New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-14
4 BOWER OF EXOTICS.
,.pr pr AVIS N PHILADELPHIA.

STATELY PALMS FOR USE AND oHNAMhNi
,HytR STRANGE FRUIT AND FoLIAGE-DELiCAlE
RFAuTIEs OF THE BRRNERY-TREE FERNS AND
AIR-BEGINNING HERBARlCM'
,s,oN An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE IltBCN'I
puuApvLPHIA, March S.-Withn tie very pre-
cts of this great aud busy city, where few are the
s,sanos of Arcadia there is 10 be found scene OF
tonical loneliness probably unmatched IN tins conh
trv and quite like young forest IN It's nAurlahce'
n is well worth the short journey required To reach
Tho spot: and if once there, so many Deauthul at
,roetions are to be found that no visitor, be nc
hotanist. with q heart and a eonscence,'or DC nc
merely an intelligent lover of trees and plants unoel
cultivation, will think Of bostowing few nasty
Oances and of taking bis departure W thout regret.
The Commissioners of Paramount Park, Fhiiadei-
Hh;o have gathered in Horticultural Hall cobec-'
60 Of rare exotic plants, which in point of numbers
ii gor,etv of kinds represented together with the
ot size and health of the plants, is indeed re-
,norksbIe and probably not oqualled even Ill Europe
r. means of expert cultivation the palms ana Terms
especally are here brought to state OF PERFECTION
not often seen. The chief elements OF success are
opnarent to any one familiar with the GROWTH ol
these tropical plants many OF which have attained
nearly their full SIZE, and when viewed from the
Galleries the effect is very striking. Passing through
the Hall may be seen campiOr trees from Japan
near trees from the East Indies. African fan palms.
mahogany trees from South America, date palms,
Zealand pines, Abyssiuian banana trees grown
for the beauty of their leaves and the young flow
ers which are said to be used by the natives as we
use cabbages, India rubber trees, Brazilian pines
travellers tree from Madagascar. the leat-staik OF
which has the property of holding water i'll pure
state for long time.
The central bed of the building contains some very
fine specimens of tropical plants, and their beauty IS
much enhanced by the marble fountain almost hid
den BY the foliage but of which glmpses may be
had from various places. One of the large attrac-
tons Of this spot is bamboo tree. The young
shoot, which commenced growing about the last of
June 1880 is at present forty feet in height,
with q prospect of soon reaching the roof of the
building Ii is surrounded by New Holland pines,
two wine palms from the East Iudies. and by many
other rsfities from the tropical and semi-troplcal
countries. ...........
Tie plant-houses on either side are here arranged
to meet the requirements of each class of plants
which it is intended to cultivate In the fernery.
tall stately tree-ferns such as AsUphlia, DlcksOhla.
Cibotum, ETC., are scattered throughout while the
more delicate flmy ferns are arranged under glass
cases where they appear to flourish. Here also may
be seen the beautiful climbing fern, Lrgodinm scan
dens twinng itself around a cedar tree placed III
position for that purpose while other dropping Kinds
are depending from baskets. Some exquisite specl-
neus of the Adiantum Farleyeuse are here seen III
perfection, and manv others Of this genus. Gold
and silver ferns also abound, some Of which are
Justly noted for their beauty.
In the Economic house are numerous well grown
plants of choice and rare kinds. The Holy Ghost
plant Espritu SGnto, lie here grown ard has lowered
successfully. Its flowers have a white waxy aP-
pearance the centre part in the shape of dove,
which is surrounded by petals in cup FORM q! the
Dracanas there are noteworthy plants; Alocasla
Cyanophyllums, tea, coffee, sugar and Cinnamon
trees with many others rare and curious. among
which should be mentioned the nepenthcs or pitcher
plant all occupying the hottest compartment, where
they are thriving we'll. Among the most coaspcu-
GUS for the profusiOn and size Of their pitchers may
be noticed the following: NJ HoOkerI y. mtcrlnedie,
N Domoniana, n. raf1 esiana. and n. Chelson.
STATELY ExOTTCs.
The largo palms and some other plants which or
nament tie main hail, combine TO make m extremely
beautiful, rich and graceful display. Most con-
spcuous for their large. handsome foliage and luxu-
rant growth are the following:
The Coc0a-nut Palm, COcOS Rucifrd is now so
extensively cultivated throughout tha tropics that
it IS almost impossible 60 ascertain ITS native cou-
try but it may be reasonably supposed that It IS in
digenous TO some part Of ASIA, probably Southern
India. 1t is found growing in great luXnnancc upon
sandy sea Shores although il 7Ometimes con
adorable distance inland The tree rises TO height
Of from sixty to 100 feet, with cylindrical trunk
often nearly two feet in diameter Ii ~ surmounted
by a crown Of gracefully -curved pinnate leaves.
frol eighteen to twenty feet in length. Apart from
the cocoa-nuts OIL aud fibre furnished By tins tree
with winch we are familiar il is infinitely more
Useful t. the natives Of the countries in which 1t
abounds. There the cOcOa-nut tres furnishes the
chief necessares of life every part Of the Tree beng
put to sOmc useful purpose and the preparation OF
it's products giving employment TO large portion Of
RI IL I'D hItgK yInl
the fibre from which cocOa-nut mating is made, also
ship cables, brushes, brOOms. ETC. The oil yields
stear,ne of which can les are manufactured, also
Iauid used for burning in lamps. The kernel forms
the CHEF food of the natives wnlle the milk affords
An agreeable beverage. OF the COcOs piRW0sd, or
pluned cocoa at tree. there il very line specimen
in the Hall, measuring thirty feet III height oy
twenty eight feet in diameter This elegant tree 10
variety of the wel-knOwn cOcOa-nuI, but "a very
superior to tho latter decorative plant. having
much more graceful habit 1t is native of Brazil,
and grows to height OF fifty fest.
OF the grand old plant CyCas rerOIuta there are
several fne specimens This plant is popularity but
enormously called Sage Palm, for although it sup
niles kind of starch which is used sagO the true
source of tho sage of commerce Is Sdgus herts aud
RHEayka The Cyoas rer0lata Is native Ut japan.
A beautiful specimen Of the Assai Palm, EHtepe
edatis 10 to be seen here In D b0ursling condition
it is thirty feet in height. This tree ls the Assai
Palm of Para, and grows IN swampy places along
the rivers within reach of the tdal-wave, where it
atai ~ height of thirty or forty feet with slen
der stein crowned with small tuf OF graceful pm
nate leaves The fruit which is about the size Of q
small plum, and OF o purple color furnishes the
beverage called assai which, when sweetened with
sagarsand thickened with cassaya farina. is very
Nutritious and forms the daily food Of large NUM-
Der Of the inhabtan of Para.
DATE PALMS AND BAMBOO.