3 PALM TREES Of the world's 2,500-plus species of palm trees, the Palmyra palm is most important to man, next to the coconut palm, because it yields food and provides over one hundred different useful end-products. To obtain the majority of its benefits, the Palmyra needs to be climbed twice daily to extract the nutritious juice from its flower-bunches. It is this juice, converted by several different methods, that is the basis for a wide variety of other products. Collecting this juice, however, is arduous - and often dangerous - work, for the trees can top 30 metres in height.
When the Palmyra is climbed twice a day. it is possible to get most of its benefits
strict safety measures are taken
the best coconuts can be picked
it encourages the tree to grow to over thirty metres
there are several different ways of collecting Palmyra flower juice
many people rely on palm trees for their basic food requirements
The juice from the Palmyra's flower-bunches is better quality if the tree is at least 30 metres high
4 OVERREACTING TO A JOKE More often than not, the person who habitually laughs longest and loudest when a joke is retold does not possess a particularly keen sense of humour. Though he may not admit it, he is vaguely aware of his deficiency, and frequently goes to extremes to cover it up. A mediocre joke is likely to get as big a rise out of him as a truly humorous one. Psychological studies, likewise, show that people with a really keen sense of humour are not prone to much laughter. They are highly appreciative of humour, but they are also discriminating. And they never overreact.
