56 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
states as far north as Memphis. A variety known as the ‘‘Mission 
fig’ has been grown in California ever since the days of the early 
Spanish settlements. The cultivation in California of the type of 
fig known as Smyrna fig is one of the most interesting romances of 
horticulture. For years the Californians had grown excellent trees 
but poor fruit; then scientists discovered that the fig must be fertilized 
by certain tiny insects that lived inside the fruit of wild figs. The 
wild fig and the insects were imported into the country, and the Cali- 
fornia orchards now produce an excellent grade of Smyrna figs. One 
wild tree supports enough insects to fertilize the figs of 100 cultivated 
trees. 
Gardenia jasminoides, or CAPE JASMINE, belongs to the Rubiaceae, the 
family to which coffee belongs. It is much grown in the South for 
hedges. Its waxy, camellia-like flowers are used in perfume making. 
Gelsemium sempervirens, or CAROLINA YELLOW JASMINE, or FALSE 
JASMINE, is an evergreen twining shrub from our southern states 
that belongs to the Loganiaceae. Its yellow flowers are very fragrant. 
The roots and rhizomes are used medicinally as a nervine, antispas- 
modic, and sedative. 
Genipa americana, or GENIP-FRUIT, is a native of the West Indies 
that belongs to the Rubiaceae, the family to which coffee belongs. 
The tree bears fruit the size of an orange, and of a pleasant flavor. 
It is much used in making marmalade and a_ preserve known as 
genipaps. 
Grevillea robusta, or SILK Oak; a native of Australia, belongs to the 
Proteaceae, a family with no local representatives. The silk oak is 
a very tall, rapid-growing tree that has proved popular in California 
and Florida as a street tree. With us the fern-leaved young plants 
are sold as ornamental pot plants. The tree bears great trusses of 
golden flowers that are rich in honey. The elastic and durable wood 
is much valued for cask staves and furniture. 
Guaiacum officinale, or L1GNUM-VITAE TREE, a native of the West 
Indies and parts of tropical America, belongs to the Zygophyllaceae, 
the family to which the caltrop of Illinois belongs. The wood of 
lignum-vitae cannot be split, and because of its hardness, density, and 
durability is much valued for pulleys, machinery bearing, pestles, and 
the like. The wood was taken back to Spain by the early explorers 
who were interested in its medicinal value. Decoctions of the wood 
were used in treating gout, stone, palsy, leprosy, dropsy, epilepsy, and 
syphilis. The wood was long supposed to furnish a specific for the 
last named disease. During the 9 years following the introduction 
of the wood into Spain, it was claimed that at least 3,000 people had 
been restored to health by it. Chips of lignum-vitae heartwood are 
today used in standard medicinal preparations, as are also the bark 
and the guaiacum gum—the latter secured by making incisions in the 
tree. 
Haematoxylon campechianum, or Locwoop, a native of Mexico, Cen- 
tral America, and the West Indies, belongs to the Leguminosae, the 
