48 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Cereus Quixo, Gay. 



Chili. This stately Cactus attains a height of 15 feet, and is 

 one of the hardiest species. The charming snow-white 

 flowers are followed by sweetish mucilaginous fruits, available 

 for the table (Philippi). C. giganteus (Engelmann), from 

 New Mexico, which attains the stupendous height of 50 feet, 

 with a proportionate columnar tliickness, yields also edible 

 fruits, and lives unprotected in our clime. It has been intro- 

 duced by the writer many years ago. 



Ceroxylon andicola, Humboldt. 



The Wax Palm of New Granada, ascending the Andes to 

 11,000 feet. One of the most majestic and at the same 

 time one of the most hardy of all palms, attaining occa- 

 sionally a height of 180 feet. The trunk exudes a kind of 

 resinous wax, about 2 5 lbs. being obtainable at a time from 

 each stem; this by admixture to tallow is used for candles. 

 There are several other andine palms, which could be reared 

 in our forests or in sheltered positions at our dwellings, but 

 some of them are not even yet phytographically cii'cum- 

 scribed. 



Cervantesia tomentosa, Euiz and Pavon. 



Forest-mountains of Peru. This tree yields edible seeds. 

 It is likely to prove hardy in our lower forest-regions. 



Cliaerophyllum bulbosum, Linne. 



Middle Europe and Western Asia. The Parsnip-Chervil. 

 A biennial herb. The root a good culinary esculent. 



Cliaeropliyllum sativum, Lamarck. (Anthriscus Cerefolium, 

 Hoffmann.) 



The Chervil. Middle and South Europe, Western Asia. 

 An annual herb, available for salads and condiments, but the 

 root deleterious. 



Cliamaerops excelsa, Thunberg. 



South China. This Fan Palm is highly desirable, although 

 not tall as the name would indicate. Has stood 1 6° Cels. 

 below freezing-point with only a slight litter. (Count de 

 Saporta.) 



Chamaerops Fortunei, Hooker. 



North China. The Chusan Palm. It attains a height of 

 about 12 feet and endures like the following species con- 

 siderable frost. The leaves can be employed for plaiting 

 palm-hats. Other hardy palms might be natm-alized and 

 used for various purposes, irrespective of theii* ornamental 

 features. 



