are used in Egypt today in the manufacture of the finer grades of cigarette paper.
 Probably the most showy and varied exhibit in the garden is that of the palm. They are arranged on either side of the long central walk running through tho garden. More than 300 specimens arc represented out of total of nearly 800 known varieties.
 A rare and curious shrub called the mate or Paraguyan tree was pointed out next. The Paraguyans dry the leaves of this tree. and from brew . tea that tastes like strong brandy, and which has the same intoxicating effect. There are only two specimens of the plant in