i8 9 7. 



* • ' GARDENING. 



*53 



THE TRAVELER'S TREE. (Ravenala Madagascat ieiisis.) 



cells about one-half inch cube filled with a 

 clear watery sap which affords a refresh- 

 ing drink, whence the name, "Traveler's 

 Tree," usually given to Kavenala Mada- 

 gascariensis in botanical gardens. The 

 same cellular structure is observable in 

 the sheathing leaf stalk of the bananas 

 but on a smaller scale. 



An early French traveler specially 

 describes the important part which 

 the ravenala plays in the domestic 

 economy of the natives of Madagascar. 

 The large fibrous leaves cut into rectan- 



gular pieces, serve them for dishes or" 

 platters, plates, glasses and spoons. At 

 meals they take in each hand one of these 

 pieces of leaf which they fold or roll into 

 the shape of a cornet, then seating them- 

 selves around a leaf on which is placed a 

 quantity of rice or other food they fill the 

 cornet in the left hand from the platter, 

 pour it into that in the right hand with 

 which they convey the food to the mouth. 

 The leaves cut or folded lengthwise 

 along the mid-rib are used to roof their 

 cabins and form a covering healthy, cool 



and efficient in excluding solar heat. The 

 foot-stalks deprived of the leaves and 

 spitted together grille-fashion form parti- 

 tions for their cabins, strong, cool and 

 sufficiently obstructive of sound. Finally 

 the bark of the tree detached from the 

 trunk and flattened is generally used for 

 the floors of their huts. 



The leaves in the illustration seem very 

 much torn by the wind as leaves of the 

 banana are also likely to be when grown 

 out doors in exposed positions. 



John Higgins. 



