238 Florida Air-Plant. 



It always contains water, — not water dripped from trees, but pure, heaven- 

 distilled, cool water. Take a large plant, and invert it over some receptacle, 

 and it will yield from eight ounces to a quart of cold water, clear and bright. 

 This water is found in it constantly : they do not derive it from the rain , 

 for it is as plentiful after a long drought as it is in moist weather. The 

 constant breeze blowing through the plant keeps the water cold, — cold 

 almost as ice-water. This plant, you may well imagine, is the hunter's favor 

 ite ; for after a long, dry day's travel after game, when he finds one of 

 these plants, he is sure to find a drink of cool, pure water. I have seen 

 them growing in the arid sandy scrub where no water could be found for 

 miles ; yet these plants contained a full supply. I have enjoyed them 

 man}' times, lying beneath a shady live-oak, after a day of travel through 

 hot scrubs peculiar to Florida, where a tree or bush higher than eight feet 

 could not be seen. 



" The air-plant has no choice where it grows, provided it receives its regu- 

 lar supply of nourishment, air, and water. It is as often found on a dead tree 

 as on a live one. It will grow on a planed board, if tightly bound to it ; but 

 it much prefers some irregular surface, where its coarse roots may catch 

 hold in the crevices and irregularities. It would live in thfe Northern States 

 with care ; for it is very hardy : frosts (light frosts) never kill them. On 

 the approach of winter, the color of the air-plant changes from a wliitish- 

 green to a beautiful maroon or purple, and the leaves fold closer together. 

 So hardy and so indifterent is this plant as to its place of growth, that it is 

 often found lying on the ground, and lives there as well as in a tree-top. 

 It is hard to kill one of them. You can dry them to death, but can seldom 

 mutilate one so that it will die. 



" We have two other varieties of air-plant worthy of notice as curiosities, 

 — the grassy air-plant and the bulbous-rooted air-plant. The first-named is 

 rather scarce, and presents the appearance of a tuft of large-bladed grass, 

 deep green and thick-leaved : it bears flowers and seeds. It presents quite 

 a unique appearance, and is most beautiful in a hanging-basket. 



"The bulbous air-plant is rather more plentiful than the grassy variety, 

 but still quite scarce. Its appearance is not unlike enlarged cives. It 

 has a bulb independent of its roots, about the size of a hickory-nut, and a 

 few long, flat leaves. This bulb is a receptacle of all the nourishment the 



