COOK THE COCONUT PALM IN AMERICA. 311 



The smooth green trunk has a diameter of 2 or 3 inches. The un- 

 opened inflorescences are about the size of a large ear of corn and 

 are inclosed in green spathes somewhat similar to corn husks. 



DOMESTICATION OF PALMETTOS IN MEXICO. 



One of the native arts that flourishes in many localities in tropical 

 America is the weaving of hats from the fibrous leaves of various 

 species of fan-leaved palms related to the Florida palmetto. These 

 are not the same as the so-called Panama hats made in South America 

 from the leaves of Carludovica, which is not a true palm. Large 

 numbers of the palmetto hats for local use are made in Guatemala and 

 Mexico, though the most advanced state of the palmetto hat industry 

 is found in Porto Rico, whence large quantities have been exported 

 to the United States during the last decade. 



The Porto Riean hat palmetto, Inodes causiarum, does not appear 

 to be regularly cultivated, though it is valued and allowed to grow 

 in many places for the sake of the leaves. The largest quantity of 

 these palms is found along the seabeach at a place called Joyua, on the 

 west end of the island between Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo. 



Palmettos grow wild in great abundance along the Pacific coast 

 of Guatemala and the adjacent district of Soconusco in the Mexican 

 State of Chiapas, and their leaves are gathered in large quantities for 

 the thatching of houses and the weaving of hats. The hats them- 

 selves and the straw, or "paja," prepared for weaving are important 

 articles of domestic commerce, carried about on the backs of the 

 Indians and sold in all the native markets. To secure additional 

 supplies of the material the palms are also commonly planted about 

 the native towns, sometimes in considerable numbers. Even on the 

 east side of Guatemala in districts where there do not appear to be 

 any native palmettoes, the Indians have planted many of them in 

 their villages, as at Cajabon and San Augustin, near El Rancho, and 

 at other places. In southern Mexico the planting of palmettos is 

 carried still further, thousands of these palms being found in the 

 larger towns of the Soconusco district. Regular field plantings of 

 palmettos were seen about Comitan in southwestern Chiapas and 

 again near Merida in Yucatan. Palmettos are also grown exten- 

 sively at San Bartolome, Chiapas, as reported by Mr. G. N. Collins, 

 though no field plantings were noticed. 



PARTIALLY DOMESTICATED PALMS. 



In addition to the palms that may be said to have been definitely 



domesticated in the American tropics, there are several others that 



may be described as partially domesticated. Though seldom actually 



planted or cared for, they are on a distinctly friendly footing with 



51004°— vol 14, pt 2—10 4 



