IN FLORIDA 4I 
endeavors to find what is suitable for them. They appear to 
have their whims and humors like a gasolene engine, and one must 
favor them if he hopes to succeed. But what a joy it is after 
spending years, it may be, with some such sickly, backward thing 
to see it grow strong and flourish at last, to feel that, to a certain 
extent, you have conquered the stubborn forces of nature, to 
behold the wonder of long delayed growth and bloom. Verily, 
there is more joy over the one plant that was lost and found than 
over the ninety and nine that went not astray. 
If one must make his home in the hammock I would advise that 
he cut out as little of it as possible, and that what he does cut 
should be done gradually, because if too much is cleared away at 
once it will give hurricanes a chance to break it up badly. One 
can plant exotic things from time to time as he takes out the 
native growth and thus his plantings will be sheltered from high 
winds and frost. In the lower part of the state it is an excellent 
idea to plant beggar weed or pigeon peas rather thickly in grounds 
where tender things are set out, and as these are rapid growers 
they will form a fine shelter and protection in time of frost. 
They at the same time furnish an abundance of nitrogen for 
the soil. 
More and more as the years go by I am coming to favor the 
plan of close planting and of thickly scattering hardy, rapid 
growing things among the tender stuff. Leave the clean, healthy 
pine trees and a goodly number of low growing palmettos for a 
first protection; then put in rather abundantly such things as 
the oleanders, the Pittosporums, Prunus caroliniana, Dauben- 
tonias, Gordonias, some of the hardier Eucalypts, Magnolias, 
the evergreen oaks, the hardy bamboos and a variety of similar 
things which will make a shelter in a short time. Then plant 
among these, as soon as they have reached some size, the tender 
things, thinning out the branches of the hardy plants as the 
tender ones need room. When the hardy trees begin to crowd 
badly cut them out here and there as needed but leave enough 
for a good shelter. Never plant tender things where the morn- 
ing sun will fall on them nor where the northwest wind will touch 
them. In case of severe frost the hardy plants will still make a 
show of green. 
