2 4 



Annals of Horticulture. 



Lake region of Florida. There is reported blight on the 

 LeConte in Southern Georgia, but nothing definite is known 

 about it yet. 



Niagara grapes are being almost exclusively planted in 

 place of others this year. The success of this grape in 

 Orlando, especially, has created a widespread interest over 

 the rest of Southern Florida. Other grapes of better 

 quality even are not being planted except by the "careful 

 few." Whether the Niagara business will be overdone is a 

 mooted question. 



Much has been said and written about fibre plants this year 

 and Sisal hemp in particular, but no one has taken hold of the 

 industry on a commercial scale as yet. There is no reason 

 why Florida cannot produce at least a part of the cordage 

 necessary for use in the United States, and at a good profit. 



The casava (Manihot aipi) is now cultivated extensively 

 over the south. This produces immense crops of roots which 

 are available as food for man and for all our domestic animals. 

 Propagation is carried on by cutting up ripened stalks in the 

 way sugar cane is planted. These are kept over winter in a 

 dry situation, or "hilled" up in dry sand. 



Jamaica Indian sorrel {Hibiscus Sabdariffa) is now planted 

 commonly over Southern Florida. This forms large bushes, 

 sometimes ten feet high, with a blossom at every leaf. The 

 red fleshy calyx is stewed, and tastes very like cranberries. A 

 fine jelly is made also. The Roselle hemp is obtained from 

 the branches by decortication. 



The McNeill pea, a cow-pea of recent origin, is attracting 

 attention in Northern Florida. It is very prolific, and first 

 rate for the table, besides furnishing heavy feed for stock. 



Pennisetum sp. from India, a fodder grass of the greatest 

 vigor, since its introduction to Florida has grown remarkably. 

 The seeds sown in May produce rich grass which can be cut 

 when two and a-half feet high four or five times by the last of 

 October. If the seed is left uncut on the grass till dead-ripe, 

 enough falls off to seed the ground for next season. This is 

 adapted to dry soils and is superior to anything yet tried. 



