THE PLANTS AND GARDENS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS. 83 
The most promising Palm for cultivation in Canary Gardens, 
after the native Phoenix canariensis, is undoubtedly the very 
handsome fan-leaved Washing tonia filifera. This is described 
as "one of the glories of the Riviera." It is a native of Cali- 
fornia, and was not introduced into the Old World until about 
1875. Although a comparatively new Palm, it is already widely 
planted in sub-tropical countries. At Villa Valetta, on the 
Riviera, Mr. Watson mentions that " on a sloping lawn in front 
of the house is a grove of about sixty of this magnificent Palm — 
a marvellous sight." The plant in the Botanic Garden at Oro- 
tava is about 20 feet high and very healthy. The plants else- 
where are smaller, but they promise to flourish as well in the 
Canaries as anywhere. 
Amongst Bromeliacem the ornamental Billbergia zehrina and 
B. marmomta are grown in pots, and flourish with little or no 
attention. The bluish-red and green flowers are very strikingly 
in contrast with the bronzed marking of the leaves. As show- 
ing that architecture in the Canaries takes note of its sur- 
roundings, the base of the columns in the church at Orotava is 
chiselled with Banana leaves and fruit. They are so good," 
says Edwards, " that an Acanthus would make but a poor figure 
by the side of them." Cassia occidentalis with its bright yellow 
flowers is a garden plant. The seeds when roasted and ground 
make a tolerable coffee. In fact, they supply the " Negro Coffee " 
of the West Indies. They do not appear to be so used in the 
Canaries, but the leaves of Sida rhomhifolia at Agaete are re- 
garded as an excellent substitute for tea. 
A very undesirable weed from the Argentine is spreading in 
the islands. This is the Tree-tobacco {Nicotiana glauca). It is 
a slender, weedy-looking plant with greyish-green leaves and 
yellow tubular flowers. It is a troublesome pest in New South 
Wales and Victoria, where it is regarded as poisonous to cattle 
and horses. At the Cape Professor MacOwan states : We are 
too late for the smallest hope of eradicating this troublesome 
' by-woner ' from abroad, which plays the mischief with our 
ostriches." The plant is rather common in waste places about 
Orotava, and also in the neighbourhood of Las Palmas. It 
has no doubt been introduced from Buenos Ayres with seed- 
wheat. In this way many other South American weeds have 
reached the Canaries. The Tree-tobacco should certainly be 
destroyed before it has spread further. 
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