180 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


MY LAKE, 
ge 
Y little lake doth in a valley lie, 
Bowered deep in green of drowsy solitudes; 
No din or dust of highway cometh nigh, 
No reek of towns can pass these winnowing woods, 
°Tis fabled that its grassy borders keep 
Trace of a shape to human outline true; 
That here some Queen of Naiads, fallen asleep, 
Hides her white beauty ’neath the dimpling blue. 
And see—at yonder cove’s remotest edge, 
A gleam of white against the stirring sedge, 
As if the gracious sleeper lightly slept, 
And from beneath her robe’s unrayelled hem, 
One fair white instep in a dream had crept, 
Lighting up all the dim place like a gem. 
—HeELEN Barron Bostwick, in Galaay. 
Indian River, of Hlarida. 
EGINNING some thirty or thirty-five miles to the 
southward of St. Augustine, and extending along the 
coast of Florida, about one hundred and seventy-five or 
eighty miles, are two salt water lagoons, separated from the 
ocean by a mere narrow fringe of sand. The larger and 
more southward of these is known as Indian river, and the 
other as Mosquito lagoon. They are separated by a low 
belt of sand, resting upon a bed of shell conglomerate 
scarcely two miles broad. 
Tt is, however, with Indian river that I have present con- 
cern, as it is possessed of peculiar, extraordinary, and little 
known attractions and resources, which, if properly devel- 
oped, would make it an unequalled sanitarium for pulmo- 
aary subjects. 
With its northern extremity near Cape Canaveral, this 
sheet of water stretches southward for about one hundred 
and fifty miles, with but one narrow communication with 
the ocean—Indian river inlet, latitude 27 deg. 30 min. 
north. The long, narrow strip of sand on either side of 
the inlet, which, as I have said, separates the lagoon from 
the ocean, isno where broader than one mile. Here and 
there the winds and waves have heaped up the sand into 
clusters of low dunes, but next to the waters of the lagoon 
there isadense growth of the mangrove (Rhizophoracea), 
wood of small diameter, but of a beautiful red color, and 
takes a very fine polish, and the whole zone is thickly dot- 
ted with the graceful, picturesque, and useful cabbage pal- 
metto tree, which is valuable asa timber for many pur- 
poses, and its leaves also, while its unexpanded young 
foliage is a delicious vegetable. Other and even more vyal- 
uable trees of the same (palm) species might be largely in- 
troduced, as, for example, the cocoanut, which has been 
shown to flourish there. It isin part this low-lying skirt 
of luxuriantly wooded, dry sandy soil, breaking the force 
of tempestuous winter winds, met at times on the southern 
Atlantic coast, which makes the western shore of Indian 
river so highly favorable as a winter residence for invalids. 
Near Indian river inlet, upon the main land, a military 
post (Fort Capron) was established in November, 1849, and 
careful meteorological observations were taken for a series 
of years which show rare climatological characteristics pe- 
culiarly favorable for pulmonary patients, that is to say, a 
singularly equable temperature with comparative dryness. 
For example, during a period of five years ending with 
1854 the mean temperature of the winter months was 63 
deg. 20 min., with a relatively small rainfall during the 
late autumn, winter, and early spring months, or 217 fair 
weather days for the year. 
The lagoon has a coraline bed, and is free from marshes. 
Communicating with the sea by Indian river inlet, as I 
have stated, it likewise receives a good deal of fresh water 
through Santa Lucia river, which is an outlet of the Ever- 
glades. It teems to an almost incredible degree with fish 
of the finest and most palatable varieties, including that 
most delicate and toothsome of all American fish, the 
“Hompano.” Never, indeed, on either the Atiantic, Gulf, 
or Pacific coast have I seen fish so fat and well flavored. 
The ordinary mullet, here very fine, is found in extraordi- 
nary shoals at certain seasons, and no where else is the 
sheepshead so fine and dainty a fish as in Indian river. As 
for the oyster, it is worth avisit to Indian river to eat those 
found there, especially those which have been transplanted; 
their flavor is the finest in the United States. 
