186 



placed in mould was not overlooked at Kew, and to the diffusion 

 of the knowledge of this fact must be mainly ascribed the great 

 increase of the collections of Palms in horticultural establishments. 



As this Palm endures the winters of the south of France, it 

 would doubtless be suitable for ornamental purposes in the higher 

 elevations of Jamaica. (Palmce.) 



70. Livistona chimensis,jR. Br. , is a decoratve Fan Palm, which will 



suit the higher elevations of the island. In its native country, 

 China and Japan, the hairy stem-covering is used for fixing lime 

 plaster to buildings. [Palmce.) 



71. Lonchocarptjs cyanescens, Benth. — The Yoruba Indigo of west 



tropical Africa is used in its native country to produce a deep blue, 

 very permanent when fixed with potash. The leaves are gathered 

 young, powdered in a mortar into a black pasty state, made into 

 balls the size of two fists, and then dried. In dyeing, one ball 

 is used to a gallon of water, and the cloth is left four days in the 

 dye. (Legiiminosce.) 



72. Manicaria saccifera. Gaertn. — The Bussu Palm of the tidal swamps 



of the Amazon, has a stem from 10 to 15 feet high, and leaves often 

 30 feet long and 4 or 5 feet wide. The rigid leaves which are the 

 largest undivided leaves of any palm, form an excellent thatch, 

 lasting for 10 or 12 years. " An Indian will of ten take a week's voyage 

 in order to get a canoe-load of the leaves to cover his house. 

 The spathe, too is much valued by the Indian, furnishing him 

 with an excellent and durable cloth. Taken off entire, it forms 

 bags in which he keeps the red paint for his toilet or the silk cot- 

 ton for his arrows, or he even stretches out the larger ones to make 

 himself a cap, cunningly woven by nature without seam or joining. 

 When cut open longitudinally and pressed flat, it is used to pre- 

 serve his delicate feather ornaments and gala dresses, which are 

 kept in a chest of plaited palm leaves, between layers of the smooth 

 ' bussu' cloth." — (A. R. Wallace.) {Palmce.) 



73. Manihot Glaziovii, Muell. Arg. — Ceara Rubber is yielded by this 



tree, a native of a dry arid region in Brazil, where it is obtained 

 by paring off the outer surface of the bark to a height of 5 feet. 

 The milky juice exudes slowly, and after some days it is pulled off 

 in strings and rolled up into balls. (Etiphorbiacece.) 



74. Maranta arundinacea, Linn. — Arrowroot is the name given to 



the starch extracted from the tuberous roots of certain plants. In 

 Jamaica, there are two plants used for the purpose, Maranta 

 arundinacea and Carina edulis, which latter is sometimes called 

 " Spanish Arrowroot." 



Maranta belongs to the ginger family and has yellowish-white 

 flowers. Canna is one of the plants often known as " Indian 

 Shot," and has red flowers. Shoots are taken from the old roots, 

 and planted, during May, in holes about 2 feet apart every waj^ 

 AVhen the leaves fade, in about a year's time from planting, the 

 roots are dried, and carefully washed. The outer skin is removed 



