VII THE COCOA-NUT 165 



Bananas are used extensively as shade for young cacao Bananas 

 trees ; and, in places where an export banana trade has been pfants.^^ 

 established the formation of a cacao plantation is a very in- 

 expensive matter, as the return in fruit from the bananas will 

 pay for the cultivation of the cacao until the trees arc able 

 to give a small crop. 



The Cocoa-nut. Cocos nucifcra. 



Amongst the remarkable trees of the tropics, the first to 

 strike the attention of a stranger are the palms. The long and The beauty 

 usually straight stems, crowned with tufts of most graceful ° ^^ "^^' 

 green leaves waving in the breeze, is a sight that the northern 

 traveller never forgets. The cocoa-nut has been rightly called The prince 

 " the prince of palms," for although it is, perhaps, not the °^ p-'^''"^- 

 finest of this most beautiful family of plants ; yet, in regard 

 to its utility to man, it is unsurpassed by any of the produc- 

 tions of the vegetable kingdom. In the West Indies the Tiie many 

 uses of the cocoa-nut palm and its produce are many, but cocoa-nut^ 

 one has to go to the East and to the coral islands of Polynesia P'^^'"- 

 to find out the multifarious uses of the prince of palms. 

 Every part of the tree is put to some useful purpose. The 

 roots are used as a remedy for fevers, the trunk is used for The roots. 

 house-building, boat-building, and for making furniture, its 

 hard outer portion is known in England as " porcupine The wood, 

 wood " and it is highly esteemed on account of its beautiful 

 grain. The leaves are used for thatching houses, and for The leaves. 

 making baskets, hats, mats, and other such articles. From 

 their foot stalk combs are made. The fibrous net-work at the 

 base of the leaves serves for sieves, and some of the natives 

 weave it into clothing. The flowers are used as a medicinal The flowers, 

 astringent ; from the cut flower-stalks palm-wine or "toddy" 

 is obtained in great quantity ; and in Ceylon, a spirit called Arrack and 

 "arrack" is distilled from the toddy, this spirit being to the ^°'^'^^' 

 natives what rum is to the West Indians. From the toddy. Jaggery 

 sugar, called "jaggery," is got, and vinegar is also one of the ^"^*''' 



