IN FLORIDA 169 
ornament. There are other fine species which would probably 
do well here. 
Aquatics. Under this general head it may be well to say a few 
words about such as do well in Florida. Cyperus alterni- 
folius, Umbrella plant, has been found wild in Dade County and 
will do well in low ground anywhere if the land crabs do not get 
too friendly. C. papyrus does well in fresh water swamps but 
has failed with me where there was salt in the soil. Limnobium 
spongia is a pretty native plant; Limnocharis humboldti, Water 
Poppy, is a handsome plant with yellow, poppy-like flowers. 
The Nuphars and Nymphaeas are among our most desirable 
aquatic ornaments and the species of the latter now offered in 
the catalogues are superb. Nelumbium is another magnificent 
genus suitable for cultivation in the state. There are many 
other desirable aquatics which would probably grow here and it 
is likely that all or nearly all would go through the winters of the 
northern part of the state. I see no reason why the great 
Victorias should not succeed here. Insome cases aquatics spread 
until if they are not cleared out they will take full possession and 
destroy the effect they were intended to produce. 
Bambusa, Bamboo. It is hard to-say whether these should 
be called herbs or shrubs. They are among the princes of the 
vegetable kingdom and take their place with the palms as glori- 
ously decorative objects. They are the embodiment of grace and 
elegance; constantly swaying their feathery foliage in the wind, 
they are often so ethereal that they scarcely seem to be of the 
earth. I never tire of watching the bamboos for they seem not 
only to be endowed with life, but to be animate and to possess 
souls. It would be impossible here to attempt to give any list 
of the species that have been grown in the state. Professor 
Nehrling has a large collection of them at Gotha where a con- 
siderable number of species do well. One of the finest and hardi- 
est is Dendrocalamus latifolius, which grows in great tufts, send- 
ing up its large stems to a height of seventy feet almost as straight 
as arrows, just tipping out a little at the top like the wonderful 
foliage of the Cohune Palm. These stems are clothed with deep 
green, broad leaves nearly a foot long and a couple of inches wide. 
At one time when I visited Professor Nehrling there grew a 
