266 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET 
nut; the trunk or body of the tree is a strong, tough wood, 
from eight to eighteen inches in diameter, and attains a 
height of from fifty to eighty feet; it is liable to be more 
or less crooked, caused by the action of wind against the 
leaves and fruit on the top of the tree ; the leaves are 
pinnate, growing from fifteen to twenty feet long and are 
a dark glossy green ; the blossoms come out near the 
crown of the tree and are encased in a spathe (sheath 
shaped) the same color as the leaves, about three feet 
long, ten to twelve inches in circumference in the centre, 
tapering to a point on the outer end and to the stem on 
the other end; the spathe opens, and you see the fruit- 
spur covered with yellow bloom, and the nut (about one 
inch in diameter) set upon each branch of the fruit-spur 
about three inches out from its junction with the central 
or main stem. The number of these small nuts on a 
fruit-spur is sometimes forty, but part of them drop ; 
the number remaining to maturity varies from five to 
twenty, depending upon the condition of the tree to sup¬ 
port its fruit; these fruit-spurs appear about one each 
month, and as the nuts gain in size their weight causes 
them gradually to droop until at full size the spur is bent 
in a curve, the outer end having turned down so that 
some of the nuts rest against the body of the tree and 
base of the leaves. The fruit is encased in a tough fibre 
husk varying in thickness from one to two and one-half 
inches ; the next covering is a hard shell about three-six¬ 
teenths of an inch thick, then the kernel is reached inside 
the shell, which, when matured, is from three to five 
eighths of an inch in thickness, this being filled with the 
milk. 
“ The consumption of cocoanuts in the United States 
amounts to many millions annually. They are obtained 
from all the West India islands, the Central and South 
American coasts and from islands in the Caribbean Sea. 
The importation of them has increased from 1869 to 1884 
about fourfold. At the same time the price has been 
steadily advancing. There is considerable difference in 
the quality of the fruit, and some command better prices. 
They are received principally at the following cities : 
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, Savan¬ 
nah, Boston and Charleston. There are great numbers 
preserved, so that they can be shipped all over our vast 
country at little expense (even by mail). The table can 
be supplied with the prepared nut put up in packages 
which are easily transported. Eight firms in this country 
are engaged in desiccating the nut. Vast quantities are 
stored in different stages, from the sack of nuts to the 
labeled package boxed r?ady for shipment. In the pro¬ 
cess of manufacture the shell is removed with hatchets,, 
the brown coating next is pared off from which oil is ex¬ 
tracted, the kernel is then ground, dried, sweetened and 
packed in barrels, boxes, pails, packages and cans. Oil is 
extensively imported from almost the entire tropics. Ves¬ 
sels have gone to the islands in the Pacific, remained for 
months pressing out the oil, returning with a very small 
cargo, and yet made it pay handsome profits. When im¬ 
proved machinery is used for manufacturing all the pro¬ 
ducts of the cocoanut palm into useful articles the de¬ 
mand will be greatly increased. 
“ From the requirements needed for the success of the 
cocoanut it appears that there are a few thousand acres 
in South Florida suited to its successful production, the 
climate and soil being what is desired, a perfectly healthy 
location, with the advantage of being much nearer the 
markets of the United States (one of the best the world 
affords) than any tropical country. The advantages 
of this fruit grown in Florida are numerous, some of 
which are : handiness to market, healthy location ; it will 
keep for months, hence none need be lost; inexpensive¬ 
ness, as little attention is required. There is not suffi¬ 
cient territory to produce enough to overstock the mar¬ 
ket, for the nurftber will not exceed, probably, over one 
million of trees. It is now a luxury; the demand is in¬ 
creasing, which will eventually make it a staple. In a 
few years it will be used during the summer in its green 
state, in the same manner as it is now used in the tropics. 
Experiments are now being made to separate the fibre 
with machinery ; when perfected this will utilize the husk,, 
a valuable part of which is now thrown away in America.”' 
WHEN THE GENTIANS BLOW. 
Not in any garden close 
Where the lily and the rose 
In stately sweetness grow ; 
But in some waste field, or nook, 
Where you’d never think to look. 
Do the gentians blow. 
Radiant plumes of golden-rod 
’Twixt the purple asters nod, 
Red the sumacs glow, # 
All the corn is heaped in shocks. 
And the bluebirds fly in flocks, 
When the gentians blow. 
High o’er rustling sedges dun, 
Swaying sunflowers watch the sun, 
Fearing signs of snow ; 
And the wandering cricket’s note 
In the chill air seems to float; 
When the gentians blow. 
— Wide Awake. 
