145 



their first leaves. Acting on the information obtained, an order was 

 sent to Mauritius during the present year with the result that in 

 October twelve fresh nuts were safely delivered at the Gardens, in 

 growing condition. 



Prior to the discovery of the Sechelles Islands in 1743, the home 

 of the palm which bears these nuts was unknown, but the nuts them- 

 selves had been frequently found floating upon the Eastern seas ; 

 hence the name Goco-de-mer. The tree is said to attain to one hun- 

 dred feet in height, and to take thirty years to produce its first fruit. 

 The leaves are described as being upwards of twenty feet in length 

 and twelve feet in width. It is to be hope therefore that from the 

 seed now introduced, several plants of this most interesting palm may 

 be successfully raised. 



The nuts are over a foot in length and as much in width, and 

 weigh some eight to ten pounds. It is stated in some descriptions 

 that from one to three of these nuts are contained in a single fruit 

 which will itself weigh as much as 40 lbs. avoirdupois. 



A specimen of the nut shell has recently been presented to the 

 Victoria Institute. In the east, these nuts are converted into various 

 domestic utensils, and drawing room ornaments, the leaves of the palm 

 are made into hats, baskets, cigar cases, &c., and the wood serves 

 many useful purposes. 



Those nuts which had already germinated have been planted out 

 in suitable positions in the Royal Botanic Gardens and one is now 

 showing its leaf above ground. 



21st March, 1896. 



180.-ROBBERY AND MURDER. 



In the vegetable kingdom, as in the animal kingdom, there is a 

 regular system of robbery going on, and morality as understood for 

 the animal kingdom is a thing unknown. The strongest and the 

 "fittest" survives at the expense of its weaker brother, and it needs 

 the hand of man to institute a strict harmony of relations between 

 cultivated plants. This cannot however be done except when guided 

 by long experience and study of their requirements. "We know well 

 that the " Bois Immortel" or " Madre de Cacao" takes nothing away 

 from the Cacao tree even if their roots intertwine ; it is believed to 

 afford nutriment or moisture to the cacao, and certainly affords it 

 protection against the rays of the sun. The assimilation of Free 

 Nitrogen by plants has long exercised the minds of Chemists and 

 Botanists, and it has now been shown that Leguminous plants are, 



