18 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



written on purpose. Can you tell me now 

 which is the most useful tree in the world ?" 



" The most useful, Uncle Philip ? I think 

 I have heard our schoolmaster say it was 

 cocoanut." 



" Well, boys, I suppose it is ; the natives 

 of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, where the 

 cocoanut is found, make use of every part of 

 it for one purpose or another ; and this single 

 tree supplies them with food, drink, clothing, 

 and materials for building ; the wood is ex- 

 cellent timber, and good fuel ; the leaves 

 are used to make the roofs of the houses ; the 

 fibres and the soft inner bark are made 

 by the natives into cloth ; and you know how 

 good the nut is to eat, I dare say." 



" But, Uncle Philip, how do they get theii 

 drink from the cocoanut ?" 



" Why, the water, or milk as some people 

 call it, that fills the hollow of the nut, is most 

 delicious ; better than all the beer and cider 

 in the world, because it is pleasant to the 

 taste, and when fresh does not make people 

 drunk. But it is time for us to come back to 

 the trees of our own country." 



" Stop a moment if you please, Uncle Philip ; 

 I want to ask one other question You said 



