IN FLORIDA 133 
.Cryptomeria japonica is a noble conifer which would be hardy 
throughout the state. Its branches are brittle and it should be 
grown in a sheltered place. 
Cunninghamia sinensis is another fine hardy conifer which 
should have a light, well-drained soil. It will probably do well 
in the north part of Florida. 
Cupressus. Several species are grown in the state, among 
them being C. funebris, C. knightiana, C. lawsoniana, C. torulosa 
and others, all of which make good wind breaks. They succeed 
in any soil that is not too wet. All are hardy. 
Cyathea, Alsophila, Dicksonia, Cibotium and Pemineiin are 
fine tree-ferns, some of which may succeed but as a general thing 
most of them probably will not do well here. Ina yard at Fort 
Myers I saw a fine specimen of a tree-fern about five feet high in 
partial shade, but I could not make out what it was. 
Cycas revoluta and C. circinalis are fine decorative small trees, 
the former being hardy throughout the state; the latter is tender. 
The former grows slowly; the latter much more rapidly, is taller 
and has longer leaves. They are propagated from suckers which 
spring up around the trunk. These should be taken off care- 
fully, completely defoliated and rooted in a moist, shaded place. 
These plants are often stricken with a destructive blight for which 
I know no remedy. 
Dammara australis is a fine conifer from New Zealand and 
would be hardy anywhere in Florida. 
Delonix regia, Royal Poinciana, a native of Madagascar, is 
one of the most glorious trees in the world, and is now cultivated 
everywhere in the tropics. It can only be grown here in the lower 
part of the state, in a general way south of Latitude 27°. Here 
it casts its beautiful bipinnate foliage in winter, the new leaves 
appearing in April or May and at the same time the tree is cov- 
ered with immense clusters of large red flowers, variegated with 
white, yellow and purple. Trees in the neighborhood of Miami 
attain a height of forty feet and often twice that size of crown, 
and when almost solidly covered with bloom they look from a 
distance like a great burst of flame. I have seen clusters of 
flowers fully as large as a bushel basket. I said when I first saw 
one of these trees in bloom that I was willing to endure the tor- 
