the
inside. The fruit furnishes the essential oil of citron and the
essential oil of cedra. There are several varieties; the fingered
citron is a curious fruit, and the Madras citron is very long and
narrow; the skin is covered with protuberances.

127. CLUSIA ROSEA.--A tropical plant which yields abundantly of a
tenacious resin from its stem, which is used for the same purpose
as pitch. It is first of a green color, but when exposed to the
air it assumes a brown or reddish tint. The Caribs use it for
painting the bottoms of their boats.

128. COCCOLOBA UVIFERA.--Known in the West Indies as the seaside grape,
from the peculiarity of the perianth, which becomes pulpy and of a
violet color and surrounds the ripe fruit. The pulpy perianth has
an agreeable acid flavor. An astringent extract is prepared from
the plant which is used in medicine.

129. COCOS NUCIFERA.--The cocoanut palm. This palm is cultivated
throughout the tropics so extensively that its native country is
not known. One reason of its extensive dissemination is that it
grows so close to the sea that the ripe fruits are washed away by
the waves and afterwards cast upon far-distant shores, where they
soon vegetate. It is in this way that the coral islands of the
Indian Ocean have become covered with these palms. Every part of
this tree is put to some useful purpose. The outside rind or husk
of the fruit yields the fiber from which the well-known cocoa
matting is manufactured. Cordage, clothes, brushes, brooms, and
hats are made from this fiber, and, when curled and dyed, it is
used for stuffing mattresses and cushions. An oil is produced by
pressing the white kernel of the nut which is used for cooking
when fresh, and by pressure affords stearin, which is made into
candles, the liquid being used for lamps. The kernel is of great
importance as an article of food, and the milk affords an
agreeable beverage. While young it yields a delicious substance
resembling blanc-mange. The leaves are used for thatching, for
making mats, baskets, hats, etc.; combs are made from the hard
footstalk; the heart of the tree is used as we use cabbages. The
brown fibrous net work from the base of the leaves is used as
sieves, and also made into garments. The wood is used for buildin