A MOST USEFUL TREE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 139, 3 June 1876, Page 4

A MOST USEFUL TREE.

f> Consul MorgaD, in his supplementary rbport on the trade and commerce; of Brazil for the J year 1874; just issued, makes special mention of a most useful tre?,' which would be : a most valuable acquisition to aqy country wherev.it would condescend to grow. The tree in question is the carnouba (copernicia cerifera),. a palm tree,. which without any .culture developes itself in Ceara; Rio/Grande de Norte, Babia, &oi Perhaps in no country, Bays Consul Morgan, is a plant applied to so many and "varied purposes. It resists the" most' prolonged drought and preserves itself constantly luxuriant and green. Its roots. possess the same medicinal effects as' the sarsapariiia. From the trunk are obtaioedbetroog fibres, which acquire a beautiful lustre, as well as corner pieces of timber and excellent palisades for enclosures. The .palmetto top when' young serves as an appreciable and nutritious food; and therefrom also wine, vinegar, arid a saccharine matter is extracted, as a kind of gum similar in its taste and properties to sago. The 1 plant has often served during the periods of excessive droughts as the .means of support to the populations' of Oeara and Rio Grande de Norte. From tbe wood and trunk of tbe<tree musical instruments are made, as als© tubes and pumps for water. Tbe delicate fibrous substances of tbe pith of 'the' stalk and its leaves, make a good substitute for cork. The pulp of the fruit' is of a peasant taste, and the nut, oily and emulsive, is, after being roast ed and reduced to a powder, often used ascoffee. From the trunk of the tree"* a' /species '•'■ of 7 : flour similar to maizena is extracted,' as well as a liquid resembling that of the Bahia cocoa-nut. From it dried straw, hats, baskets, mats, and brooms are made; and of this straw large quantities are exported to Europe, where it is employed in the manufacture of fine hats, the whole value of which exportation and of such f as is utilised by national industry now to about £117,500 per annum. Finally, from its leaves is the wax used in the manufacture of candles, the annual exportation "br^which exceeds in value, £162,500.