FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



jumper is also becoming rare, from the reckless 

 way in which the trees have been cut to be used 

 for torches. The fragrant red wood is split into 

 lengths, and several bound together, for this pur- 

 pose. In gardens their dense growth makes them 

 admirably suited to form an arbour, in the absence 

 of the ubiquitous mirante, as they provide shelter 

 from the wind and perfect shade. 



Another evergreen tree, which, though not a 

 native tree, is very commonly to be seen in and 

 about the town of Funchal, is the Ficus comosa, 

 which, as its name implies, is a beautiful tree, 

 though, from its having such far-spreading hungry 

 roots, it is more suited to the roadside than to 

 gardens. A peculiarity of the tree is the slender- 

 ness of its stem in comparison to the immense 

 length and weight of its very spreading branches ; 

 its bark is a very light grey colour, and is in 

 admirable contrast to the very smooth and shining 

 leaves, which are dark green above and pale 

 beneath, produced in masses on the slender rather 

 hanging branchlets. Two very fine specimens of 

 these trees stand alone on the Rodondo, near the 

 Quinta das Cruzes, from where a very fine view of 

 the town is to be seen from under their immense 

 spreading branches. 



