173 
Phoentcophortum Sechellarum HH. Wend., being one of these. It 
occupies a commanding place in the vegetation of these tropical 
isles, its stately crown of leaves adding a characteristic feature to 
the landscape. That it is there venerated by the natives is at- 
tested by a pretty little legend current among them, and given by 
Kerchove in his Les Palmiers, page 125, and is to this effect: 
“ After the creation a bird of immense size flew from the earth to 
the sun at so great speed that he lost one of his feathers. This 
feather floated around in space for many ages, and at last 
fell to earth on one of our islands, Finding there a fertile soil 
it took root and grew into a stately palm, the large entire leaves 
of which resemble the feathers of that immense bird so long since 
passed away.” 
It is not strange that a palm of such striking appearance as to 
give rise tu this legend should become an object of great beauty 
and desire in cultivation. It was first introduced into Belgium by 
M. Verschaffelt in 1856, but the difficulties of its cultivation have 
prevented its general introduction since that time. It is to 
found in several European gardens, but it is by no means com- 
mon, and large pee are very valuable. In this country it 
is quite rare. 
We were fortunate to secure in 1900, through the generosity 
of Mrs. F. L. Ames, of North Easton, Mass., an excellent ex- 
ample of this palm. At its old home it was not possible to give 
it as high a temperature as it, a native of equatorial latitudes, 
required, for its neighbors in the same house were from many 
climes, and the majority had to rule. In the large palm house 
here, however, it has been possible to consider its special needs, 
and it has responded most gratefully to this more congenial en- 
vironment. It has increased considerably in height, now meas- 
uring 16 feet from the tip of the uppermost leaf to the top of the 
soil, and has nine mature leaves with two others just appearing 
from the center. Upon its arrival two years ago it had but four 
leaves. 
In January, 1901, it sent forth its first bloom. This at the 
time was not considered an event, for it was not until some time 
later that investigation showed no record of a previous flowering 