Some four miles southward of the inlet the western shore 
rises some thirty feet above the level of the seq into a bluff 
of compact, broken, or decomposed shell for some dis- 
tance. Here there are fine situations for building, with the 
necessary space for small plantations of tropical fruits and 
plants, which thrive so well in all that region. There are 
already orange orchards which have been planted fora 
quarter of a century. The pineapple, found in most of its 
numerous varieties, and other inter-tropieal fruits, do as 
well here as in the Antilles, Northward the shore is skirted 
in large part by narrow reaches of dry hammock land, coy- 
ered with the live oak. This soil is shallow, but underlaid 
by a marl, which keeps fresh its virgin fertility, and is 
found particularly well adapted+to the growth of sugar 
cane, which comes to flower or tassel on Indian river as in 
Cuba, but not habitually in Louisiana. Therefore, the 
cane of Indian river is richer in saccharine matter to the 
pound than that of Louisiana. 
Immediately back of these arable tracts, the very timber 
of which is so valuable in ship-building, there runs a sand 
ridge, which here and there abuts directly upon the water 
of the lagoon, and is everywhere covered with noble pines, 




affording an exhaustless supply of accessible building tim- 
ber. Rearward of this ridge the country, somewhat lower 
than the ridge, stretches out into great spaces of pine bar- 
rens, which afford, however, a fine range and pasturage for 
cattle, and abound in game, such as deer and wild turkey, 
while in winter the lagoon is alive with wild duck. On 
the slope of this ridge, toward the lagoon, by digging wells 
of ten or fifteen feet an abundance of pure, delicious water 
is developed, being simply the rainwater of the great pools 
in its rear, filtered through the sand ridge. 
A glance at the map discloses the fact that for more than 
thirty miles of its upper course, the St. John’s river flow- 
ing northward, is parallel with Indian river lagoon, at an 
average distance of not more than ten miles. At several 
points, indeed, the distance is reduced to eight miles, so 
that a canal of that length through ground peculiarly favor- 
able for cheap and easy construction, would give water 
communication by steam with Jacksonville, and in fact 
with Charleston. At the same time, during the late fall, 
winter, and early spring tides the inlet affords passage to 
steamers drawing from eight to ten feet of water, with a 
completely sheltered harbor immediately within the bar. 
Beside fish to so marvellous a degree in variety, numbers, 
and excellence for food, Indian river is likewise the resort 
for turtle. 
The vegetation and flora, by no means so luxuriant as that 
of inter-tropical regions, are, however, largely of the same 
description. The trees are covered with beautiful air plants 
and other parasitic plants, which open a broad field of in. 
teresting investigation. The tree yielding gum, Caout- 
choue by exudation, for example, is there, although not in 
quantities for commercial purposes, and is an interesting 
feature of the landscape from its peculiar growth or habit 
of climbing and staying itself by the trunk of another tree, 
which it finally envelopes, crushes, and destroys. Several 
species of very closely grained, heavy, high-colored woods, 
susceptible of fine polish, and adapted to the uses of the 
cabinet maker, are there in abundance. Undoubtedly the 
Campeachy or logwood would thrive if introduced upon 
the beach or seaward shore of the lagoon, or would soon so 
multiply (as in Santo Domingo, where it was first planted 
for hedges) as to become a valuable product. 
And sol might go on enumerating what nature has 
planted or supplied in forest and stream, and what man 
might easily do to make at least a charming health resort 
of Indian river, but I will only add that I have myself seen 
some remarkable evidences of the benefits which persons 
of both sexes, having diseased lungs, have received there— 
benefits that proved lasting—with some yet more remark- 
able instances of persons so diseased that elsewhere they 
were in constant pain, who yet were able to lead a prolong- 
ed and comfortable life in that singularly equable tem- 
perature. 
