64 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
* 
from the Palms in India till Mr. Strachan furnished us with the valua- 
ble details we have given in our first volume of this Miscellany, and 
till he presented the beautiful drawing and the model, and the imple- ` 
ments illustrative of this operation, to our Kew Museum. 
It was with a view of correcting an erroneous notion prevalent in 
Ceylon that the Toddy was extracted from Palm-trees by incision, that 
Mr. Ferguson was led to study the whole history of this noble Palm 
(Borassus flabelliformis), and to give the result of his inquiries to the 
world by a full description, printed in Ceylon, accompanied by several 
wood-engravings, also executed in the island, by a native artist : thus 
giving encouragement to art as wellas to science in the colony. 
The work commences with a full botanical description, in English, 
and in popular language ; then the synonyms, including all the Indian 
names. The geographical distribution comes next; the value of the 
Palmyra at Jaffna, and in other parts of India; the products of the 
tree and of every part of the tree, and the uses of the several parts ; 
the mode of extracting Toddy, Jagary, &e. ; its cultivation, &e. &e. ; 
concluding with miscellaneous notes and observations on an extended 
scale. Nothing seems omitted that can tend to complete our knowledge 
of the Palmyra Palm, which seems second any in importance to the 
Cocoa-nut. 
The woodcuts add much to the value of the work. We have—1. A 
plate devoted to the Palm in its various stages of growth. 2. The 
flowers and fruit, with a native knife, and style used for writing, and a 
book of Palmyra leaves. 3. The third plate represents a Banyan- 
tree, which so often entwines and seems to unite with the Palmyra 
Palm. This is a very bold and clever sketch of A. Nichol, Esq., 
A.R.H.A., and the woodcut is by the native artist, Juel de Sylva (who 
executed the woodcuts). 4. Represents the union of the Banyan 
with the Palmyra. 5. Shows the “well-sweep” for raising water, 
made of the trunk of this Palm. 6. A Palmyra-leaf, and “ Kelingoos,” 
~ . or young Palms for planting: and lastly we have, if not a plate, what 
. is more interesting than that, a specimen of a Palmyra-leaf, as used 
for writing upon with a style, having an inscription on it in English 
-= We trust that Mx. Ferguson, who is now in England, will on his 
return to. Ceylon give us further accounts of other useful vegetable 
-productions. 
