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78 trees. The allusions to Palms in sacred and profane writers of all nations and ages, wherever these plants flourish, are numerous; and he can have but little poetic feeling in whom the mention of the name excites no emotion. It is not, however, in their artistic relations, or poetical associations, that Palms claim our attention. Bound, as chroniclers of science, to the rigid zone of fact, it may not be permitted us to dilate on the romance of Palm history, or relate "the love of Palms," but rather to confine ourselves to a matter-of-fact sketch of the "Princes of the Vegetable World." Those who may never have gazed upon a Palm, even under the artificial conditions in which they are placed in this country, can scarcely realize a true mental picture of their grandeur. Rising erect, with a simple unbranched trunk, to a height of from ten to nearly two hundred feet, according to the species, and with the summit crowned with a magnificent tuft of feathery or fan-like leaves spreading on each side for forty or fifty feet, the appearance is one which finds no parallel in our temperate climes. Beneath a tropical sky, within an equatorial belt of some twenty degrees, is the great region of Palms, and here amid—

subject to the reeking heat of a broiling sun, the wearied traveller rejoices to rest for a few melting moments "under a Palm Tree."

Only one species, the Dwarf Palm (Chamærops humilis), is found in Europe, and that is only to be met with on the most southern points. Our continent is not the land of Palms. Dr. Martius, author of the most magnificent book on this tribe yet published, thinks that there are not less than from one thousand to twelve hundred species; and more than half this number are known. Remote as we are from Palm groves, and little as we know of the trees themselves, their products are amongst our most familiar things. To intimate that the rattan-cane is the stem of a Palm may not suggest pleasant reflections to the school-boy; but, as fifty or sixty years bring him nearer to childhood again, he will not despise the rest afforded by a cane-bottomed chair. A large portion of our sugar is derived from an East Indian Palm (Elate sylvestris). From the Oil Palm of Western Africa, and the Cocoa Palm of Ceylon, commerce derives its best of "stearine candles," and the microscopist his glycerine. Coir and cocoa-nut matting are their own advertisement; but how many brushes, for a hundred different uses, are entirely innocent of the fibres of Palm-trees, the makers alone can tell. One of the sources of the substance known as "vegetable hair," illustrates our paper.

It is time we turn from such generalizations as we have hitherto indulged in, to a few particulars of the Ejoo or Gomuti Palm (Arenga saccharifera). It is of importance, second only to that of the cocoa-nut, writes Mr. Crawfurd, in the rural economy of the Asiatic archipelago, from one extremity of it to the other. Its chief and most valuable product is its sap, obtained by bruising and cutting the inflorescence. From this liquid, and not from the juice of the cane, is made nearly all the sugar consumed by the natives, while the sap itself, which runs rapidly to the vinous fermentation, is their chief intoxicating beverage. The sap, however, is not the only product which is put to use. Between the trunk and the fronds there are found three different useful materials:—a black horsehair-like substance, which makes the best cordage of the western islands of the archipelago; a fine cottony substance, which makes the best tinder, and is exported for this purpose; and strong stiff spines, from which are made the pens of all the nations that write on paper, with the arrows for the blowpipe of the rude tribes that still use this weapon. The pith furnishes a sago. The seeds have been made into a confection, while their pulpy envelopes abound in a poisonous juice, a strong infusion of them being used in the barbarian wars of the natives. The young leaves are boiled and eaten, as a kind of Palm-cabbage; and the Palm-wine is used by the Chinese residents in fabricating the celebrated Batavian arrack. When any accident prevents the collected juice from being manufactured into "jaggery," or coarse sugar, as it speedily ferments, and becomes sour, the acidification is taken advantage of to produce a vinegar equal in strength to that obtained by vinous fermentation in Europe.

Although a native of the Asiatic archipelago, this Palm has been introduced into continental India, and some other countries possessing a suitable climate, where it flourishes as in its native home. To follow it in its migrations, digress in its praise, or become prolix in its history, is not our aim; therefore, to all who desire a better acquaintance with it, or its companions in the order of Palms, we commend Dr. Seemann's interesting little volume, entitled, "The Popular History of Palms;" and, in its perusal, we doubt not, many will, ever and anon, wish themselves seated, "Under a Palm Tree." M. C. C.

.—The Horticultural Society prizes have been awarded. Twenty-six silver medals are to be distributed. Gold medals have been assigned to Dr. St. Brody, Mr. Joshua Clarke, and Miss Becker. The gold medal for any new species found wild has been awarded to Mr. Joshua Clarke, for Erucastrum inodorum, collected near Saffron Walden, from the mould of a railway-cutting.