I likewise passed one summer upon the lagoon, and never 
found the heat oppressive, as it was habitually tempered by 
a soft, gentle breeze. The only discomfort was the mos- 
quito, against which, however, it was not difficult to guard 
by proper precautions. 
It is a misfortune that the real climatic and general san- 
tary advantages of Indian river are not widely known to 
the thousands who suffer from weak lungs and bronchial 
affections in the New England and Middle States. T. J. 

Mountarn Cuams.—In the Adriondacks, up in Bay 
River, where it leaves Mud Lake, one of the most distant, 
gloomy, and forbidding sheets of water in the whoie wilder- 
ness, are immense beds of clams shaped precisely like our 
salt water clams. They would be mistaken for them any- 
where. Now why, when other waters abound with the 
ordinary mussel, should this peculiarly shaped clam, look- 
ing for all the world as if it had once been imbedded in the 
sea, and only changed in taste by being removed to fresh 
water, be found alone in this lonely, remote place, nearly 
2,000 feet above the sea level, and more than a hundred miles 
from the St. Lawrence, is a problem I should like to see 
solved. I wish the clam found there could be transplanted 
to the tide water, to see if it would turn to a regular salt 
water clam. The experiment would be well worth trying. 
If after a few floodings of salt water, it should become an 
ordinary salt water clam, it would seem to indicate that it 
was one at some former time. But why it should be con- 
fined to this peculiar locality is another difficulty not easily 
overcome. To mystify the matter still more, these beds 
would seem to be of recent origin. Fourteen years ago 
when I was first there and almost the first except hunters 
that ever visited it, there were but two beds, about six 
miles apart. This year they are found extended so greatly 
that if they continue at the same ratio of progress for 40 
years to come, they will fill the whole six miles of river and 
probably the whole bed of the lake. A scientific man once 
denied the fact of the existence of such a clam till he was 
shown the shell, and then, though convinced, did not pre- 
tend to explain it. They furnish an immense quantity of 
food to the minks.— Tribune. 
Se 
—On one occasion Hon. Jeremiah Mason went into Chas. 
Sumner’s office and found him writing an address to be 
delivered before a peace society. After a little good- 
natured defense of his views by Mr. Sumner, the former, 
rising to take his leave, said: ‘* Well, Sumner, you may be 
right, but Ishould just as soon think of joining a society 
for the suppression of thund:r and lightning as a society 
for the suppression of war.” 
OOS 
—Once a careless man went to the cellar and stuck the 
candle in what he thought was a keg of black sand. He 
sat near it drinking wine until the candle burned low. 
Nearer and nearer it got to the black sand; nearer and 
nearer, until the blaze reached the black sand, and as it was 
sand, nothing happened. 
————— 6 
—While a compositor on the Montreal Witness was setting 
up an advertisement for a lost canary, the bird flew in at 
the office window, ‘‘which shows the value of advertising.” 
| AVoodland, Lawn and Garden. 
TULIPS. —FALE SHDTING: 
(NAT. ORD, Tulipacec.) 
se ee 
‘Her eyes possess a language and a spell, 
A form like Aphrodites in her shell, 
With all her loves around her on the deep; 
Voluptuous as the first approach of sleep, 
Yet full of life; for through her tropic cheek 
The blush will make its way and all but speak, 
Like coral reddening through its darkened waves, 
Which draw the diver to its crimson caves.” 


HE seedling tulip does not, so far as we have learned, 
ever produce any but plain unmarked or veined 
flowers. You will notice, if you plant seedlings—and 
every lover of tulips should plant either what are termed 
seedlings, or what may be called nearly the same thing— 
the first year plain bulbs; and try their success in produc- 
ing some rare and beautiful striped tulip. This would af- 
ford them a fine opportunity of studying the laws that 
govern the floral kingdom, and in the production of a rare 
and beautiful addition to their floral treasures. 
