106 American Ilortlcullural Society. 



(date), the Desmoncus pninifer, with a subacid sweet flesh, the GuiUehna 

 speciosa and others. Still others are covered with neat scale;*, like the fruit 

 of a pine or a j)ine-apple.as in Lepidocarynn), Sagus, Calamus, Kaphia, JJes- 

 nioncus, Maiiritia, etc. 



The i)ahns concentrate themselves in tropical regions, where we meet 

 with the greatest number and the greatest diversity : these diminihh as the 

 lines of Cancer and Capricorn are reached, and still decrease as those limi»8 

 are passed. The most northern limit in America is about 34° north lati- 

 tude, and the southern 36° south latitude. 



The most blessed countries on the earth, which harbor the palms in 

 their greatest abundance, beauty and variety, are, in America, the countries 

 on the Amazon and the Orinoco; in the old world. Farther India and the 

 Sunda islands. 



In earlier periods the palms flourished much further north and south, 

 and where now the dreary {)ine and spruce grow and raise their dark heads 

 stood formerly rich palm forests, as is abundantly proveil by their fossiliza- 

 tions in the coal measures. 



The number of the known and yet living palms amounts to about 1,500 

 species, of, according to V. Martins, 64 genera, and according to Dr. Wendt- 

 land 119 genera; but as many countries in the interior of Africa, etc.. 

 are not yet accessible to the botanist, it is supposed that their number will 

 be increased to about 1,600 species. 



How much more might be said on this almost inexhaustible subject I 

 must leave to contemplation. I can only trust I have not exhausted your 

 patience in what I have thus presented before you for your indulgent recep- 

 tion on fcuch an occasion as this. 



DISCUSSION ON I'ALMS. 



President Earlc, of lllinoi.s — '1 hi.s i.s a unique and iutere.'^ting 

 pa])er, and I can only regret the absence of its able autlxu-. 



Prof. Levwion, of California — California has two native palms. 

 The Washington, one of the finest of the fan j)alms, succeeds in all 

 the warm valleys of the state. Its native home is at the soutli, at 

 the foot of the San Bernardino Moinitains, in what is Unown as 

 Palm valley. Some of the finest specimens of this s})ecies in the 

 state may be .seen in this city. Naturally, its majestic columiiai' 

 i)0(ly is left rough and rather unsightly for a number oi' years by 

 the retention of its leaf stalks. This may be remedied by shaving 

 them off without injury to the tree. The second species is al-o a 

 native of Lower California, l)iit is neither so conspicuous nor hardy 

 a-^ the Wa^hintjton. As Dr. Albrecht has well said, thcic are no 



