For January, 1922 



31 



Here and There 



THE COCOANUT PALM 



On account of its varied products the 

 cocoanut (Cocos nucifera) is the most im- 

 portant of all cultivated palms. It is esti- 

 mated that the world's output ot the two 

 cocoanut products, copra and coir, before 

 the late war, was 50 per cent .sjreater than 

 ihat of rubber and only 40 per cent less than 

 that of gold. The cocoanut is widely culti- 

 \atcd near the sea in all tropical countries 

 where the average temperature is 70° ¥ . 

 and where there is no great variation in 

 temperature between seasons. Owing to the 

 thick fibrous outer covering. of the fruit the 

 entire nut will float and retain its power 

 of germination for a considerable time, 

 which no doubt has been a factor in its 

 distribution along seashores. .\s its nearest 

 relatives are all native of -America it is be- 

 lieved, despite its very wide geographical 

 distribution, that the cocoanut palm is of 

 .American origin. However, it is said to be 

 indigenous to the Cocos or Keeling Islands 

 of the Indian Ocean and to have been car- 

 ried westward in prehistoric times. It was 

 cultivated in Polynesia and Malaya for an 

 edilde crop before its discovery by Euro- 

 peans. 



In tropical countries where the cocoanut 

 is grown practically every part of the tree 

 is used in some form by the natives. The 

 roots are used as a medicine, particularly 

 as an astringent, and are frequently chewed 

 as a substitute for the betel or areca nut. 

 They are also used in basket-making, being 

 interwoven with fiber. The trunk, when 

 mature, develops a very hard e.xternal cov- 

 ering which is used in native hut building 

 and is occasionally exported for cabinet 

 work under the name of porcupine wood. 

 It takes a high polish and is recognized bv 

 its peculiar ebony-like streaks irregularly 

 disposed over a reddish-brown ground. The 

 young leaves, particularly tlie leaf bud, is 

 much sought for as a vegetable or salad, 

 and the mature leaves are put to many uses, 

 such as mats, baskets, shingles for native 

 huts, fences, clothing, and ornaments. The 

 leaf-stalks or petioles are made into tool 

 handles and when cut into short lengths and 

 frayed at one end are used as brushes. The 

 midveins of the leaves furnish a strong fiber 

 whicli is very desirable for basket-makin.g, 

 strainers, and native fishing tackle. The 

 large fibrous triangular-woven sheaths w'hich 

 surround the trunk and the base of the leaf- 

 stalks are cut into various shapes to form 

 mats. The fibrous coverings of the flower 

 spikes, when dried, are used as torches and 

 when twisted and soaked in water are made 

 into coarse rope. 



The mature nuts enter into the composi- 

 tion of various native sweetmeats and cur- 

 ries. The water enclosed within the unripe 

 fruit is a cool refreshing drink that is much 

 appreciated in most tropical countries and 

 constitutes the only available drinking water 

 in some of the smaller oceanic islands. 

 Cocoanut milk is prepared by grating the 

 white meat, mixing it with water and sub- 

 sequently straining the mixture through 

 cloth, the so-called milk consisting of the 

 oil in suspension with a little mucilage and 

 su.gar. It is extensively used in India as a 

 substitute for cow's miik. 



The cocoanut enters into the snnerstltions 

 of the natives of the Malaya-Polyresian re- 

 gion. Murray tells of a tribe of canm'bals. 

 among whom it is not proper for the slaver 

 to partake of his victim, this privilese be- 

 ing reserved for his companions, but he may 

 eat the heart, if during the cour.se of his 

 meal he sits on one cocoanut and balances 

 himself with his feet on two others. — G. H. 

 Priiig, Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin. 



wgm 



The 1922 Ten-Ten Book 

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Tliis new Ten-Ten Book lia- 

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 year's with a lot of new ones 

 iie.sidc. 



Again we've liste«l the ten 

 hest of evervthin" for j^arden 



You can make your selections 

 without a lot of fussing 

 through arm-long lists. 



Both common and botanical 

 names are given, with just the 

 (leseription and prices you 

 want to know about. 



Here i> « list of jiisl a feu of the headings: 



1. Ten Annual Flowers 

 for Cutting. 



2. Ten Annuals for Dry, 

 Sunny Spots. 



3. Ten Perennial Seeds 

 for Spring Sowing. 



4. Ten Hardy Phloxes. 



.1. Ten Plants for Home 

 Deroration. 



6. Ten Plants for Paved 

 Walks. 



7. Ten Shrubs for 

 Hedges and Boundary 

 Planting. 



8. Ten Evergreens for 

 Foundation Planting. 



9. Ten Choice Apples. 

 10. Ten Choice Peaches. 



Send (or your copy of the Ten-Ten Book 

 now; it is free. Then order early. 



uliuS* T^eKr5* Ca 



Ai Thg Si^ of Thg 'E'go 

 Box 2 



For Spring Planting 



Rhododendron Catawbiense 

 Rhododendron Carolinianum 

 Rhodendron Maximum 

 Katmia Latifolia 

 Fruit Trees and Fruit Plants 



Correspondence solicited. 

 Price lists upon request, 



THE MORRIS NURSERY CO. 



n33 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 



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Florists. Market Gardeners and I'm if Grou.-rs 

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Makers of FARMOGERM. the "biggest result produc- 

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HERE'S A WATER LILY 



j BOOKLET FOR YOU | 



I Pictures four beautiful Lilies in i 



I natural colors; tells how to make a | 



f Water Lily pool and what varieties I 



I to grow in it. You can succeed | 



I with these lovely flowers in your | 



I own garden if you have this booklet | 



I — send for it now. I 



I WILLIAM THICKER | 



I Water Lily Specialist | 



f 664 Forest St., Arlington, N. J. 



ARE YOU INTERESTED 



in 

 Perennial plants, 

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 ' Gladioli — 400 varieties, 

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Write for lists. 



RALPH E. HUNTINGTON 

 Painesville, Ohio 



