USA > Florida > Florida, 1513-1913, past and future; four hundred years of wars and peace and industrial development > Part 14
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COTTON FIELD
SUGAR CANE FIELD
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this fact established it would appear that the most important element of the problem has been proven.
Experts of the United States Department of Agriculture are positive in the assertion that the production of camphor gum may be made an important industry in Florida, and with this new source of supply the world would be relieved from the monopoly supported by the Japanese Government on the Island of Formosa.
RICE
Florida is one of the nine states reported by the government cen- sus as a producer of rice. The yield of these states in 1910 was nearly seven hundred million pounds and the importations almost two hun- dred million pounds, on which the tariff ranged from one-quarter of a cent a pound on rice flour, to two cents per pound on grain rice.
This grain forms the principal food of about one-half of the pop- ulation of the earth and it is more widely and generally used as a food material than any other cereal. While rice is grown chiefly on lands that are low, level and easily irrigated, there are varieties which can be grown on fertile uplands without irrigation. The yield of rice varies with conditions of soil, climate and methods of culture. In the Atlantic coast states the average yield per acre is from eight to twelve barrels of one hundred and sixty-two pounds each. In the lower Mississippi states it runs as high as sixteen or eighteen barrels per acre. According to the best estimates there are ten million acres of land in the five states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico which are well suited to rice cultivation. Of these, Florida contains at least three million acres. But little attention, however, has been paid to the cultivation of this crop in the peninsular state, the total pro- duction in 1912 being reported a little short of fifteen thousand bushels, which had a value of $22,600. In the localities where it has been raised most successfully, the product has equalled the best re- ported in the larger producing states. That the industry may be indefinitely and profitably extended in this state has been demon- strated by the results already accomplished.
SUGAR
The growth of sugar cane in Florida years ago passed beyond the stage of experiment. The cane is grown in every county and section of Florida, and few crops are raised with less expenditure of labor
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or with greater returns. Almost every farmer has his own "cane patch," from which he secures his supply of syrup for home con- sumption. In this indiscriminate way, sixty-eight thousand barrels of syrup were produced in Florida in 1912, and its value was more than nine hundred and twenty thousand dollars. But very little of this product was exported.
The investments of the Disston Land Company in the Kissimmee valley a number of years ago demonstrated the possibility of this industry on a large commercial scale. One of the best equipped sugar mills in the world was erected on this plantation and its operations for a few years showed magnificent financial results. The discontin- uance and the failure of this enterprise were due to circumstances outside of the natural conditions which, under other management, would make Florida one of the greatest sugar-producing sections in the world.
It has been demonstrated that the sugar content of the cane grown in Florida is larger, by a considerable percentage, than that of the cane produced in Louisiana, which is one of the richest sugar districts in the world. The reason for the difference lies in the fact that the climatic conditions in Florida permit the cane to reach its full maturity and the largest development of its saccharine content uninterrupted by early frosts. This is an industry with possibilities unsurpassed by any other natural resource of Florida. It would seem that this development should be of inestimable commercial value and that it will, some time in the future, bring millions of dollars annually into the state.
STARCH
But little attention has been directed in Florida to the cultiva- tion of the cassava plant. Here and there small areas have been ' planted to the root and without exception it has come to luxuriant growth. Naturally statistical demonstration of the plant as a source of a great industry has not yet been tabulated, but in the opinions of experts who have studied seriously, there is no reason why starch from this source should not become a large item of manufacture and export from this state.
FIGS
Figs of several varieties grow in every part of the state. They flourish in luxuriance even in neglected corners and on otherwise useless soils, and they produce abundantly. The Florida house-
A PAIR OF ORIGINAL "FLORIDA CRACKERS"
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keeper finds many uses for them as a raw food and in preserves or dried, which far surpass the imported article in palatableness. The fig in its ordinary condition of ripeness can be shipped only for short distances, for even under refrigeration it decays quickly. It is a fruit that must be canned or preserved where it is grown, and a moderate amount of capital invested in such canning establishments would doubtless pay large returns. This has been demonstrated on a small scale in many sections of the state and in the kitchens of half the housewives of Florida.
