FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



163 



facility in adapted climes to imitate these examples, and we 

 certainly ought to follow them in all parts of Australia. 



Phoenix paludosa, Roxburgh. 



India. A stout species, not very tall. Of value at least for 

 decorative culture. 



Phoenix pusilla, Gaertner. 



India and South China. A dwarf species, likely also to be 

 hardy here. P. farinifera (Roxb.) appears to be identical. 

 It is adapted for sandy and otherwise dry and barren land, 

 but prefers the vicinity of the sea. Berry shining black, 

 with a sweet mealy pulp. 



Phoenix reclinata, Jacquin. 



South Africa, in the eastern districts. A hardy species, but 

 not tall, often reclining. It is adapted for ornamentation. 

 The seeds are frequently drawn into local use as a substitute 

 for coffee. 



Phoenix silvestris, Eoxbm-gh. 



India, almost on any soil or in any situation. It has proved 

 at Melbourne a very hardy species. Its greatest height is 

 forty feet. Berries yellowish or reddish, larger than in P. 

 pusilla. "Where this Palm abounds much sugar is obtained 

 from it by evaporation of the sap, which flows from incisions 

 into the upper part of the trunk, a process not sacrificing the 

 plant, as for twenty years the sap can thus be withdrawn. A 

 kind of arrack is obtained by fermentation and distillation of 

 this sap, and also from the young spikes. Each plant 

 furnishes the juice for about 81bs. of date-sugar annually, but 

 in some instances much more. About 50,000 tons of sugar 

 are produced a year in Bengal alone from this and some other 

 palms. The leaves are used for mats. 



Phoenix spinosa, Thomiing. 



Tropical Africa, ascending mountain-regions, thus perhaps 

 hardy here with us. Dr. Kirk foimd the green bushes, if 

 immersed in water for half a day, suddenly to assume a 

 scarlet hue, and then the astringent pulp to become edible 

 and sweet. 



Phormium tenax, J. R and G. Forster.* 



The Flax-lily of New Zealand, where it occurs as far south 

 as 46° 30', occurring also in the Chatham Islands and Norfolk 

 Island, though not on Lord Howe's Island. It seems im- 

 portant that this valuable plant should here be brought uni- 

 versally under culture, particularly on any inferior spare 

 ground or on the sea-beaches or any rocky declivity, where 

 it may be left unprotected to itself, as no pastoral animal will 

 touch it. It is evident that the natural upgrowth will soon 



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