THE RATTAN PALM.
The Royal palms are noble specimens of their race. But one of these is not more interesting than the rattan palm, that has not the necessary stiffness to grow erect. I quote the interesting description given by Mr. Wallace, who saw the plant in the Island of Celebes: "The chief feature of this forest was the abun dance of the rattan palms, hanging from the trees, and turning and twisting about on the ground often in inextricable confusion. One wonders at first how they get into such queer shapes; but it is evidently caused by the decay and fall of the trees up which they have first climbed, after which they grow along the ground till they meet with another trunk up which to ascend. A tangled mass of twisted, living rattan is therefore a sign that at some former period a large tree has fallen there, though there may be not the slightest vestige of it left.
" The rattan seems to have unlimited powers of growth, and a single plant may mount up several trees in succession, and thus reach the enormous length they are said sometimes to attain. They
much improve the appearance of a forest as seen from the coast; for they vary the otherwise monot onous tree-tops with feathery crowns of leaves, rising clear above them, and each terminating in an erect leafy spike rising like a lightning-conductor." The usefulness of the long, tough, supple stems of the rattan palms is illustrated in homes the world over. Split rattan canes are the splints woven into seats and backs of chairs and couches. All kinds of beautiful furniture are made up with rattan weaving. It is a combination of strength and lightness, lace-like delicacy of pattern and color, that makes for comfort, especially in warm climates, where solid wood or metal furniture require stuffy cushions. Cane seats are cool and elastic.
The round rattan canes are used for many pur poses; whip stocks, walking sticks, and hoops. Split into splints they are made into baskets, fish nets, weirs, and brooms.