MANY OR SPECIAL PURPOSES 343 



of the rattan palms is illustrated in homes the 

 world over. Split rattan canes are the splints 

 woven into seats and backs of chairs and couches. 

 All kinds of be'autiful furniture are made up with 

 rattan weaving. It is a combination of strength 

 and lightness, lace-like delicacy of pattern and 

 color, that makes for comfort, especially in warm 

 climates, where solid wood or metal furniture 

 require stuffy cushions. Cane seats are cool and 

 elastic. 



The round rattan canes are used for many pur- 

 poses; whip stocks, walking sticks, and hoops. 

 Split into splints they are made into baskets, fish 

 nets, weirs, and brooms. 



THE IVORY PALM 



A low-growing palm of South America, fruits in 

 a "head" of hard, heavy clustered capsules, con- 

 taining four to ten hard, ivory-like seeds, each the 

 size of a hen's egg. The texture of the seed is 

 much like the ivory of the elephant's tusk, and is 

 used in making buttons, and carved into orna- 

 ments of various kinds. 



THE SUGAR PALMS 



A traveller in the East Indies describes the 

 making of sugar from the true sugar palm and the 



