Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-08
A VALUABLE TREE.
q COCOANUT WHOSE FRUITS OF
AN ENORMOUS SIZE.
Where II is Found-How 1t Crows
Its Strange Appearance
Many Uses to Which
1t is Put.

them, and one, Mahe. is eighteen miles
long and Gon three to five miles broad.
They lie nearly in the Indian Ocean and
Just south of the equator. These islands
abound with interesting subjects to the
student i'll natural science, but among
thsm none is more wonderful or striking
th4n that famous tree, the Coco de Mer.i
Nowhere else in the world can this tree
be found except on the islands Of this
group. AT one time Curicuse and Pras-
lin were covered with the trees, but trav-
elers who nave recently visited the islands
say that the vegetable wonder has van
, islied from tho first, but is plentiful on
the second. One of these explorers
was Colonel Nicholas Pike, for
seven years United States
consul at the island of Mauritius, which
is nine hundred miles distant, and to
which colony the Seychelles group be-
longs. In describing his impressions Of
the tree, he says: 1.-The first appearance
of the curious Coco dc Mcr is disappoint-
| ing, and at a distance looks quite dis
| reputable for SO famous Il tree I'M
agine Il tall thin stem towering up over n
hundred feet, with II great ragged head
Of green and withcrcd leaves The i'm
preston is not favorable, IL common
, cocoanut tree is landsomcr. These, how$
ever, are the male trees; the females are
! rarely over sixty or seventy feet, aud not
being so high, are less exposed to tho
winds. Wien about twenty or twenty
five years old. before the stems begin 10
rise, ii is certainly one of the loveliest
productions OF the vegetable world, and
| here 1t is seen in all its beauty"
The leaves OF the Coco dc AIer arc
winged and palmatcd, and when the
stem is just rising above the ground, in
favorable situations, they attain length
OF fifteen feet exclusive of the petiole,
which is of an equal length and twelve
feet wide, but both diminish in size MS
the trunk increases in height. This is a
necessity, as the tall thin stem could not
support Il head OF such large leaves and
| the heavy fruit which the tree bears
Travellers often give the natives small
sums Of money, for which they will climb
the trees and swing upon the great leaves
IA feat attended with much danger, con-
sidering the great height of the leaves
from the ground.
Before Tie leaves unfold they are
covered with thick cottony substance,
which is used for mattresses. When
about thiriy-livc years old the tree he
gins 10 blossom. After three years from
formulation, The fruit has attained its
full size. 1t can be cut with knife
in this stage, but gradually be-
comes hard and black, but il is seven OF
eight Yeas from time Of formulation be-
fore it is ready 10 fall. The double nut,
with the husk around il and when fully
developed, is about the size of bushcl
basket. The meat Of the nut is agree
| able eating, and tastes like the cream Of
charlotte russo. The shell Of the nut is
used by the natives for scoop buckets,
and is put To IL variety OF other uses.
These immense nuts used to be found
floating i'll the Indian Ocean, and gave.
rise to any number of fabulous stories in
regard To their origin 1t was claimed
by many that they grew in the sea, but
this claim, of course, was easily refuted;
but, nevertheless, this popularity is kept
in remembrance by the name which the
tree bears, Coco dc NIcr, or cocoanut of
| the sea.
When the nut falls to the ground, the
first act in the future trees life is perhaps
rs wonderful rs anything in its future his
tory. 1t takes nine months after plant
ing before the germ is ready to start,
when it shoots out from the nut and
crceps along The ground, drawing nutri-
mcnt from the ground rs il goes. When
Il distance of some twenty feet has been
covered, it begins to shoot upward and
to put forth leaves, each leaf requiring, Il
years elaboration III sun and air before
the next appears. If the nut does not
fall germ downward and meet the ground
so rs to draw substance from il, after an
intellectual Struggle for some few feet on
the surface all vitality is exhausted, and
the vegetable baby dies from the heat of
| the sun and the lack of moisture. An
other remarkable fac; regarding the Coco
lie Mcr IS that it rests in perforated
bowl which III form resembles colandcr.
a great number OF roollcts radiate from
The frank and run through holes in the
bowl and thcn extend into the earth,
sometimes for thirty feet. When violent
winds blow, rs they frequently do in this
region, the tree, being tail and slender, 4
with great bunch Of heavy leaves and
nuts forninga great bouquet on its top,
bends over until it seems us if it must
fall. but rights itself again, its long roots
seeming TO act like CLASHES, which draw
1t back into position again.
The numerous uses to which the leave
OF the Coco dc Mcr can be adapted has
led to the wholesale destruction of frees.
The Mahometans use them to weave into
praying mats, and they regard them rs
having special sanctity. These leaves
are very beautiful in their m!urled state,
their edges being of delicate green
and the lamin@ OF clear pale straw
color. Beautiful fans, artificial flowers,
hats, ladies' work baskets, and other
articles are made from them.
! The expanded leaves arc also used for
thatch, and when folded together and
pinned with little skcwers of bamboo
Will hold nearly a bushel Of fruit. The
petiole is used for palings and often for
raiters, being strong and durable. The
trunks are split and used for palisades
and for boards for the end of houses. and