Nature Not Always the Best Planter.

Manawatu Herald, 7 April 1904, Page 4

Nature Not Always the Best Planter.

Although not generally recognized in ! botanical and horticultural works, Meeban’s Monthly says it is simply a fact that > nature does not 'always places plants in the !' localities best suited to their development. Swamp trees, fox’ instance —taees which , grow partly in water —grow a great deal hotter, more vigorously and every way appatently more happily when they can find i,. themselves in dry ground, for specimens i of maples, willows, sweet gums and other supposed swamp trees are always found in comparatively dry ground. What is known as tho Bermuda lily is another case in point. This is a native of Japan, really { ■ Lillum longiflorum, but nowhere does it , . grow in such luxuriance as in tho islands t of Bermuda, where it was accidentally in--I,' troduced or escaped from cultivation a great many years ago. So great is its lux- [■ urianco that it lias been recognized as a ■T, distinct variety from tho Japan plant and t is known in cultivation ns Lilium har- | rlsli, having been first made known to culls ■ tivators about 10 years ago. Many other fe illustrations might be given to show that fe nature does not always arrange that plants should naturally bo found In places the E l !.' best suited to their growth. .