HORTICULTURE IN FLORIDA. 141 



of immense size ; one measured thirteen feet in diameter. Cypress 

 trees grow on the hummock ground. 



O. B. Hadwen said that in going south they had an opportunity 

 to notice the difference in the parts of the country the}' passed 

 through. South of Washington they found a region of corn and 

 sweet potatoes. Next came tobacco, with large buildings for 

 curing it. Then came cotton, but apparentlj' not cultivated 

 under the most favorable circumstances ; the land seemed to lack 

 fertility. A great change was noticed in the forest trees ; tulip 

 trees and species of oaks that we do not have here were observed, 

 while the same species of maples continued. Before reaching 

 South Carolina they noticed the Magnolia grandijlora. In 

 Augusta, Ga., they saw fine specimens, probably a hundred years 

 old. There were two varieties of live oak. After leaving Jack- 

 sonville the orange groves were very striking. The exhibition 

 was exceedingly interesting, showing the products of the whole 

 State. Fine oranges were displayed in profusion, and the char- 

 acteristics of the different varieties were discussed as we discuss 

 those of apples. Mr. Hadwen said his eye was not yet educated 

 to pick out fifty different varieties, and he doubted whether those 

 of the growers were. He discovered slight diff'erences, but some 

 varieties could only be distinguished by cutting the fruit open. 

 The varieties are largely determined by the flavor and the size. 

 He did not hare an opportunity to study the growth of the trees. 

 Besides the remarkable exhibition of citrus fruits, such as the 

 orange, lemon, etc., the guava and other sub-tropical fruits were 

 shown. The bananas did not appear to be in a clima^-e that 

 favored them, but looked as if they wanted to be farther south. 



The forest trees were ver^' striking ; the live oaks were wonder- 

 ful. So also were the long-leaved pines, which furnish the yellow 

 pine timber, especially in their earlier stages ; they run up like a 

 candle, as large at forty feet high as at the base. The deciduous 

 ■cypress grows in swamps and low ground ; the timber is very 

 beautiful and very durable, so that it is said that shingles made 

 from it will last forever. The palmettos are marvellous ; the 

 stems are quite rough when young, but when eighty feet high they 

 are very smooth. The bud is used as a salad, and is perfectly 

 delicious. 



Benjamin P. Ware said that one point had not been mentioned 

 by the previous speakers — the peculiar formation of the lakes 

 and springs ; a spring there means a river coming out of the 



