The sun., 1919-04-13
No. 5Semipeony duplex lowered dahlia Golden Crown
deep cream, shaded red side


red on reverse side.
in the world-in Guatemala at the very
lip of the active volcano Of Fuego at
the top of Mt. Aqua. The tourist must
climb the lava SCARED sides of the
mountain to see 1t. but 1t is we'll worth
the journey. 1t Is not borne by q
plant properly speaking, but grows
upon tree of giant size. The flower
stem averages a foot in. length and Is
covered with rough brown bark cracked
and curled as If from exposure to in
tense heat. The flower itself is fully
twelve feet across and Is formed OF
four great petals curled at the edges
like the petals Of n nearly opened rose,
each petal covered with delicate VEIN
ings. There is neither stamen nor pis-
tils. and the flower-if such it can be
called-is Of hard wood. dry and dark
brown. Seen on the parent tree. which
is usually rooted in a deep crevasse.
the flowers look like enormous dead
roses The buds have a rough bark
sheath of the same color as the
blossom.
Guatcmalans regard this tree and
its gruesome flowers with superstitious
awe believing II to be a native Of the
Internal regions. Owing to the danger
and difficulty OF ascending the noun
tain few tourists have ever seen this
strange flower and the only blossom
that ever reached the United States
was brought here by a gentleman Of
Los Angeles q few years ago. 1t is a
made to make 1t grow In some Of our
horticultural gardens. as 1t would be
great curiosity.
Another floral marvel that 1t seems
to me would be worth trying to trans
plant TO our hothouses in winter and
gardens and porches in our semi-trop-
ical summers is the beautiful lakewood
tree OF the West Indies. one of the
vegetable wonders OF the world. 1t
Is not confined to any one island in
the West Indies, but is found at its
best in Jamaica. Tourists have ruined
some Of the finest specimens around
Kingston by ruthlessly stripping away
the bark to reach the lace. This ex-
quisitely delicate and beautiful fabric
from natures loom grows between the
bark and the body OF the tree. and has
to be coaxed away with great care
and infinite patience to get piece OF
any size.
For the benefit Of those of my read
ers who have never visited Jamaica
| will briefly describe 1t as similar TO
heavy white cotton net. though it is
much finer than the cotton lace of
commerce. The best specimens come
from the interior OF the island, and as
soon as a tourist sets foot in Kings
ton crowd OF blacks besiege him with
souvenirs from the lakewood tree.
For a trifling sum, ranging from
a few coppers to half a dollar for an
unusually large and perfect piece OF
lace, the tourist can become possessed
OF a choice specimen. Usually It is
sold in the form of n snowy blanket,
one end OF 1t being fiuffed and frlled
and ruffied out to produce the effect
OF cluster OF fairylike flowers. A
bark" bouquet will keep indefinitely
and when dusty and dingy can he
washed white again with soap and
water.
The lakewood tree ought to find
favorable climate somewhere in this
fuego Cpoinciana regia) has taken
kindly 10 one Of our southern States,
and many plants are already grow
ing successfully in southern Florida
and along the West Coast. 1t is, how
ever, failure in California the one or
two trees now growing there doing
very poorly. This IL strange, as the
arbor del fuego requires a hot, dry f,
climate and southern California with !
its rainle6s season would seem TO
present more ideal conditions for its
propagation than the moist soil and |
humid atmosphere OF Florida II is |!
found in nearly al countries, but l. a !
native OF Madagascar. 1t is easily !
grown, springing readily from the |
seed is deciduous, and blossoms when |
II is four years old. and attains the |
ripe age OF seventy-f1ve or a hundred !
years.
The most magnificent specimen Of !
this tree in the Philippines is-or was |
a few years ago-standing before the |,
door OF the old gray convent at Tanay |
IA splendid tree fully sixty feet tail. !
destitute of leaves. and covered from |
lowest bough to topmost twig with |
vivid carmine blossoms. The effect OF |
the glowing almost incandescent mass |
Of flowers against the brilliant blue of !
the sky was dazzling. The good padre |
was very proud OF this tropical beauty
and called 1t his ALTAR candle" 1t was
from this glorious tree the flve United |
states soldiers murdered near Binan-
conan. Memorial Day. 1899, gathered
an armful OF bright blossoms to dec
crate their comrades graves in the |
little plot of ground dedicated to |
cholera victims. 1t is under this same
tree that their mutilated remains lie
buried in one grave.