The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-31
Larkir Home Demonstration Report

On the Dorm lawn Of Bermuda
grass, the planting OF which was
demonstrated during the afternoon,
there are some especially fine tropi-
cal trees, which were called to the
attention of the people. They are
five years old and nearly over top
the house, showing what can be done
with true tropical growth in tropic
countries. The Jacaranda an ex-
lquisite tree with a mist of delicate
blue blossoms in the spring, is a ma
tive of Patagonia. The Spathodes,
with huge closters Of orange flowers,
in March, comes from West Africa.
The Silk COAX from Australia. The
PithecaIobium, a feathery shade fur
nishing tree. is from Mexico. The
Royal Poinciana, the glory Of Flori-
da in June, is from Madagascar.
Massed around the wide yeranda Of
the house are Acalyphas of a dark
green, while the shrubs and vines
| growing luxuriantly near the house
ard over the pargola, were carefully
| chosen to show blue flowers and ev-
cry shade of yellow, from flame and
/ orange to cream. This was done be-
| cause the two colors, yellow and blue
are especially right for this country,
| seeming to supply what the back
| ground Of sky and pines particularly
require. Some OF the yellow vines
and shrubs are Duranta, Lantana,
Dwarf Poinciana, while the blue are
Tfunbargia, Salanums, other yellow
| ones are the interesting tropic shrub,
which seems to suited to Larkin soil,
the Cassia Aalta, and the yellow elder,
which is to South Florida what the
Lilac is to New England.
and shrubs is the best demonstration
of garden planting Of color scheme
planting and Of tropic vegetation,
which has ever been made in South
Florida on a moderate income. Be-
hind the house is the fruit garden,
with grapefruit, oranges, avocadas,
gu3VaS, apedillaS, cheremoYas, surf
nam cherries, mulberrfes, rose apples,
kumquats, bananas and papaWs.
There are chicken yards Of pedigreed
Tom Baron White Leghorns, which
have been raised in direct relation
to tropic needs, and there are num-
erOus hives of bees scatterd through
the orange grove, orange blossom hon
ey was on sale at the tropical products
booth. These fruit trees, while es-
pecially well cared for, were not be-
You'd the purse of the ordinary fam
compartment Of a country home.
The most successful feature Of the
day was the Plant Exchange. Ever
since last spring, the people Of Lar
kin had been planting seeds and max
ing cuttings from their rarest and
best plants, setting them i'll tin cans i;
setting out more than they could use
themselves, so that on given day
i'll the fall they could exchange for |
others which they might want. Those |
who brought no plants for exchange
bought what they wished for twenty |
five or thirty cents. So soon the |
whole country side, will have the |
benefit OF rare tropic varieties. They |
went out all the way up and down |
the coast. There were about four |
hundred plants in all, and thirty-five |
varieties. In fact, so popular was !
this plant exchange, that it contin-
ued for three days afterward, and will !
be made a regular event each year in
LarlSin The LarIlin Plant Exchange |
will soon be known as a great clear
ing house all up and down the coast.
The main idea is to make things I
available for every one. This year
the emphasis was laid on growing
trees. Seventy-five small pithecol-
obium trees were given away among
other things. Because it was
affair everybody was glad
to contribute and participate.
The interior of the house was as
carefully planned to show proper
adoption to climate. There is wide
living room with a natural rock fire
place adjoining and connected by
double glass folding doors is a huge
porch which is the real living room,.
There are two bed rooms each OPEN
ing on the porch, a bath, library, a
nursery open to the air on three sides,
a dining room, which is the most
sheltered part of the porch, in what
is called in Florida parlance. 'the
breeze way; kitchen separated by
the breeze way from the rest of the
house and an outer kitchen porch,
where much Of tire heavy work is
done. This opens directly to the
vine covered pergoIa leading to the
chicken yards, the back garden and ;
the bee hives.
The fireplace in the living room IS
backed by fire place in the adjoin-
ing bedroom, which also may be