86 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Here, midst Nature's most distinguished off- 

 spring, no single growth so deeply impresses 

 the beholder, none so fixes itself upon his atten- 

 tion, none remains stamped upon his memory as 

 does the Royal palm. Possibly you have never 

 seen one of these princely trees, even under 

 glass. 



You alight from train or steamer and decide 

 to see the sights. When first coming among 

 these regal palms you notice a series of brovk^n- 

 ish-white pillars. You do not see their tops, as 

 you are not star gazing. Involuntarily you 

 direct your vision twenty feet higher, that you 

 may see the tops of these singular columns and, 

 failing, look up and up. in open-eyed wonder- 

 ment. In ecstasy you behold a splendor of sea- 

 green fronds outlined against fleecy clouds, or 

 the ether. The impulse is to clasp the hands and 

 to gaze, spellbound, in the attitude of devotion. 

 You wish the car would stop and that all chat- 

 ter cease, giving you an opportunity to compre- 

 hend the vision and regain your poise. Can 

 these symmetrical, chiseled shafts be the boles 

 of living trees? The wild witchery of the ban- 

 yans attracts you, the lawless disorder of the 

 cocoanut palms elicits your approval, your joy- 

 ous acclaim, but the proud, calm majesty of 

 this king of palms fills you with awe and rever- 

 ence. You begin to speculate as to what may be 



Above One of tlie lovely spots in Royal Poinciana Park at Miami, wkere the Royal Palm 



tnc Wonder Tree 19 found in profusion. 

 Below The South Florida Highway which has been greatly improved and heautiried hy the 



planting of young palm trees. 



