135 
structive, as it contains information gathered first hand relating 
to the uses of this palm bys the pono! aaa t was, doubt- 
less, similarly used by tt i Seminoles. 
“T send yo 
the sea coast in the southern country. As this is an ea 
article to civilized man, as well as the savage, I have thought it 
mig _ be interesting to you. The body or caudex is very durable 
in salt water and said to be proof against worms that are so 
ae ss ships. It is much used for building wharves in 
this country 
“The Seminole obtains a rich article of food from the young 
leaves in the top, from the abundance of its berries he supplies 
and sugar, as mance you to satisfy us as to the chemical 
properties of dis plan 
In the ae ee in which the above-quoted letter 
written, or oie t a century after this decidedly pet 
tree was referred to in detail by Mark Catesby, it was finally 
who, under the a of Professor Mitchill, organized the Lyceum of 
Natural History, now the abe Yo a Academ y of = clences eae within a year 
e ee $0 the Lye im, Gautets a 
as one 0 me 
catalogue of plants oe to occur within es fle of New 4 k City. 
pon receiving his degree, in 1818, he entered upon the practice of saidione 
in New w Yo rk City 3 fr om 1824 to 1827 he fe f chemi y d mi 
Q f ¢ 
alog 
ii istry era 
interest was always in botany, to which he devoted all the time he Id find * 
a en purpose for ae thal n n fifty years, publishing numerous books and 
s, and gaining a this scienc was the first 
ees t of the Torrey Botanical Club, which was named in his hon 
died in New York City, 10 March 1873.—J. H. B. 
