165 



for troughs for water, and is very durable. All the central part 

 of the stem is of a pithy nature, containing large quantities of 

 starch. 



If the tree is cut down before flowering, the starchy material is 

 made into a wholesome meal, somewhat Hke sago. But if left to 

 flower, the starch undergoes a natural change into sugar to build 

 up the substance of flower and fruit. One tree yields about 1501bs. 

 of meal. (Palmce.) 



10. Astrocaryum vulgare, Mart. — The Tucum Palm of Brazil is some- 



what similar to our native Gfroo-groo (Acrocomia sclerocarpa), and, 

 like it, is covered with sharp spines. 



It is of so much importance to the natives that where it does not 

 already grow wild, it is carefully cultivated amongst their fruit 

 trees and in their fields of cassava. 



Cordage of exceeding fineness, and great strength and durability 

 is prepared from the outer skin of the unexpanded leaves, which is 

 stripped off and twisted into thread by rolling with the hand on 

 the breast or thigh. It is chiefly used for bow strings and fishing 

 nets on account of its special adaptation to such purposes. " The 

 Brazilians of the Rio Negro and Upper Amazon make very beauti- 

 ful hammocks of fine ' tucum' thread, knitted by hand into a com- 

 pact-web of so fine a texture as to occupy two persons three or four 

 months in their completion. They then sell at about £3 each, and 

 when ornamented with the feather- work borders, at double that 

 sum." — A. R. Wallace. [Palmce.) 



11. Attalea Cohune, Mart. — The Cohune Palm is a native of Central 



America. Mr. R. Temple, when Chief Justice of British Hondu- 

 ras, called attention to this palm in the Journal of the Society of 

 Arts nearly 40 years ago. " The Cohune resembles in appearance 

 the Coco-nut palm, but it is not nearly so high as that tree, and 

 the trunk is considerably thicker. The order and regularity in 

 which it grows is surprising. I have seen rows of it presenting 

 the appearance of having been planted with the greatest care, long 

 avenues which closely resembled naves and aisles of a cathedral, 

 the arched leaves meeting overhead, and producing an exact imi- 

 tation of the vaulted roofs; if the sun was declining, the horizontal 

 rays, shining at intervals through one side of the avenue, created 

 the splendid effulgence of the most richly painted window. 



" The Cohune bears a fruit about the size of a large hen's egg r , 

 which grows in clusters, each cluster resembling a bunch of grapes. 

 The kernel tastes somewhat like that of the coco-nut, but is far 

 more oleaginous, and the oil extracted from it is infinitely superior." 



Notwithstanding the attempts made to introduce this oil into 

 England, they have not been successful. Perhaps one reason is 

 that the shell surrounding the kernel is hard and dense. (Pal??ice.) 



12. Averrhoa Bilimbi, Linn. — The Bilimbi, has a somewhat similar 



fruit to the Carambola. The fruits grow on the trunk, and are used 

 in pickles and curries. The flowers are made into preserves. (Ge- 

 raniacece.) 