PECANS
The states that border the Gulf of Mexico have been proven to be particularly adaptable to the raising of pecans, for in this great territory the tree is indigenous in its wild state and its cultivation has produced the best financial results. In the western part of the state, at Tallahassee and elsewhere, are trees of native stock known to be eighty years old, still in active and prolific bearing.
Several varieties of thin-shelled pecans have been developed by careful breeding, and propagated on native stock. These nuts com- mand high prices in the markets and the demand far exceeds the supply. Thousands of acres in southern Georgia and in the northern counties of Florida have been set to these choice varieties, and a valu- able commerce has already been built up. Although it is still in its infancy, its value has been established.
The pecan tree is of comparatively slow growth, reaching bear- ing age from the fifth to the seventh year. The productive capacity is reached in fifteen to twenty years and this continues to the old age of the tree. This productive limit of the tree under cultivation is practically unknown, for the industry in this section is less than twenty years old, but there is reason to believe that it will continue for half a century and probably far beyond this limit. The tree has few enemies, it is of hardy growth like its near relative, the hickory, and a mature grove has been known to yield a net annual profit of $200 an acre for many successive years. While the pecan has reached its perfection in the northern portion of Florida, experiments seem to have proved that it will flourish quite as vigorously as far south as Tampa and possibly beyond that limit.
There are numerous other resources of soil, indigenous or im- ported, which present possibilities of large and valuable development. Vol. I-16
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When these shall be brought to the attention of scientists, there is little reason to believe that Florida will not surpass every other state in the Union in the variety of its commercially valuable soil products and their application to the arts and manufactures of the world.
CHAPTER XI THE TREES OF FLORIDA
O COMPILE a complete list of the trees, shrubs and vines that grow within the limits of any given terri- T tory, is no slight task. The difficulty is increased where, as in Florida, normal climatic conditions vary from those of the temperate zone to those of the tropics, and where the soils invite the growth of prac- tically every variety of vegetation that the climate may permit. The preparation and proper classification of such a list demand the serv- ices of the highest skill and years of time and study.
The United States contains about five hundred indigenous trees. Two hundred and twenty of these have been found in Florida. To these have been added almost one hundred varieties, brought from similar climatic and soil conditions in many parts of the earth. The naturalization of trees and plants is the work of years, before the adaptation to changed locations can be pronounced entirely success- ful. At the present time elaborate experiments are being carried on near the coasts of both ocean and gulf in the southern part of the state, in acclimating a number of varieties of the Eucalyptus and Annona families. It is practically certain that these efforts will add materially to the number of valuable trees in the state as well as in the United States.
In the list given in this article, it will be noted that under the head of Citrus are included all the orange, lime, tangerine, lemon, grape- fruit and kumquat trees grown in Florida. A separation and classi- fication of these, similar to that of the oaks, would increase the list by twenty or more. Therefore, it appears that a fully itemized classi- fication of the trees, indigenous and naturalized, in Florida would bring the total much above three hundred.
LISTING THE TREES
So far as is known, the first classification of the trees of this state, was undertaken and completed by Prof. Alvin H. Curtis, be-
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tween 1880 and 1890, under the direction of the United States De- partment of Agriculture. Its accuracy has made it a standard and the basis for subsequent investigations.
The Forestry Department of the Florida Federation of Woman's Clubs, under the able direction of Mrs. Kirk Munroe of Cocoanut Grove, appreciating the necessity of a more complete and up-to-date enumeration of the trees of the state, undertook the work in 1908 and 1909. The services of Dr. John Gifford, as editor, were secured and the results were published under copyright in the latter year.
Of Doctor Gifford's ability and success no better evidence is needed than the published work itself. For ycars he was at the head of the Department of Forestry in Cornell University. His interest in Florida, his training in accurate and scientific methods of study and years devoted to the flora of the state, have made him an authority. The results of his work are reproduced here by permission for the first time outside of the copyrighted pamphlet, in which they originally appeared.
