166 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



of leaves with which it is crowned, give it a 

 very majestic appearance. The leaves are 

 of a brilliant green, and spread out like a fan ; 

 these leaves are of different sizes, from twelve 

 inches to five feet long, and are borne upon 

 stems nearly two feet in length, all springing 

 together from the very top of the tree; the leaves 

 are so arranged that the smallest grow in the 

 centre, and the largest spread out around, so 

 that the summit of the tree is quite round, and 

 of a regular shape, like a wheel or an um- 

 brella. When the leaves are young they are 

 folded up just like a fan, and spread out as they 

 grow older. It is the base of the leaf that is 

 eaten ; that is, the part where all the stalks 

 or sticks grow close together, like the sticks 

 of a fan ; it is white and tender, and makes 

 a very good salad. Do you see the clusters 

 of little black berries growing among the 

 leaves ?" 



" Yes, sir ; they seem to be very small for 

 such a large tree. They are the fruit, I sup- 

 pose ; are they good to eat, Uncle Philip?" 



" No, not at all. They are about as large 

 as a pea ; and before they appear, the stems 

 on which they hang are covered with clusters 

 of little green flowers." 



