\'M\ PLANT LIFE OF ALABAMA. 



al>uml;iiil crop.- of its luscious fruit, which ripens early in tho spring. 

 This ti-fc has, however. duiMu*;' the past few yeai's heeii tiiivateiied with 

 tlestructioM hy the same l»li<,''ht which has proved so disastrous to the 

 pear orchards ihrouehout tlie i-eii-iou. liider the care of experienced 

 eultivators. the raisino- of peaehes as well as of the tiner kinds of 

 grapes is of uuicli promise. The tig produces al)undant fruit, which 

 is consumed fresh or used for preserves; and the scuppernong grape 

 yields its crops year after year with regular abundance. The cultiva- 

 tion of the line kinds of pecan nut has greatly increased during the past 

 15 or 20 years, and the iiu'reasing crops of tine nuts are now seeking 

 an outlet to distant markets. 



K.i'oth' KuJjtropU'dl arhorescent flora. — The mildness of the climate 

 of the coast region is most fully attested ])y the luxuriant and varied 

 growth of woody exotics from subtropical and tropical regions of the 

 Old and New World, which adorn our gardens and grounds, and which 

 furnish many of the trees that shade our streets and dwellings. Of the 

 shade trees are to be mentioned the China tree {Mella azedarach)^ the 

 most frequent, and its variety of lower grow^th known as the umbrella 

 China tree; also the paper mull)erry {Brou^'<.sorietia 2H(py'/''f''ru)- Of 

 smaller-sized trees conspicuous by their profusion of flowers the crape 

 myrtle {Lagerstroemia indica) takes the first place; to which are added: 



Ligushiim japonicum (Japanese privet) . Albizzia julibrissin (silk tree). 



Cinmtmomum camphord (camphor tree) . Acacia farnesiana (sweet opoponax). 



Punica granatum (pomegranate) . OKtiKtnthusfragrans O.major, (sweet olive) . 



Jairopha carthaginiensis (large cassava Mlrhelia {Magnolia) fuscata. 



tree) . Viburnum odoratissimum (Chinese vibur- 



Sapium sebiferum (Chinese tallow tree) . num) . 



Of evergreen coniferous trees the deodar cedar (Cedrus d-eodara)^ 

 Chinese cumiinghamia {OunnhigJudnia chmetish)., Chili pines {Arau- 

 caria spp.), the somber cypress {Cupressus sempervlrens) of Mediterra- 

 nean Europe, and the weeping cypress {Ciqyressnsfunehrlx) from Asia 

 not rarely adorn the grounds about dwellings throughout the Lower 

 Pine region. Of the large number of hard}'" shrubs, only the most fre- 

 quent and prominent can be mentioned, the hybrid Indian azaleas taking 

 the flrst place. These shrubs, loaded with a profusion of flowers run- 

 ning from pure white through all shades of dazzling flame-color, ver- 

 milion, pink, and purple, are produced from the beginning to near the 

 close of spring in a perfection scarcely ever surpassed. Many of these 

 plants grow to a height of from 6 to 8 feet, covering square yards of 

 ground with their low, wide-spreading branches. The single-flowered 

 Camellia japonica., of almost tree-like growth, puts forth its abun- 

 dance of flowers from the middle of January through the winter, as do 

 several kinds of laurestines. The more tender varieties of the former, 

 with double flowers, need for their perfect development a slight pro- 



