The Palm. 



CHAPTER IY. 



PALM-TREES. THE DATE. 



A FTER the trees of which we have spoken and 

 "" which are mainly remarkable for their singularity, 

 it is but right that we should begin our description of 

 the vegetable world with the illustrious and ancient 

 family of palms. 



The " dynasty of palms," to use an expression of 

 Linngeus, reigns over the tropical regions of our earth 

 and occupies the highest rank among plants. This 

 supremacy is due to them on account of their rich 

 foliage, their beauty and elegance, and still more on 

 account of the important services which they render 

 the inhabitants of the Tropics. For these palms act- 



