The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-08-06

the Cordllleras of Quindin, at an ele-
walton OF 1929 feet, from whence it
assembled to the Garita del Paramo
and Los Volcan citos as high as 900
teet. In the Himalaya range, Phenig
haSaaStts Is common in the Kheree
pass at $500 feet above the level of
the sea in company with fir, (Piuus
t0aagifolia) while (Chamorops naarti-
d'aG) occurs at the height of 5000
feet; and as this is beyond the trop-
ical zone, in latitude 28e north it is
equivalent from 5000 to 10000 feet
on the Andes OF Quito. The distin.
guished botanist, Don Jose Caldas,
found three species of palms in the
Parama de GuaLacos, near Quito,
in the immediate vicinity of the limits
OF perpetual snow, and, therefore,
probably at an elevation of $4,000
feet. and corresponding with the lati-
tude OF Iceland. * y s. $
We have already mentioned (Ceror-
yIo0 AndacoIa), the wax palm of the
Andes, as having been discovered by
Humboldt and Bonpland on some of
the mountains OF that magnificent
L
cham, at an elevation approaching in
It's mean temperature the climate of
Middle Europe. Growing in a re-
gion generally considered as bevond
the limits Of the true palm world, at.
tanning lofty height, which renders
it one Of the most imposing of it's
noble tribe, and covered with a sin.
gular secretion, it claims our notice as
one OF the most remarkable of the
family of which it is allieo. It has
receiseu1rUlt& Amer1can cparuarus.
the name OF Palma al cera or wax
palm, on account Of the abundance Of
that substance which is yielded by
the stem. 1t grows, according to
Bonpland, OH the Andes in 40 35f
north latitud Below the snow-cap-
ped mountains called Tolima, San
Juan and Quindin especially the last,
the Ceroxylon grows IN ali it's gran
deur, elevating its majestic trunk
coated with a thick encrustation O .
wax, to height of one hundred and4
eighty feet, among the most rugged
precipices OF the wild region which
it inhabits. Unlike the greater part
of the palm tribe, this species avoids
the heat OF tropical climes, and seems
incapable OF existing except in re.
gions where the temperature is
lowered by elevation in the air. and
the contiguity OF perpetual snow. 1t
is said to make its first appearance
on the sides Of the Quindin at a
height equal to that OF the Puy de
Dome, or the passage Of Mont Gents :;
this is higher than the region of Gin.
chonas, and SO cool that Humboldt
does not estimate the mean tempera.
ture OF the years highera at the utmost
than 650 to 6S0 Fab, which is at
least 1700 lower than the mean tenn.
perature OF palm countries. 1t does
not extend over more than fifteen or
twenty leagues of country altogether.
Its roots are tibrous and very numer-
Gus, the main root being thicker than
the stem itself. The trunk is dis.
tinctly marked with rings caused by
the fall of the leaves, which are from
eighteen to twenty feet long. The
spaces between these rings are pale
yellow, and smooth like the stems Of
a reed, and are covered with a coat.
ing of wax (whence the palm takes
its name), two inches thick.
According to the analysis of Van.
quelin, it is not pure wax, but is com
posed of one-third wax and two
thirds resin. Melted with one.third