TRANSPLANTING PALMS 169 



pine-apple plant, off which I had one fruit this year 

 for the first time. Such a wreck everywhere ! but 

 looked at from one side, it is very picturesque, and 

 that nook would form a lovely setting for a pastoral 

 play. The fallen tree with extended branches 

 covered with leaves, would give several rustic exits, 

 and if only Unda were here, it would be delightful 

 to get one up. I will leave the principal part of the 

 tree lying as it fell on the grass, and get in some 

 sawyers to only cut the road clear ; and I will 

 cover that trunk with all the orchids and tree ferns 

 I can get, and have quite a change of scenery down 

 there. The worst of it is, that it lets in the sun 

 now just where it is not wanted, and by-and-bye 

 everything will be burnt up to a cinder. Unless 

 a bright idea has struck me ! There are five great 

 fish-tail palms over by the stables, excluding light 

 and air from where they are wanted. They are quite 

 20 or 25 feet high. If I could dig them up and 

 transport them bodily down here, they would look 

 lovely, and shelter the tub palms and ferns below. 



I went and consulted with Jogee. 



"If I give you four outside coolies, can you 

 move those palms ? " 



