Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 373 



borings in the interior of the Sahara, where the temperature in some 

 places ranges from 14 to 104 F. The importation of dates during 

 1885 into Britain was 5,000 tons. Northern limit of the date 35 

 north latitude. Into Central Australia the date-palm was first intro- 

 duced by the writer of this work, where it commenced to bear fruit 

 at the age of 8 years, and passed unhurt through years of tremendous 

 drought and with the scantiest supply of bad water [Rev. H. Kempe]. 

 It grows amazingly near the Gulf of Carpentaria [Joseph O'Reilley]. 

 The culture extends in Asia northward to Beluchistan. Its pungent 

 rigidity protects this palm from encroachment of pasture- animals; 

 hence it can be left without hedging. Professor Naudin has shown 

 that fertile hybrids between the date-palm and some other species of 

 Phoenix can be produced. 



Phoenix humilis, Royle. 



India, China. This palm was buried for ten days under three 

 feet of snow in the south of France without injury [Naudin]. 



Phoenix paludosa, Roxburgh. 



India. A stout species, not very tall. Of value at least for 

 decorative culture. Many kinds of palms are getting already 

 naturalised in the humid forestal tracts of tropical Eastern Queens- 

 land through birds carrying and dispersing the seeds [ J. Edgar] . 



Phoenix pusilla, Gaertner. 



India and South-China. A dwarf species, which bears the clime 

 of the south of France without protection [Kerchove de Denterghem], 

 P. farinifera (Roxburgh) appears to be identical. It is adapted for 

 sandy and otherwise dry and barren land, but prefers the vicinity of 

 the sea. Berry shining-black, with a sweet mealy pulp. 



Phoenix reclinata, Jacquin. 



South-Africa, in the eastern districts. A hardy species, but not 

 tall, often reclining. It is adapted for ornamentation. In warm 

 climes the seeds will grow just where they dropped. 



Phoenix silvestris, Roxburgh. 



India, almost on any soil or in any situation, down even to the 

 edge of drift-sand on the coast. It has proved a very hardy species 

 at Melbourne. Its greatest height is about 40 feet. Berries 

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

 abounds, much sugar is obtained from it by evaporation of the sap, 

 which flows from incisions into the upper part of the trunk a pro- 

 cess not sacrificing the plant, as for 50 years the sap can thus be 

 withdrawn. This palm-sugar consists almost entirely of cane-sugar. 

 It might like the palm-honey of the Chilian Jubaea be rendered 

 marketable in a semi-fluid state. A kind of arrack is obtained by 



