Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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Due to their peculiar geological formation, the islands are devoid of fresh water springs and for water the people of the islands are dependent on the rainfall through the year, the rain being caught from the roofs of the houses in reservoirs installed in each house. The government has also established large reservoirs for its own use and for emergencies. All the cisterns are under the supervision of the Health Department and have to be cleaned and disinfected at least once a year and the roofs have to be kept under a whitewash. The limestone underlying the soil is soft before being exposed to air and can be cut readily into blocks, when taken from the quarries. Through exposure to the air the stone hardens and the blocks of limestone are used for the building of the houses on the islands for the roofs as well as the walls, giving a white and immaculate appearance to the entire settlement. The crushed limestone mixed with water is used for the making of smooth and solid roads. The result of seepage of water through the soil and the limestone into grottoes underneath the limestone formation in some part of the islands, have given origin to beautiful crystal caves where drops of water laden with concentrated lime have formed large and small glistening crystals, stalactites hanging down from the roof of the cavern and stalagmites, building up from the drip, to meet them. One can reach these caves through passage ways cut through the limestone, and electric lights unnoticeably attached, are lighting up the calcite formation on walls and roofs and the groups of artistic columns and curious shapes resembling human beings at times, making them scintillate and glisten, and suggesting fairyland. One of the caves has filled up partly with water, after the stalagmites had formed, these reaching up through the water now, and since the water is tidal and apparently connected with the ocean, pontoon bridges lead through the whole length of the cave. Returning to the surface of the islands and driving along the roads, one is greeted by the growth of cedars, a species of juniper typical of Bermuda, palms and tamarisk, lantanas and century plants, sending up their flower stems to the height of telegraph poles, hibiscus and oleanders, bryophyllums and large blue: morning glories, all of these growing wild along the roadside and around old quarries. Again they may be seen adorning gardens and pleasure grounds where they are mingling and rivalling in growth and bloom those of roses, bougainvilleas, many kinds of shrubs and in particular that of the brightly colored shrub, ‘Match-me-if-you-can” (Acalypha). The vegetables gardens will be found to produce all the vegetables of our climate. The Bermuda Department of Agriculture is trying out the various varieties of each kind of vegetable, in order to determine which of those in the market are best suited to its climate and soil, since one of the most important industries of the islands is the growing of early onions, beets, carrots and potatoes for the American markets. 11

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A Garden A Garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! Rose plot, Fringed pool, Fern’d grot— The veriest school Of peace; and yet the fool Contends that God is not— Not God! in Gardens! when the eve is cool? Nay, but I have a sign; ’Tis very sure God walks in mine.” J. E. Brown. Bermuda Through the Eyes of a Horticulturist If you have spent all your life in that part of the temperate region where the active growing season of plants is terminated by the arrival of the frost and snow of winter, and where man and beast have to provide for the winter by laying in stock, fuel and food, then you know of tropical and subtropical vegetation and climate only from accounts, written or spoken; or you may have received a glimpse of the vegetation in the corner of a private conservatory or in the conservatories of the Botanic Gardens in the cities. Since the region of the subtropical climate and the vegetation adapted to it stretches around the whole girth of the earth in zones north and south of the torrid zone, and as the vegetation in the different parts of these zones are modified by the relative distance from the equator, the various influences of atmosphere and water currents as well as relative location to the .oceans, altitude, geological formation and soil conditions,— it would take a long journey to become actually acquainted with the whole scope of subtropical vegetation. Therefore, if you desire to come in contact with subtropical climate and have only little time to spare, the Bermuda Islands with charms, origin, history, all their own should be your goal. A forty-eight-hour trip by boat from New York, covering nearly 700 miles, will take you to a group of coral islands out at sea, their geographical location being 32 deg. north and 64 deg. west. There are 365 islands in number, but only five of them are of importance now. These islands are built up by the coral building polypi on the top of an extinct volcano rising from the ocean. Crushed shells and lime mixed with sand and water under the influence of wind and weather are making the foundation of the islands. A thin layer of soil has accumulated from decomposing organic matter and sand, and plants adapted to conditions in Bermuda have become established. 10

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Easter lilies are also grown extensively for the Easter trade in the United States, and in January long beds of the new growth of the lilies can be seen pushing through the soil, promising a beautiful display around Easter. Patches of bananas can be seen everywhere extending from the gardens. The golf links near Tucker’s Town bear witness of the fact that beautiful turf may be grown under the sky of Bermuda. The- bright verdure contrasts effectively with the blue of ocean and sky. Agriculture cannot be carried on to any great extent, owing to the limited space on the islands. Cows, supplying the demand for milk can be seen pasturing in groves of cedars intersected by clearings grown to grass. A wonderful experience never to be forgotten is the visit to the sea-gardens, where through glass-bottom boats, gliding over coral reefs, one can view submarine flowers in great number, sea-fans in endless variety of forms, corals, sponges, anemones in rose, pink, brown and orange. Among them many kinds of fish of all sizes and colors are swimming about. And who are the fortunate inhabitants of Bermuda, who can enjoy all the attractions the year around? The population consists of about 7,000 white and 13,000 colored people. Members of the English army and navy and their families, the natives and tradesmen and the vast number of people engaged in the catering to the endless number of tourists, who are coming and going in a constant stream, make up the population of Bermuda. It seems that with this big crowd of people consumption far exceeds the production of the islands. Food products, dry goods, and other merchandise are supplied from England and the United States. Fortunately there is no room on the islands for industrial enterprises, leaving Bermuda its quaint and picturesque character which the Bermudians are determined to maintain, for automobiles and trolley cars are barred from the islands. Horse and carriage, and bicycles are the modes of conveyance. Some of the islands are connected by bridges and long rides may be taken to points of vantage, such as Tucker’s Lighthouse, where beautiful views of the many islands and channels with sailing yachts flitting in and out, with the harbor of Hamilton in the distance, may be seen. Bermuda may be called the vacationist’s paradise to attract the general public, for it offers all kinds of sport in an enchanting setting and atmosphere, conducive to rest and meditation, with the pleasure of hotel-life calling whenever you want a change. On the other hand Bermuda offers a vast field of study to the horticulturist, for he is not only interested in the culture of plants proper, but to be truly interested his query reaches down to the soil and its formation as fundamental for the makeup of plants, making the study of geology incidental. Then the interest may be focussed on the economic value of plants. Every 12