374 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



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 a year are produced in Bengal alone from this and some other 

 palms. The leaves are used for mats. The tree lives in drier regions 

 than other Indian palms. Mr. Fr. Turner fertilized this species with 

 the pollen of P. dactylifera ; the result was a much finer fruit. 

 Dr. Trimen distinguishes the closely allied wild Ceylon-species as 

 P. Zeilanica. 



Phoenix spinosa, Thonning. 



Tropical Africa, ascending mountain-tracts, thus perhaps hardy in 

 milder extra-tropic regions. Sir John Kirk found, that the green 

 bunches, if immersed in water for half a day, suddenly assume a 

 scarlet hue, when the astringent pulp becomes edible. Near P. 

 reclinata. 



Phormiu.ni tenax, J. R. and G. Forster.* 



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

 46 30', and up to an elevation of 4,000 feet, occurring also in the 

 Chatham-Islands and Norfolk-Island, though not on Lord Howe's 

 Island ; it is also found in the Auckland Islands, nearly 51 south 

 [Schur]. Height to 15 feet [D. Crombie]. It flowered in several 

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

 severe frost [Masters]. It perfected seeds even in the most northern 

 of the Orkney-Islands [Traill] and will bear unhurt a temperature of 

 15 F.; the tops of the leaves become injured at 9 F. [G-orlie]. It 



is desirable, that this valuable plant should be brought universally 

 under culture, particularly on any inferior spare-ground, along rail- 

 way-lines or on sea-beaches or rocky declivities, where it may be 

 left to itself unprotected, as no grazing animal will touch it ; yielding 

 for ever returns ; thriving also well in shade. Can be even grown 

 on ground pervaded by the off-flow of soap-factories. It is evident, 

 that the natural growth will soon be inadequate to the demand for 

 the plant. It is adapted for staying bush-fires, when planted in 

 hedgerows. Important also as a honey-plant. 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 

 during many years by the writer. 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 naturalised in Kerguelen's Land, the 

 Falkland-Islands, the Faroe- and Shetland-Islands and many conti- 

 nental places of both hemispheres far into cold latitudes. Among 

 varieties three are better characterized than the rest : the Tehore-, 

 the Swamp-, and the Hill-variety. The first and the last men- 

 tioned produce a fibre fine and soft, yet strong, and the plant attains 

 a height of only about 5 feet, whereas the Swamp-variety grows 



