198 Mr Robert Lindsay on some of the Palms 



the largest is a fine specimen of Zivistona chinensis. The 

 height of this tree in 1858 was 42 feet ; in 1875, 45 feet ; 

 and it is now 49 feet high, showing an increase of 7 feet 

 in twenty-seven years. The circumference of the stem at 

 tlie base was 6 feet in 1875 ; it is now 6 feet 3 inches. It 

 has a clear upright stem, 33 feet in height up to where the 

 lowermost leaf is given ofi", and is in vigorous health for 

 so old a plant. Of Seaforthia elegans there are two plants, 

 now nearly equal in every respect. In 1858 the taller one 

 measured 26 feet in height ; both plants are now 47 feet 

 6 inclies in height (an increase of 21 feet 6 inches in twenty- 

 seven years). They have clear stems 30 feet high, and 

 their circumference at the base is 3 feet 3 inches. For 

 the latter measurements there exist no data for comparison. 

 There are eleven fully-developed leaves on each plant, 

 averaging 14 feet in length. These two fine trees are in 

 vigorous health, and are likely to go on improving for 

 years to come. Corypha australis in 1858 measured 23 

 feet in height ; it is now 41 feet. It has a clear stem of 

 20 feet 4 inches, and measures 3 feet 3 inches at the base. 

 Phoenix reclinata in 1858 was 20 feet liigh ; it is now 30 

 feet 4 inches, with a clear stem of 14 feet, the circumfer- 

 ence at the base being 1 foot 7 inches. The leaves are 11 

 feet 6 inches in length, mostly curved downwards, and 

 forming a fine canopy of foliage. The most remarkable 

 of the older Palms is the well-known example of Sabal 

 umhraculifera, the Bull Palm of the West Indies. This 

 grand tree was 30 feet high in 1858, and it is now 36 feet 

 4 inches. In 1858 the circumference of the stem at the 

 base was said to be 5 feet 6 inches ; ten years later 5 feet 

 4 inches is given ; it is now 5 feet 3 inches ; it seems 

 difficult to explain how this has happened. In 1874 it had 

 a clear stem of 14 feet, and the circumference below where 

 the lowermost leaf is given off was 3 feet. It has now 

 17 feet 4 inches of a clear stem, and the circumference at 

 the top is 3 feet 1 inch. Tlie greatest difference occurs in 

 the length of the leaves, which was then 16 feet, the leaf- 

 stalk being 10 feet, and the blade 6 feet long by 5 feet 6 

 inches broad ; now the leaves measure 12 feet 6 inches, 

 viz., 7 feet of leafstalk, and 5 feet 6 inches of blade; there 

 is an increase, however, in the breadth, which is now 6 feet 