The list prepared by Doctor Gifford gives the scientific name of each specimen first, next the common name and the general section or sections of the state in which it is to be found, with occasional com- ments that will prove of much interest to the reader or to the student.
A LIST OF THE TREES OF FLORIDA
BY DR. JOHN GIFFORD Indigenous Trees
It is difficult to make a complete list for several reasons; first, some plants which are ordinarily bushes, under favorable environment in South Florida reach tree dimensions; second, the northern boundary of Florida is a long, arbitrary division mark and no doubt several northern species dip over this line here and there and are not always reported, and third, it is almost impossible to keep track of fresh introductions; seeds and plant material of various kinds are coming into this state constantly from all parts of the world. The terms "native" and "indigenous" are here used in the same sense-they refer to plants which are and have always been here naturally, as far as is known; "naturalized" refers to plants which have been intro-
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BANANA TREE WITH FRUIT
LIVE OAK PARK NEAR TALLAHASSEE
TROPICAL PLANTS AT FORT MYERS
WATER OAK
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duced, but which have such a hold that they would continue to grow and extend, at least hold their own, even if man and all his works were wiped off the earth.
Pinus Taeda
Loblolly Pine.
North Florida. Valuable timber tree.
Pinus Serotina.
Pond Pine.
North Florida. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Pinus Clausa.
Sand Pine.
Local on coasts of North Florida on sand dunes.
Pinus Echinata.
Shortleaf Pine.
Western Florida. Chattahoochee region. Good timber tree.
Pinus Glabra. Spruce Pine.
West Florida. Chattahoochee region.
Pinus Palustris. Longleaf Pine.
The great timber and turpentine tree of North Florida.
Pinus Caribaea. Cuban Pine.
The common timber pine of South Florida. Grows also in West Indies and Central America.
Taxodium Distichum. Bald Cypress.
A valuable timber tree.
Taxodium Imbricarium.
Pond Cypress.
A species recently named by Harper.
Thuja Occidentalis. Arborvitae.
Various cultivated varieties of this tree commonly planted for shade and ornament. Probably does not extend naturally southward further than the mountains of Georgia.
Chamaecyparis Thyoides. White Cedar.
A very light, durable timber, valuable for boat building, etc. Probably extends into North Florida in swamps near the coast.
Juniperus Barbadensis. Southern Red Juniper.
The famous pencil cedar of Florida. Some years ago forests of cedar and live oak were reserved in Florida and elsewhere on the coast to insure a future supply of these valuable timbers for our navy. These were of course abandoned when steel replaced wood for this purpose. These, however, were our first national reserves.
Tumion Taxifolium.
Taxus Floridana.
Florida Torreya. Florida Yew.
The above two trees are of interest because they are found only on the limestone bluffs along the eastern bank of the Apalachicola River.
Thrinax Parviflora.
Silktop Palmetto.
Southern Florida Keys and Bahamas.
Thrinax Microcarpa.
Silvertop Palmetto.
Southern Keys.
Sabal Palmetto. Cabbage Palmetto.
Common throughout Florida, giving to the landscape an appearance characteristic of Florida and a tree which, I am sorry to say, is often sacrificed for the bunch of cabbage at its growing tip.
Pseudophoenix Sargentii.
Sargent Palm.
Southern Keys and the Bahamas. Resembles the date palm. Getting very scarce.
Roystonea Regia. Royal Palm.
This majestic tree reaches its optimal growth in Cuba, of which country it is emblematic; it adorns the Cuban two-cent postage stamp and coat-of-arms and its rich berries fatten many swine for their Christmas festivities. Extensively planted in South Florida and appears to be indigenous in several patches in the neighborhood of the Everglades.
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Cocos Nucifera.
Cocoanut.
