136 PLANT LIFE OF ALABAMA. 



abundant crops of its luscious fruit, which ripens early in the spring. 

 This tree has, however, during the past few years been threatened with 

 destruction by the same blight which has proved so disastrous to .the 

 pear orchards throughout the region. Under the care of experienced 

 cultivators, the raising of peaches as well as of the finer kinds of 

 grapes is of much promise. The fig produces abundant fruit, which 

 is consumed fresh or used for preserves; and the scupper no ng grape 

 yields its crops year after year with regular abundance. The cultiva- 

 tion of the fine kinds of pecan nut has greatly increased during the past 

 15 or 20 years, and the increasing crops of fine nuts are now seeking 

 an outlet to distant markets. 



Exotic subtropical arborescent flora. The mildness of the climate 

 of the coast region is most fully attested by the luxuriant and varied 

 growth of woody exotics from subtropical and tropical regions of the 

 Old and New World, which adorn our gardens and grounds, and which 

 furnish many of the trees that shade our streets and dwellings. Of the 

 shade trees are to be mentioned the China tree (Melia azedarach), the 

 most frequent, and its variety of lower growth known as the umbrella 

 China tree; also the paper mulberry (Brcwssonetia papyri f era). Of 

 smaller-sized trees conspicuous by their profusion of flowers the crape 

 myrtle (Lagerstroemia indicd) takes the first place; to which are added: 



Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet) . AMzzia julibrissin (silk tree). 



Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) . Acacia farnesiana (sweet opoponax) . 



Punica granatum (pomegranate) . Osmanthus fragrant O.major, (sweet olive) . 



Jatropha carthaginiensis (large cassava Michelia (Magnolia) fuscata. 



tree) . Viburnum odoratisslmum (Chinese vibur- 



Sapium sebiferum (Chinese tallow tree) . num) . 



Of evergreen coniferous trees the deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara), 

 Chinese cunninghamia (Cunning hamia chinensis), Chili pines (Arau- 

 caria spp.), the somber cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) of Mediterra- 

 nean Europe, and the weeping cypress (Cupressmfunebrix) from Asia 

 not rarely adorn the grounds about dwellings throughout the Lower 

 Pine region. Of the large number of hardy shrubs, only the most fre- 

 quent and prominent can be mentioned, the hybrid Indian azaleas taking 

 the first place. These shrubs, loaded with a profusion of flowers run- 

 ning from pure white through all shades of dazzling flame-color, ver- 

 milion, pink, and purple, are produced from the beginning to near the 

 close of spring in a perfection scarcely ever surpassed. Many of these 

 plants grow to a height of from 6 to 8 feet, covering square yards of 

 ground with their low, wide-spreading branches. The single-flowered 

 Camellia japonica, of almost tree-like growth, puts forth its abun- 

 dance of flowers from the middle of January through the winter, as do 

 several kinds of laurestines. The more tender varieties of the former, 

 with double flowers, need for their perfect development a slight pro- 



