The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-07-27

Out VI Oue leLuOu, anu her STATEMENT,
after seeing the size of the fruit, is
not to be doubted.
For the Convenience of Bugs.
Another strange plant is the Mon
sierra deliciosa. 1t grows a queer, Gu
cumber-shaped fruit. An interesting
characteristic of this plant is the big
holes in its leaves, like lace pattern.
One wit suggested that nature provid-
ed these holes so that bugs may pass
from one side of the leaf to the other
at their convenience. The big fruit has
a spicy flavor suggestive of apples and
bananas.
In his haste to clear land for the
sites where new homes and towns now
stand in south Florida, man Of ne
cessity destroyed much of the original
growth of cabbage palms and the
dense hummock jungles, with their
many trees, stranger figs, and under
growth of ferns. But for the botan-
lists bringing in beautiful flowers, trees
and shrubs from all over the tropical
world, and the richness of the muck
soil, these newly settled regions Of
Florida would be unsightly in their
bare ugliness.
Instead, now painted against back
ground of green grasses many Of
which are also imported, and now
against backgrounds of stucco houses
and garden walls, one beholds the riot
Gus brilliance of many-hued bougain-
villaea, named for great French ad-
miral; the Saharan oleander, the
gorgeous Towering cassias from Siam,
the flame tree of the Caribbean, the
red-fowered hibiscus, the poinsettia,
and host of Others Here, too, is the
sacred DO tree from India, the remark
able psychotria from the Comoro is
lands, which carries bacterial nodu1es
In its leaves instead of it's roots.
From such exotic immigrants Of the
vegetable world many small plant
cases are forming in Florida. About
them there also gather many kinds of
tropical insect pests, and tiny animals
that feed on the plants. So here, to
care for these imported plants and
trees as well as the vegetable gardens
and citrus orchards of Florida, an in
tensive science Of tropical entomology
Is being fostered This work against
citrus canker and other pests is Of
measureleSs value to the whole ma
ton.
Follow the equator around the world,
and in many cities near it one may
see botanical gardens, maintained as
show places only. But there is no 9TH
er region even approaching south
Florida in size where tropical and sub
tropical plant life is cultivated on so
vast a scale, with strict quarantine
and funds for fighting parasites, ex-
perimenting with new varieties, and
raising their culture to q commercial
scale.
Besides the culture of new plants,
there are costly private ventures in
animal husbandry, reforestation, In
tensive farming, and group efforts at
more efficient picking, packing and
marketing methods. From that admir-
able institution, the Florida depart
ment Of agriculture, at Tallahassee,
there issues steady stream of bulle-
tins and periodicals on what and when
to plant, how to raise it and sell it at
a profit-and, just think, alleged hui
morists used to call native Floridians
Crackers"
Tung Oil Industry Growing.
For decades we have used wood
OIL" brought from China and other
foreign countries for use in our paint
and varnish industry. In China, be-
sides its use in soap-making and for
waterproofing, settings of the burned
oil make the India ink" of commerce.
Is it surprising to know that we i'm
port the oil from the tung nut to the
tune of $10,0O0,O00 to $15.000,000 an
nually?
Now, as one approaches Gainesville
and in the neighborhood Of Green
Cove Springs, Florida, long rows of
tung or wood-oil trees may be seen
fourishing here as in a similar lati-
tude in China. They grow in the most
unlikely looking ground and their oily
proclivity repels insect life.
Some years ago American consuls
in China, cooperating with our De-
partment of Agriculture, introduced
the seeds of this tree. True, this in
dustry is only in its infancy. Yet 1t
affords another example of Florida's
value to the nation as an experimental
plant laboratory that will one day not
far distant stand out in the develop
ment of home industry.
Among exotic fruits that have found
a foothold here is the avocado often
called alligator pear" In old days
South Sea sailors called it "midship-
mems butter"
Years ago this fruit was first brought
to Florida from Mexico. Since then
other selected varieties have been inn
ported. Tons Of this healthy, valuable
table delicacy are now shipped to
northern and midwest markets from
the Peninsular state.