Florida is quite rich in palms for a region lying wholly outside the tropics, for no less than sixteen species have been found growing wild within its limits. A part of these, Inodes, Sabal adansoni, Rhapidophyllum hystrix and Serenoa serrulata are probably derived from an ancient warm temperate flora that was driven south during the Glacial Epoch, while the other species, no doubt, are derived directly from the American Tropics. The common coconut (Cocos nucifera), now believed to be a native of Tropical America and not of the Old World as was formerly supposed, has become completely naturalized on the keys and in the lower part of the state.

Oreodoxa Regia

First among our native palms and, for that matter, one of the first in the world, is the royal palm. It occurs in Florida abundantly at the Royal Palm Hammock at some distance inland from Cape Romano, on the southwest coast of the state; on Harney River and Rogers River just north of Cape Sable and here and there to some distance to the eastward of the cape not very far away from the sea. A large number are found at Paradise Key in the southeast part of Dade County, this being an island in the Everglades. Until recently a few specimens grew in brackish hammock just north of my home near Little River. They were in a forest of giant Avicen-nias, Annonas, Conocarpus and mangroves, the latter the largest and finest I have ever seen. Some of these were a hundred feet high and six feet in diameter. In this strange forest there was a dense growth of wild calabash (Crescentia latifolia), Pavonia racemosa, ordinarily a shrub but here attaining the dimensions of a tree, and two species of giant Acrostichums, the fronds of which reached a height of a dozen feet. All this splendid growth was destroyed by the hand of brutal, greedy man in the hope of making money from tannic acid in the bark of the mangroves.

I am happy to say that this financial speculation resulted in total failure.

It is quite probable that the royal palm will be found in other Floridian localities. It is believed by Mr. O. F. Cook, an authority on palms of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, that this is distinct from the Cuban species, and he has given it the specific name floridana. I am inclined to believe his judgment is correct in the matter. Our palm generally grows in brackish swamps, the only exception I know of being Paradise Key.

Whether growing in groups or singly it more fully conveys to my mind the idea of kingly majesty than any living object I have ever seen. Michaux truly said that the American White Elm was the noblest vegetable of the Temperate Zone and with equal propriety it may be claimed that the royal palm is the noblest vegetable of the tropics. It should be planted in rich, deep soil, if possible in a moist location, if it is to do its best, and in such a situation in fifteen or twenty years it will become an object worthy to be worshipped. Ordinarily it does poorly on pine land but if a large hole is dug when it is planted and this is filled with muck, rich soil and stable manure and the ground is well mulched it will do very well. An occasional top dressing of muck or mulching with seaweed or trash will be beneficial.

Next among native palms in importance and striking appearance is the cabbage palmetto (Inodes palmetto), a tree distributed throughout the maritime parts of the state. To northern eyes, - yes, to the eyes of all who are really en rapport with whatever is attractive in nature, - this strange tree is always wonderful. I can never pass it without turning to gaze at it with awe and admiration; it is so absolutely unlike anything that the dweller of the temperate zone is used to. Singly or in groups it is always attractive.

This tree is at its best in rich hammocks though it frequently grows in low pine land or the edges of prairies or brackish swamps. It will do well on high pine land if well mulched or treated with muck. There are those who can transplant this tree when grown to a good size by cutting off the leaves and the roots close to the stem, taking care not to injure the bark in any way, but I have never been able to make anything larger than small plants with a few leaves grow.

Along the shores of Biscayne Bay and for some distance to the northward there grows a dwarf I nodes (I. megacarpa) in rocky or sandy pine land, which is believed by some to be a depauperate form of the common cabbage palmetto. The trunk of this form is either prostrate or bent back deep into the ground, from whence it rises to the surface where it throws out a head of leaves. Its larger seeds and peculiar manner of growth would seem to be good distinguishing characters. If given plenty of fertilizer this makes a fine object, and, with the saw palmetto, is very useful for forming low screens along the sea.

The Despised Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Serrulata)

The Despised Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Serrulata), when given room and a little care, makes fine clumps and can be used with highly decorative effect, especially at the border of large groups of palms. There are several varieties of it, just as there are of the cabbage palmetto. One of them has leaves of a glaucous, bluish tint, in another they are brilliant green; and there are forms which are almost arboreal.