166 



The Silk Cotton tree is an especially good example, for the but- 

 tresses so common at the base of the trunk of this and many other 

 trees in Trinidad will as a rule be seen to be thrown out, directly 

 below, and apparently for the support of, the weight of overhanging 

 branches. In Kerner and Oliver's Natural History of Plants the 

 subject of the formation of the parts of plants for some particular 

 purpose is well treated, and many uses of the various parts of plants 

 are clearly described. 



Palms for instance, which require water near or closely sur- 

 rounding the stems will be found to possess leaves which catch and 

 conduct the water down the stem itself. This is often taken advantage 

 of by natives who arrange on the stems of Palms small spouts which 

 carry the water into receptacles placed for the purpose of storing it 

 for household use. 



With other plants which require water at a distance from the 

 stem, leaves are to be found so constructed as to deposit the water 

 exactly where it is required. 



The subject is especially interesting to the plant student, and 

 even to the amateur. 



One of the curiosities of a Tropical Garden is the so called " Tra- 

 vellers' Palm " Bavenala Madagascariensis. This in reality is not a 

 Palm at all. A tale is told that the name originated from the quan- 

 tity of water which is collected by the leaves and stored in the base 

 of their hollow axils for the benefit of travellers in a dry country. 

 That the water is so stored, is a fact ; but that it is intended to serve 

 the traveller in a thirsty land, is rather discounted by the fact that 

 the plant itself will not grow in dry district, but requires a situation 

 where there is an abundant rainfall, and that when dry weather 

 occurs, the water in the axils becomes ropy and almost putrid. The 

 character of the receptacle however is one which prevents eva- 

 poration and water would remain for lengthy intervals, even during 

 a season of excessive drought, and might possibly be the means of 

 saving the life of a thirsty traveller. In all such stories there is 

 generally an element of truth, and the writer must admit that it is 

 quite possible for a traveller's life to have been saved by the Ravenala, 

 but the evidence per contra would appear to be sufficiently strong to 

 render the tale a doubtful one at the best. 



That the form of the stem is however framed to serve a useful 

 purpose is a proposition which can be fully proved, but it is generally 

 more for the purpose of maintaining and benefiting the plant itself, 

 than directly for the use of mankind. 



682.-PHOSPHORIC ACID REQUIRED BY CACAO. 



This matter has recently been treated from the purely chemical 

 standpoint. It is the object of the writer to discuss it from the 

 Agricultural point of view. 



2. It is reported that some 35,000,000 lbs. of cacao are exported 

 from Trinidad, and analysis shows that in this quantity, there is 

 taken away some 51o,200 lbs. or 230 tons of phosphoric acid. It is 