One of the most beautiful and useful members of the plant world, yielding food, drink and shelter to many primitive peoples of the world. This tree grows in sandy soil along the sea-shores of Tropical Florida and although most of the nuts were planted by the hand of man, undoubtedly some have sprung from seeds which have washed ashore and been buried in seaweed and sand on the beach. The original home of the cocoanut is probably not known and since it grows as well in South Florida as elsewhere, it deserves to be listed at least as a naturalized member of our silva.
Washingtonia Filamentosa.
Fanleaf Palm.
A native of our Southwest, but often planted in Florida.
Juglans Nigra. Black Walnut.
Northern Florida.
The butter-nut (Juglans Cinerea) apparently skips Florida, although it is reported as growing wild in the interior of the West Indies. A walnut (Juglans Insularis) is also reported from Cuba.
Hicoria Pecan.
Pecan.
The king of nuts extensively cultivated in improved form in North Florida. Both the words "hickory" and "pecan" are probably of Indian origin. It is quite probable that some Spanish tree names such as "Ucare" are corruptions of hickory since hickory has been extensively used by West Indian peoples for barrel and hogshead hoops.
Hicoria Minima.
Bitternut.
Apalachicola region.
Hicoria Aquatica. Northern Florida.
Water Hickory.
Hicoria Ovata.
Shagbark.
I am not certain whether this grows in Florida or not, but I presume it does extend southward over the border in West Florida.
Hicoria Alba.
Mocker Nut.
Northern Florida.
Hicoria Glabra. Pignut.
Northern Florida.
Wax Myrtle.
Myrica Cerifera. Yields candle wax.
Myrica Inodora. Near Apalachicola.
Odorless Myrtle.
Leitneria Floridana.
Corkwood.
A rare small tree of the swamps of Northwest Florida near Apalachicola. Of interest because of the lightness of its wood, used in place of cork. Named for the German naturalist Leitner who was killed in Florida during the Seminole War.
Salix Nigra. Common willow throughout Florida.
Black Willow.
Salix Longipes. Throughout Florida.
Longstalk Willow.
Populus Deltoides. Northern Florida.
Cottonwood.
Betula Nigra. Northwestern Florida.
Black Birch.
Betula Lenta. Northwestern Florida.
Sweet Birch.
Ostrya Virginiana. Northern Florida.
Hornbeam.
Carpinus Caroliniana. Northern Florida.
Blue Beech.
CABBAGE PALM-ON THE SEASHORE
MANGO TREE
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Fagus Americana. Northern Florida. Castanea Pumila. Northern Florida. Castanea Dentata.
Beech.
Chinquapin.
Although it may not grow wild in Northern Florida it has been planted here and there.
Quercus Alba. Northern Florida.
White Oak.
Quercus Minor. Northern Florida.
Post Oak.
Quercus Chapmani. On the coast of North Florida.
Chapman Oak.
Quercus Lyrata. Northern Florida.
Overcup Oak.
Quercus Michauxii. Northern Florida.
Cow Oak.
Quercus Velutina. Northern Florida.
Yellow Oak.
Quercus Catesbaei. Northern Florida.
Turkey Oak.
Quercus Digitata. Northern Florida.
Spanish Oak.
Quercus Marilandica. Northern Florida.
Water Oak.
Quercus Laurifolia.
Laurel Oak.
Most common and of its largest size in Eastern Florida.
Quercus Brevifolia. Northern Florida.
Blue Jack.
Quercus Phellos. Northern Florida.
Willow Oak.
Quercus Pagodaefolia.
Red Oak.
Extends to Northern Florida according to Sargent.
Quercus Coccinea. Scarlet Oak.
Northern Florida.
Quercus Texana. Texas Red Oak.,
Extends to Apalachicola River according to Sargent.
Quercus Palustris. Northern Florida.
Pin Oak.
Quercus Rubra. Leopard Oak.
Extends to Florida according to Small.
Quercus Virginiana. Live Oak.
Excellent timber tree, common in Florida, also Mexico, Cuba and Central America. These sturdy broadspreading live oaks draped with Florida moss form a very characteristic feature of the Florida landscape.
Ulmus Americana. Northern Florida.
