348 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



and tests will demonstrate that the wood which all insect life avoids will also 

 prove to be proof against teredo attacks and thus ocean piling lie made froir the 

 timber. 



Extensive practical plantings of Catalpa will be made in and about the ever- 

 glades the coming season, and but a brief period will prove its nature and adapt- 

 ability to this locality. 



THE INSIDIOUS RUBBER TREE. 



There is a peculiarity of a variety of the Ficus which is abundant in southern 

 Florida, that its seeds becoming lodged among the branches or scales of the palm. 

 or in a protruding piece of bark of other trees, takes root, far from the ground. 

 It is probable that like the mistletoe the seed is picked into the bark by birds. The 

 little string-like roots gravitate downward until they reach the earth, although 

 often that may be twenty feet below. Entering the soil the roots extend rapidly, 

 and being gross feeders, the aerial roots, or those connecting the roots proper 

 with the growing plant above, rapidly increase in size and in number, spreading 

 out like a veritable piece of rubber, forming a network of roots about the original 

 tree to which it has attached itself, and tightening its coils like the anaconda 

 crushing an ox. gradually checking the growth of the slower growing palm <>r 

 other tree, while it expands its branches fast becoming the main tree, using its 

 victim for a support. 



SIMILARITY TO THE FLOATING GARDENS. 



These are in many respects similar to the everglades. They were reclaimed 

 from a swamp or lake adjoining the city of Mexico, by a system of drainage 

 canals, the Viga Canal being the principal outlet into which numerous ditches let 

 the water, leaving the black muck soil dry for tillage. 



There is no reason why the people of Florida should not accomplish greater 

 results with a far less expenditure of money. 



CATALPA SPECIOSA A TAP ROOTED TREE. 



Secret of its wonderful growth. One season's groicth from seed, three feet 

 above the ground and five feet deep. 



Doctor J. F. Corrigan of St. Leo, Florida, who is planting large forest - 

 Catalpa spcciosa from seed which we sent him. sends us a tap root of a seedling 

 which was pulled up, breaking off some at the bottom, the entire portion secured 

 measures five feet and two inches in length, yet the tree and root were but quarter 

 inch thickness. The seed was planted in March one year ago, the average 

 growth above ground being three feet. 



There is no question about Florida sands being an ideal place for Catalpa 

 spcciosa. One tree near Jacksonville, nine years old, measures eighteen inche- 

 thickness at six feet above ground. We cannot affirm how deep the roots of this 

 tree extend. 



