199 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
to collect such specimens of vegetable origin, not exhibited by the living 
plant, as shall afford information on the different uses that mankind 
derives from plants. The individual plant to which at this moment 
we direct attention is one of the Palms, the family which perhaps 
administers most to the various wants of mankind, and is of the 
greatest importance. A multitude of Palms yield in their fruits a 
wholesome and nourishing food, as the Date and the Cocoa-nut, of 
which latter the Hindoos celebrate in verse the 365 several uses it 
affords to man. The Cabbage of the Palm consists of the young 
tender leaf-buds of various species. A wine is abundantly derived 
from some kinds, an ardent spirit and valuable oils from others, while 
the hard nuts and almost equally hard trunks are employed for innu- 
merable purposes. The Palms yield food, clothing, and materials for 
building. Those who reside in tropical countries are familiar with 
these things; and more use is made of Palms even in England than the 
public are generally aware of, and which we may show probably on 
future occasions. 
At this time we shall allude to one important service rendered by a 
species of Palm. Few have walked the streets of London without 
remarking that of late years those streets are, in places at least, kept 
peculiarly neat and clean, by the stiff fibres of a new material for 
making brushes and brooms; those of the machines, as well as those 
employed by hand; and if any one is asked what be the origin of this 
fibre, the frequent reply is, ‘whalebone, I suppose.” But no; it is 
not of animal, but vegetable origin, the coarse fibre of a species of 
Palm, which grows abundantly in Brazil, and is imported to Europe 
extensively from Pará, tied up in bundles of several feet in length and 
sold at the price of £14. the ton, under the native name of ** Piagaba.” 
A reference to our figure (the reduced representation of the Palm and 
leaf-stalks [f. 1 and 2] copied from Martius’ rare and splendid work on 
alms), will show what part of the plant affords this curious material, 
which according to its stoutness and tenacity is employed for cordage 
and mats as well as for brooms and brushes. The dilated base of the 
leaf-stalks separates into a.long coarse fringe, which is collected by. the 
natives and used in the country or pee to ipoe f = peppe 
above-mentioned, and now constitute 
The fruit, or nuts, are another article of commerce, long brought 
into England under the name of Coquilla nuís, and extensively used 
for various kinds of turnery-work, especially in making the handles of 
