19 



know that there is a mistake — in manuring, it is that we have 

 been putting out too much bone. There is five times the amount 

 of potash removed that there is of phosphoric acid, and we have 

 applied no potash. We have applied bone and poonac. Bone 

 contains 23 per cent, of phosphoric acid. In 2 cwt. of bone we 

 have 20 times as much phosphoric acid as we really require. It 

 is a very large amount of phosphoric acid that has been applied 

 to the estate in proportion to the potash and nitrogen. Potash 

 has been particularly disregarded in former years, and now they 

 may apply very much potash. 



THE TALIPOT PALM. 



The famous Talipot Palm (Corypha umbraculifera) is a native 

 of Ceylon and the Malabar Coast. In Ceylon it is rather common 

 in the moist region up to 2,000 feet altitude. 



It has an erect, straight, cylindrical trunk 30 to over 80 feet 

 high. The measurements of a specimen that flowered at Peradeniya, 

 Ceylon, were as follows : — Height of stem 84 feet, of flower 

 panicle 21 feet, total 105 feet; girth at 3 feet from the ground 

 round the persistent bases of the leaves 13 ft. y inches, at 21 feet 

 from the ground 8 feet 3 inches ; age about 40 years. The tree 

 dies after once flowering and fruiting. 



The trunk is surmounted by a crown of gigantic fan-like leaves. 

 These leaves have prickly stalks 5 to lo feet long, and when 

 fully expanded form a nearly complete circle of 8 to 16 feet in 

 diameter, and composed of 80 to 100 radiating segments, joined 

 together and plaited like a fan till near the extremity, where they 

 separate and form a fringe of double points. 



The leaves are made into fans, mats, and umbrellas, and are 

 used for writing on. They are also largely employed for thatch- 

 ing. "The leaf being dried is very strong and limber, and most 

 wonderfully made for man's convenience to carry along with them ; 

 for though this leaf be thus broad (enough to cover 15 or 20 men) 

 when it is open, it will fold close like a lady's fan, and then it is 

 no bigger than a man's arm ; it is wonderfully light." (Knox.) 



A bread is made of the pounded soft interior of the trunk. The 

 seeds have the hardness of ivory, and are known as Bazarbatu 

 nuts ; they are used as beads in Ceylon, and largely in the 

 manufacture of buttons in Europe. The young fruit pounded is 

 used for stupefying fish. 



Visitors to the old Botanic Garden at Bath a few years ago will 

 remember the fine specimen that existed there. It fruited in 1902, 

 and then died. 



A supply of seeds was obtained and plants raised from these 

 may now be had from Hope Gardens. 



The Talipot is not suited for small gardens, but where space can 

 be spared for it on a lawn it will grow into a noble tree. 



