Show EVES FORBIDDEN PUIT FRUIT F the double doable co ct gro grown at new kew after many attempts the remarkable palm tree known as the coco de mer or double coco cocoanut anut has at last become firmly established in the royal gardens kew the coco de mer has a peculiar way of its own when it decides to grow most plants are content to spring straight up from their seeds not so this one however its huge fibrous fruits fourteen inches or more in length require very careful manipulation to induce them to sprout at one end when this takes place the growing shoot must be tempted to attach itself to the soil sonie sometimes times at a distance of two or three feet before the ae leaves aves will develop the double cocoanut coco anut possesses charms for more people than the gardener or the botanist and this being so BO it is not surprising to find that the late gen gordon became deeply interested in it indeed judging from the numerous sketches he has left behind of the tree its fruit etc and the many remarks he made concerning them his interest was more than passing ue ile appears to have studied everything in connection with the coco de mer and it is somewhat remarkable to find that he regarded it as the tree which bore the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden whether it grew in the garden of eden or not is difficult to to say at any rate its native home the islands to the northeast of madagascar is at present somewhat remote from the spot reputed to have been occupied by adam and eve the large fruits which look like two ordinary cocoanuts cocoa nuts fused together hence the name of double cocoanut coco anut have been known for about one hundred and fifty years and many are the legends among the natives of the east concerning their origin the fruits were usually found floating in the sea and the malay and chinese sa sailors alors used to say that they grew on a tree at the bottom of the ocean brandon banner |