White Elm.
Ulmus Alata. Northern Florida.
Wahoo.
Ulmus Fulva. Northern Florida.
Slippery Elm.
----
.
Black Jack.
Quercus Nigra. Northern Florida.
Chestnut.
WHITE OLEANDER IN BLOOM
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Planera Aquatica. Northern Florida. Celtis Occidentalis. Throughout Florida. Celtis Mississippiensis. Throughout Florida.
Planer Tree.
Hackberry.
Sugarberry.
Morus Rubra.
Red Mulberry.
Common throughout the State.
Morus Nigra.
Black Mulberry.
Commonly planted for its large, black, juicy fruits. Probably originally came from Persia.
Morus Alba.
From China. Introduced mainly for silk-worm food.
Broussonetia Papyrifera.
Paper Mulberry.
From Japan. Common throughout the State.
Ficus Aurea.
Golden Fig.
South Florida and the West Indies. A striking weed tree in the forest. Grows first on limbs of other trees, throws down aerial roots to the ground and finally chokes and kills the tree upon which it started.
Ficus Populnea.
Poplarleaf Fig.
South Florida and the West Indies. Easily propagated from cuttings and might prove a satisfactory shade tree for South Florida.
Coccolobis Uvifera.
Common on the sea shore of Southern Florida, also West Indian.
Sea Grape.
Coccolobis Laurifolia. Pigeon Plum.
South Florida and West Indies. A fine tree in the hammocks of Southern Florida. (A hammock is a rich hardwood jungle. It is probably an old Indian word and the old spelling "hamak" is sometimes still used.)
Pisonia Obtusata.
Blolly.
Sea beaches and shores of brackish lagoons. Tropical Florida.
Magnolia Glauca. Sweet Magnolia.
Common throughout the State to Biscayne Bay.
Magnolia Foetida. Evergreen Magnolia.
Northern Florida.
Magnolia Macrophylla.
Large Leaf Magnolia.
Northern Florida.
Magnolia Fraseri. Chattahoochee region.
Frazer Magnolia.
Magnolia Pyramidata. Chattahoochee region.
Magnolia.
Liriodendron Tulipifera. Tulip Tree.
A very beautiful and useful tree probably extending over the line into Florida.
Annona Glabra. Pond Apple.
Southern Florida. Also called custard-apple. A good stock on which to bud other annonas.
Persea Borbonia. Red Bay.
Common throughout Florida. Called sometimes "Florida mahogany," but should never be confounded with the true mahogany which grows on the Keys.
Persea Pubescens. Swamp Bay.
The term "bay" sometimes applied to trees may come from the French baie, meaning berry; it may have to do with the color of the wood, although the word bay in this sense is
White Mulberry.
Ficus Carica. The Fig.
Cultivated throughout the South for its fruits.
Vol. I-17
AUSTRALIAN PINES (CASUARINA)
FLORIDA BAMBOOS NEAR FORT MYERS
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usually only applied to horses and in the case of "bay-wood" sometimes applied to mahogany; bay may refer to the "Bay Islands" in the Gulf of Honduras, a great mahogany centre.
Persea Gratissima. Avocado.
The famous salad fruit, now so extensively cultivated in South Florida. naturalized in Southern Florida.
Practically
Ocotea Catesbyana.
Lancewood.
The term lancewood is applied to many trees. The true lancewood is yielded by members of Annona family, Bocagea laurifolia and virgata "white and black lancewood." Large sized pond-apples might yield a light elastic wood of this nature.
Sassafras Sassafras.
Sassafras.
Northern Florida. A little used but durable and elastic aromatic wood. I have heard that the Indians used this wood in the manufacture of bows and spears.
Capparis Jamaicensis. Florida Caper.
South Florida.
Liquidamber Styraciflua. Northern Florida.
Sweet Gum.
Platanus Occidentalis. Northern Florida. Malus Angustifolia. Northern Florida.
Narrowleaf Crab.
Malus Malus. Northern Florida.
Wild Apple.