In the history of this ancient flower many quaint anec- 
dotes and romantic stories are told. The Holland tulip 
has indee’ a romantic history all its own, and when we 
know that to the cultivation of this bulb alone hundreds 
of acres are devoted, we cease to wonder at its great value 
as an article of merchandise alone. Meinheer Vanderpoel 
was a little squat figure of a Dutchman, who was always 
accompanied by his little dog and his pipe. ‘‘I smokes, I 
does, and I sells the best bulbs in Haarlem, I shust does, 
and of all prices, too. I have him for ze fife penny apiece, 
and I have him for ze fifty dollar apiece, I have. Yah, I 
have.” Such was the literal truth in Holland, and even 
to-day, in sober 1873, there are tulips valued at about their 
weight in gold. 
The plain tulip, after one, two, three, and four years, 
is not the same tulip started with. This rusty jack, in his 
former gray coat of one color only, has thrown away the 
old gray, and in exchange he wears a coat of many colors, 
a real ‘‘Joseph’s coat” of many stripes, and is very beauti- 
ful. These tulips are called breeders. and from these 
breeders come, with care and perseverance, many of our 
most valuable garden tulips, for every tulip thus produced 
is to be called by some name, which the propagator or orig- 
inator has the sole right to append. Another very curious 
fact is, there may be, and often is, twenty different sorts 
in the same bed of tulips, yet it is exceedingly rare to find 
two flowers alike. This proneness to sport in the tulip 
gives rise to much variety as well as amusement to all lovers 
of this beautiful flower. 
In making a good tulip bed only care is necessary. The 
bed, which should lie, when possible, north and south, 
for the benefit of sunny exposure, should be excavated in 
the same manner as the bed made for the hyacinthe, de- 
scribed in a former paper. It may be four feet or more 
wide, and two feet six inches in depth; the soil filled in 
being a few, say three, inches above the path, and the cen- 
tre three inches above the sides» The tulip bed must be 
most thoroughly drained, or no tulips will grow. After 
you have made your bed of soil, taken from the under 
side of good old pasture sod, which has laid in a heap until 
well rotted and ‘‘friable,” you are ready to begin the plant- 
ing of your tulips in the bed. 
On a bed like the one thus described I would plant say 
five, seven or nine rows, according to size of bed. These 
rows are to run across the bed, and the bulbs to be placed 
six inches apart in the rows. Press them gently into their 
places in the soil, which should be three inches over the 
top or crown of the bulbs when your bed is finished. Your 
bulbs are to be planted with the tallest ones in the centre 
or middle row of the bed. These will be from fifteen to 
eighteen inches in height, and, if good strong growers are 
chosen, they will afford you a world of dellght. ‘They 
are God’s messengers of beauty to man,” said an ardent 
admirer of nature to me one day, as he was looking upon a 
rare and beautiful bed of wonderful diversity of color. 
‘This is one of his wise lessons,” said he, ‘‘and who is he 
that could look upon this magnificent tulip and say it came 
by chance ?” Having set your bed thus, if you please, the 
tallest bulbs in the centre, the lowest at the sides, or any 
way to please your own taste (for we suppose you pos- 
sessed of some, or you never would plant tulips), you will 
secure them from frosts and severe cold by coverings of 
matting, litter, straw, &c. When they begin to break the 
ground, and the first green leaf appears peeping up, then 
remove carefully all lumps of earth, if there should be 
any, and lighten the soil with some appropriate instrument, 
and you will soon feel yourself richly rewarded by what 
follows. I have found my account in adding as a dressing 
one half to an inch in thickness all over the bed a compost 
made of finely pulverized charcoal, one part to two parts 
of coarse sand. This gives the bed a very nice, clean look, 
and the sun adds heat by absorption of sunlight, which the 
tulip loves at this period to revelin. If you would enjoy 
the sight of a fine bed of this fairy of the flowers, you can 
do so by shading the opening blossoms from a too hot sun 
and high winds, both of which are exceedingly injurious to 
the plant. Your own taste and ingenuity will suggest just 
the kind of shelter you need, care being taken to shield the 
bed on the side next the sun from its too hot rays, 








