236 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Berries yellowish or reddish, larger than in P. pusilla. Where this 

 Palin abounds much sugar is obtained from it by evaporation of 

 the sap, which flows from incisions into the upper part of the trunk 

 a process not sacrificing the plant, as for twenty years the sap 

 can thus be withdrawn. This Palm sugar consists almost entirely 

 of Cane sugar. A kind of arrack is obtained by fermentation and 

 distillation of this sap, and also from the young spikes. Each plant 

 furnishes the juice for about 8 Ibs. of date sugar annually, but in 

 some instances much more. About 50,000 tons of sugar are pro- 

 duced a year in Bengal alone from this and some other palms. The 

 leaves are used for mats. It lives in drier regions than other 

 Indian palms. 



Phoenix spinosa, Thonning. 



Tropical Africa, ascending mountain regions, thus perhaps hardy. 

 Dr. Kirk found the green bunches, if immersed in water for half a 

 day, suddenly to assume a scarlet hue, and then the astringent pulp 

 to become edible and sweet. 



Phormium tenax, J. R and G. Forster.* 



The Flax Lily of New Zealand, where it occurs as far south as 

 46 30', occurring also in the Chatham Islands and Norfolk Island, 

 though not on Lord Howe's Island. It is also found in the Auck- 

 land islands, nearly 51 south (Schur). It flowered in several 

 places in England in exposed positions, and was not affected by 

 severe frost (Masters). It seems important that this valuable 

 plant should be brought universally under culture, particularly on 

 any inferior spare ground, or on the sea-beaches or any rocky 

 declivity, where it may be left unprotected to itself, as no grazing 

 animal will touch it. It is evident that the natural up-growth will 

 soon be inadequate to the demand for the plant. It is adapted for 

 staying bush fires when planted in hedgerows. Merely torn into 

 shreds the leaves serve at once in gardens and vineyards as cordage, 

 and for this purpose, irrespective of its showy aspect, the Phor- 

 mium has been distributed from the Botanic Garden of Melbourne 

 since the last twenty years. From the divided roots any plantation 

 can gradually be increased, or this can be done more extensively 

 still by sowing the seeds. In all likelihood the plant would thrive 

 and become naturalized in the Auckland and Campbell's Group, in 

 Kerguelen's Land, the Falkland Islands, the Shetland Islands, and 

 many continental places of both hemispheres. It proved hardy in 

 "England. Among the varieties three are better characterized than 

 the rest : the Tehore, the Swamp, and the Hill variety. The first 

 and the last mentioned produce a fibre fine and soft, yet strong, 

 and the plants attain a height of only about 5 feet, whereas the 

 Swamp variety grows to double that height, producing a larger 



