936 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



parts. In very old ones the top thereof is just seen issuing from the 

 trunk of the Banyan, as if it grew from thence, whereas it runs 

 down through its centre, and has its roots in the ground, the pahn 

 being the older. For such the Hindoos entertain » religious 

 veneration saying it is a holy marriage instituted by Providence." 

 (Roxburgh.) 



Uses. — Every part of the Palmyra Palm is turned to account in 

 some way or other. ^ By far the most important aspect of this 

 tree is as a source of food. 



1. The juice or toddy. — This is almost as famous for its use as 

 notorious for its abuse. The juice can only be obtained after the 

 young flowering branches have made their first appearance. The 

 trees do not generally bear until 1 2 to 15 years after they have 

 been planted, and only then can the male be distinguished from 

 the female trees. Ferguson, who examined trees of both sexes 

 most minutely before the spadices Avere to be seen, co^^ld detect no 

 peculiarity in shape, size or colour by which to distinguish them. 

 Were it possible to do so, it would be of the utmost importance to 

 extensive cultivators of this useful palm. When the trees have 

 arrived at the age mentioned, the spathes begin, in the months of 

 November and December, to protrude from amongst the leaves 

 near the top of the trees, which have then attained heights varying 

 from 8-25 feet. The next natural course would be the bursting of 

 these spathes, and the production of fruits, but in many cases the 

 laws of nature are herein completelj^ thwarted, for the toddy 

 drawers now step forward and attack the trees of both sexes, but 

 oftener the males, for the extraction of toddy, — the life juice of the 

 inflorescence. In the various written descriptions of the ways in 

 which this is done, the information is often contradictory and 

 unsatisfactory. Some writers, and recent ones too, state that the 

 fruits of the trees are pierced for the purpose. Others say, that a 

 hole is bored in the body of the tree in which a plug is inserted, to 

 be removed when toddy is wanted. In this conflict of opinions 

 we consider it much safer to follow an experienced guide. 



^ Grisard, J., Produits et utilisation du Eondier, in Rev. Cult. Colon- Paris, 9 

 (1901), 110-114. 



