54 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
There are about a dozen varieties of 
Ficus, Rubber Tree, growing here, nearly 
all, fine shade trees and suitable for street 
and road side planting. Ficus altissima 
makes a magnificent tree in a few years 
and is, I think, the finest of the species. 
Ficus eburnea is also a fine variety and 
a quick grower. Ficus pandurata, “The 
Majestic Rubber” has very large leaves, 
but is of slower growth. As a single 
specimen on a lawn it is very effective. 
Ficus Nitida is the best variety for street 
or roadside planting; it is a quick grower, 
gives a dense shade, has dark green, small 
leaves and is in every way a fine tree for 
the purpose named ; it would also make a 
splendid wind break. A cutting of this 
variety about the size of a lead pencil 
was sent to me by mail some fifteen years 
ago and is now a tree thirty feet high, of 
compact growth, with a spread of the 
same dimension. 
Achras sapota, the Sapodilla, is also a 
clean evergreen tree of slower growth 
than the Ficus but makes a very hand¬ 
some shade tree. 
Jacaranda Mimosafolia is a lovely 
shade tree; the leaves are finely pinnated 
like the Poinciana. The numerous flow¬ 
ers come in long erect panicles of a love¬ 
ly shade of blue. It should be largely 
planted in South Florida. It is the most 
ornamental tree I know of and admired 
by everyone who sees it in bloom. 
Casaurina equisitaf olia , Australian 
Pine, so called, but it is not a pine. This 
tree is largely grown as a shade tree or 
windbreak along the lower East Coast; 
it seems to thrive under any conditions 
and stands the salt air well. It is largely 
used in making hedges. It grows very 
fast. I have known them to grow ten 
feet high from the seed in one year. The 
wood is hard and takes a fine polish. It 
makes splendid fire wood and should be 
largely grown in waste places for this 
purpose alone. I find that this wood lasts 
longer than pine, it is not what would be 
called an ornamental tree, but for the uses 
mentioned it is the best. If cut back it 
branches better and makes a fine street 
tree. 
Parmentiera ceriefera, the Candle Tree. 
This is a curious tree bearing large white 
flowers and long waxy yellow fruit re¬ 
sembling candles. The fruit is said to be 
edible, but I have not tried it although I 
had a crop of “Candles” last year. 
Kigelia pinnata is another curious 
tree. It bears large trusses of tulip¬ 
shaped flowers followed by a crop of 
sausage-shaped fruit. It is commonly 
called “Sausage tree.” 
Spath odea palmata, Parkis africana, 
Heritiera lift oralis, are all fine, tall grow¬ 
ing trees raised from seeds sent me from 
the Philippines. 
Aberia Kaffra, a dense growing thorny 
tree bearing golden yellow fruits resem¬ 
bling a miniature apple. 
There are many other available plants, 
vines and trees suitable for planting 
along the lower East Coast, but I am 
afraid my paper is already too long to 
enumerate any others. I see no reason 
why there are not more ornamentals 
planted. They grow with very little care 
and are easily procured from nursery 
men at reasonable prices, and one can al¬ 
ways get cuttings from a friend or neigh¬ 
bor who have plants growing. The poor 
man can grow a tree, shrub or vine as 