Amelanchier Canadensis.
Serviceberry.
Probably extends into Florida.
Crataegus Crus-Galli.
Cockspur.
Southward to Chipola River, Florida.
Crataegus Coccinea. South to Northern part of Florida.
Scarlet Haw.
Crataegus Viridis.
Green Haw.
Chattahoochee region.
Crataegus Apifolia. South to Central Florida.
Parsley Haw.
Crataegus Flava. To Central Florida.
Yellow Haw.
Crataegus Uniflora. To Northern Florida.
Small-leaf Haw.
Summer Haw.
Crataegus Aestivalis. To Northern Florida. Chrysobalanus Icaco. Southern Florida.
Cocoaplum.
Wild Plum.
Chickasaw Plum.
Black Sloe.
Black Cherry.
Laurel Cherry.
West India Cherry.
Prunus Americana. To Western Florida. Prunus Angustifolia. To Central Florida. Prunus Umbellata. Northern Florida.
Prunus Serotina. Northern Florida. Prunus Caroliniana. South to Biscayne Bay.
Prunus Sphaerocarpa. South Florida to West Indies.
Sycamore.
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Prunus Persica.
Peach.
From China. Commonly cultivated.
Zygia Unguis-Cati. South Florida and West Indies.
Florida Cat's Claw.
Lysiloma Latisiliqua. Wild Tamarind.
A beautiful shade tree on the Keys. Has the reputation of being a very valuable cabinet wood. Excelling, according to Nuttall, the mahogany "in its variable shining tints, which appear like watered satin."
Acacia Farnesiana.
Popinac.
Seems to be a native of America, Australia and Africa. Introduced into almost every locality with warm climate.
Leucaena Glauca. Leucaena.
Keys, West Indies, Texas and Mexico.
Cercis Canadensis. To Central Florida.
Redbud.
Gleditsia Triacanthos. Northern Florida.
Honey Locust.
Gleditsia Aquatica. Northern Florida.
Water Locust.
Robinia Pseudacacia. Northern Florida.
Locust.
Ichthyomethia Piscipula. Jamaica Dogwood.
A common and very valuable timber tree for South Florida. Might be used to advantage as a shade and ornamental. Grows quickly, has an abundance of pea-like flowers in clusters which honey bees are fond of. As the name indicates, it is a fish poison. The bark and twigs are bruised and lowered in a basket into the water. A poison is dissolved which stupifies fish that come near it. They float to the surface and are easily captured. This tree grows well from seeds and its propagation should be encouraged.
Guaiacum Sanctum.
Lignum Vitae. Famous, hard, heavy, lasting wood on the Lower Keys and West Indies. Scarce.
Fagara Fagara.
Wild Lime.
South Florida and West Indies.
Fagara Clavi-Hercules.
Prickly Ash.
Because of its prickly nature is sometimes called "sting-tongue, " "wait-a-bit" and "tear blanket."
Fagara Flava. Florida Keys.
Yellow Wood.
Fagara Coriacea. Florida Keys.
Satin Wood.
Ptelea Trifoliata. Hop Tree.
Extends to Northern Florida and probably crosses the line.
Amyris Elemifera. Torchwood.
South Florida and West Indies.
Simarouba Glauca. Paradise Tree.
South Florida and West Indies. A pretty, quick growing tree in the hammocks. Would make a handsome avenue tree.
Ailanthus Glandulosa. Ailanthus.
A Chinese tree widely naturalized throughout the United States.
Bursera Simaruba. Gumbo Limbo.
South Florida and West Indies. Grows easily from a cutting or large limb stuck in the ground, frequently used in this way for live fence posts. Grows very quickly and has a very ยท striking bronzy red trunk with papery bark. The term Gumbo limbo is probably a negro corruption of the term gum-elemi.
A PINE FOREST
MANY OF FLORIDA'S HIGHWAYS ARE SHADED BY A DOZEN VARIETIES OF TREES, STANDING SO CLOSE THAT THEIR BRANCHES INTERTWINE
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