Palms
When allowed to stand, the juice ferments, and forms a drink much used under the name of Palm-wine or Toddy. The fruits of several species of Palmeae afford valuable articles of food. Pre-eminent among these are the Date, either fresh or preserved, since it forms the chief food of multitudes of persons in Northern Africa. The perisperm of the Cocoa-nut forms a great part of the food of various other tropical races. Of less importance as food are the fruits of the Peach Palm, and of certain other Palms of America; but even these form a valuable resource, at times, to the native races. From the fruits and seeds of many Palms a large amount of oil can be expressed. The oil obtained from the Oil Palm, as already mentioned, is a valuable article of commerce, and that from several other species is also suitable for use, though not so abundantly produced. From the fruits of certain kinds (Elaeis melanococca, Euterpe edulis, E. oleracea, (Enocarpus Bacaba, (E. Bataua, (E. distichus, &c.), the natives of South America are accustomed to prepare a pleasantly-flavoured drink by crushing the fruits in water. Though this, also, is called Palm-wine, it contains no alcohol, if drunk, as it always is, when freshly made; but alcohol can be obtained from similar preparations of many Palm fruits, when they are allowed to ferment. But to indicate the many uses of Palms is impossible in a brief article. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that in the Tamil language of Southern Hindostan a poem exists, called "Tala vilasam," in praise of the Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabelliformis); in it 801 uses for this single species are mentioned, and, even to this number, others might easily be added. Those who desire information on this noble order of plants will find Seemann's "Popular History of Palms" serviceable as an introductory work. Martius' large and expensive "Historiae Palmarum" is still the only comprehensive work on the group; but very great additions to our knowledge have been made since it was published. Bentham and Hooker's "Genera Plantarum" is the best and most recent source of information upon the genera. The Palms of Asia have been written upon by Blume, Griffith, Scheffer, Beccari, and others; those of Australia by Muller, Wendland, and Drude; the few species from Africa by Wendland and Mann; and the American Palms by Poppig, Humboldt and Bonpland, Martius, Wendland, Grisebach, Wallace, Spruce, Trail, Im Thurm, and others. The most important work of late years on American Palms is one by Drude, in "Flora Brasiliensis," on the Palms of Brazil. Remarks on Decorative Uses, Culture, &c. The majority of Palms are by no means difficult to cultivate; yet there are a few points relating to their management which require strict attention. All of them need good drainage, and an abundant supply of water in summer; in winter, too, their roots must never approach dryness. By far the larger proportion are stove plants, and, as such, they need a considerable amount of heat, as well as moisture. One species (Trachycarpus Fortunei) is, however, hardy enough to live outside in many favourable localities all the year round; several are available for sub-tropical gardening in summer, and succeed in a warm greenhouse temperature in winter. Many others of a tenderer description may be utilised for conservatory embellishment in summer, if transferred to warmer quarters again in autumn. For exhibition, nothing is of nobler aspect than large specimen Palms; these may be most successfully cultivated in pots, or tubs, small in proportion to the size of plant. As decorative subjects for dinner tables, some of the elegant-habited Palms in a small state are indispensable, particularly the well-known and beautiful Cocos Weddeliana, than which nothing better for the purpose exists. Some of the stiffer-growing species withstand confinement in rooms and indifferent treatment remarkably well, even for a long period. Palms represent, therefore, an invaluable class of plants in gardens generally, and a selection of the most useful species is indispensable wherever plant-grouping for effect, and other phases of horticultural decorating, have frequently to be executed.