PALMS AND THEIB USES. 33 



hats and caps are made somewliat extensively at Accra, 

 a settlement on the Gold Coast, and in the territory of 

 Ashantee. The stems of Galamus seovmMflorus, another 

 West African species, are cut into small lengths and carried 

 upon long journeys, the sofb central part being eaten after 

 they have been properly roasted. There would, however, 

 be no space left for other matters in this little book, were 

 we to enumerate in detail the uses to which Palm produce 

 is applied, and we must therefore conclude this portion 

 of our subject with the "Ivory-nut Palm," PhytelepJuts- 

 maerocarpa, the hard white fruits of which are imported 

 in considerable quantities, and used for various useful and 

 ornamental purposes. They rival ivory in whiteness, and 

 from them are made humming tops, thimbles, thimble 

 cases, pincushions, rattles, whistles, and children's teething 

 rings, buttons, door handles, handles for walking-sticks, 

 •dog whistles, and a variety of ornaments, which are 

 frequently most, elaborately carved. 



Having taken a cursory glance at the economic pro- 

 perties of this noble order of plants, we must now turn 

 our attention to their uses for horticultural purposes, and 

 in this respect every one must acknowledge that they stand 

 pre-eminent. On their suitability for purposes of open 

 air decoration in the summer months we have remarked 

 in detail in the chapter devoted to Sub-tropical Gardening, 

 and therefore we purpose confining our remarks in this 

 place to their culture and ornamental features, for the 

 •embellishment of the stove, greenhouse, conservatory, and 

 dwelling-house. The word "Palm,"' until withia only 

 a few years, would seem to have impressed the minds of 

 nearly all plant growers with dread, and with the idea 

 that they were all gigantic trees, which it would be folly 

 to introduce to our plant structures. Indeed, to such an 

 D 



