6l2 



A NURSERY IN THE FAR SOUTH. 



specimen of the golden-striped bamboo, the delicate 

 yellow wands of which waved in the sunlight as veritable 

 rods of precious metal. 



The object of the Messrs. Reasoner has been to test 

 every tree or plant of economical or ornamental value 

 to be found anywhere in the world, and they have con- 

 sequently imported for trial whatever has been obtain- 

 able. Thus many rich growths have been found to 

 be thoroughly well adapted to Florida conditions. All 

 the obtainable tropical fruits are grown, and thorough 

 tests have been made of many rare and hitherto unknown 

 but valuable fruits. It was somewhat an experience to 

 me, a Pennsylvanian who was accustomed to apples, 

 peaches, pears and grapes as his mainstays, to pluck a 

 pineapple — the most delicious fruit I have ever tasted, 

 when eaten fresh — and then eat an orange direct from 

 the tree ; to have offered me bananas in a number of 



varieties, grown on the place and served both out of hand 

 and cooked, and then have lemonade made from wonder- 

 fully large limes plucked a few minutes before, followed 

 up with a " Florida Favorite" watermelon ! It required 

 great conservatism and self-denial to avoid too hard a 

 trial of a good, solid, Pennsylvania-Dutch digestive ap- 

 paratus. The memory of those Hart's Choice bananas, 

 scarcely larger than my finger, and of singularly refresh- 

 ing and piquant taste, is with me yet. 



The Chinese strain of peaches is well represented here 

 in several promising varieties, which have a flavor utterly 

 distinct from that we are accustomed to in the north. 

 Guavas, mangoes, cocoanuts and a dozen other tropical 

 fruits were not ripe enough for tasting, which was 

 doubtless fortunate for me. 



But the greater interest, perhaps, centers about the 

 ornamental and economical plants grown here. The 

 sisal hemp has received great attention from the Messrs. 

 Reasoner, and they have sold to the British West Indian 

 governments many thousands of plants. The Florida 

 people themselves have not yet wakened up to the great 

 importance of this fibre plant. 



An exquisitely beautiful new conifer from Australia 

 is CalUlris robust a, the original plant of which is now 

 some five feet high, and growing rapidly. Another rare 

 plant, Phyllanthus cmblica, had a somewhat fern-like 

 growth, the ends of the long, green branches being tipped 

 pink and gold ; I keenly regret that my camera could not 

 bring away more than a memory of it. 



Greenhouses are used for much young stock. They 

 have, however, no glass, the roof being simply made up 

 of rafters, over which light slats have been tacked. This 

 i s sufficient protection 

 from the occasional 

 frosts, and in this partial 

 shade plants too tender 

 for the hot Floridian sun 

 flourish. A windmill and 

 an admirable system of 

 tanks and piping enable 

 growth to be maintamed 

 all about the grounds, 

 when otherwise the 

 drouth would prevent. 



Time fails to even hint 

 at the many beautiful 

 things abounding all over 

 the nurseries. Ventur- 

 ing into the dense tropical 

 growth of one of the 

 "hammocks," I passed 

 there cannas growing as 

 weeds, while rare water- 

 plants were all about a 

 little creek. Off to one 

 side was a grove of ba- 

 nanas and pineapples, a 

 "kodak" glimpse of which 

 i s presented. Looking 

 another way, an experimental orange-grove of 50 or more 

 varieties stood between my point of view and a planting 

 of peaches and plums. Beyond this a wonderful patch 

 of pancratiums, with their immense flowers, was a 

 bright blaze of color, and the rich, dogwood-like flowers 

 of thebauhinia towered above the bright, glowing scarlet 

 blossoms of the royal poinciana. 



The trade of the Messrs. Reasoner extends all over the 

 world. An accuracy and candor of description unusual 

 to nursery catalogues has made theirs a work of much 

 interest, and considering this and the character of their 

 stock, I departed without wonder at the success of Rea- 

 soner Brothers, but with admiration for their pluck for 

 working through so many disadvantages. 



Pennsylvania. J. Horace McFarland. 



In the Home Fruit Lot at Royal Palm Nurseries, 



