Show Floridas Cabbrso Tree HOne H-One of the most peculiar trecsjin Florida is the cabbage tree It is one of the most valuable of Floridas products Jusjiwhy it should be called cabbage I do not know unless it is that the long straight trunk surmounted by a cluster of leaves tesem bbs somewhat a seedling cabbage plantlJ1J The tree in fact belongs to the palme fj I family It grows to n heightvaryinc from twenty to forty feet anil there is i scarcely an inch difference in tilediameter from the roots up to the leaves J The leaves or bayonets all grow ina cluster at the ton The wood is very porous and extremely light it resembles cork more than wood Its value lies in the fact that it is utterly impervious to the ravages of salt water nail barnacles which quickly destroy all other natural woods Hence the cabbage tree is much sought after for posts and piles for building bridges and wharves in salt water Pino piles that are used in building through salt water have to be creosoted in order to preserve them any length of time and the process is avery a-very expensive one but the cabbage wood neeus no application of any sort The Florida < supply is fast becoming exhausted and there will soon bs but little of it left Cor New York Star |