“ISLE OF DREAMS”

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 9

“ISLE OF DREAMS”

BEAUTIFUL POftTO RSfiO WEALTH 0F PLANT LIFE Porto Rico, now recovering slowly from the effects of the disastrous humcane, has been called the “Isle of Dreams,” States the ‘ New York Times.’ The novel forms of plant life, the almost unbroken succession, of balmy golden clays, tiro constant sighing of the trade wind in the trees, ail give a newcomer from the temperate zone the feeling that it is not quite real. Life there is so easy, agreeable, oeaoefui. that he feels sometimes as if Tie were in a trance, far removed .from actuality . The vegetation of Porto Rico is or fascinating interest to the plant student. Besides many varieties of palm trees, there are bitter almonds, mangoes, oranges, limes, and grapefruit. One finds a thrill or novelty in sending a yard-boy shinning up one’s own cocoanut tree to get a cocoanut for dessert. At first one is surprised to, see limes instead of lemons used for iced tea and on fish, but one comes to prefer limes on account of their finer flavour and their cheapness. They sell at four for 1 cent, and are brought to the door by native vendors. Oranges ordinarily cost 6 cents a dozen. The mango is one of the beautiful tropical trees. It is in thick foliage all the year round; its leaves are a rich, glossy green. The fruit, somewhat oval in shape, hangs at the end of a stem at least a foot long, limp as a shoe lace. Then there is the Santa Maria tree, with purplish pink bed-shaped blossoms. Another interesting Porto Rican plant is the vine called Corazon do Sombre (“ Man’s Love ”). This luxuriant vine has long, narrowy, dull green leaves, bearing clusters of tubular blossoms ending in an irregular number of petals somewhat like those of a daisy. The flower, of a waxy texture, is at first pure white; later faint streaks of pink appear, gradually spreading until the whole blossom is a lovely shade of coral. This deepens finally into blood red, whence tho poetic name expressive of its evolution. A remarkable tree is the manzanilla, or “ little apple,” from which emanates a poison so subtle that weary travellers stopping to rest under its inviting shade are said to have never waked again. Still another is the ylangylang, specimens of which shed their fragrance over the charming Plaza at Ponce, on the south coast. The frangipani, from wliich is made a costly perfume, grows wild in the woods. Many kinds of cactus lay snares for the unwary. . Besides, there is the poralita vine, with clusters of clear, bright pink; the showy bougainville, the delicate plumbago, hibiscus, both red and pink, and tho brilliant poinsettia, _ which often reaches the second story windows of a dwelling. In the forests are graceful tree ferns, wild oranges, and tiny orchids far more exquisite than those in the florists’ shops. The cocoanut is one of Pqrto Rico s most useful trees. Tho juice of the green cocoanut is, much valued as a drink by the natives. American soldiers found it useful first in the, war with Spain. Frozen, with a little sugar added, it becomes a refreshing sherbet. Cocoanut ice cream is made from the milk of, the riper fruit, and an oven more delicious dainty is made by freezing a mixture of half cocoanut aiid half pineapple juice. , Porto Rico coffee is particularly aromatic. This year’s crop suffered heavily in the hurricane. The natives have their own way of coffee roasting, one which does not appeal to many Americans, They mix coffee with sugar and burn it, the process resulting in a strong, pungent flavour. Throughout the island main roads are fine and beautiful. Yanco road goes through the town of Yanco, whoso houses cling to the sides of its hills, and climbs to a point from winch the sea can be seen beyond. The American railroad skirts the island, and, while the trains are slow and inclined to linger at every town, it is a trip worth taking. On account of the mountainous character of tho island, the road is at times forced out almost to the water’s edge; in places the spray from the sea comes near dashing into tho windows.