MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 131 
The Palm House.—The large amount of free overhead 
space in this house permits of a treatment of the plantations 
that is unique. In most palm houses it has been necessary 
to place all large plants in the central space and confine the 
walks to the outside boundaries. This produces the effect of 
a large central bed the individual plants of which are more 
and more inaccessible the farther they are removed from 
the walks. In the conservatory under consideration, however, 
such an arrangement has been carefully avoided. In the 
palm house there are four entrancgg, one on each side, con- 
nected by walks in such a manner as to shut off a direct view 
from door to door. Paths along, the axes of the house have 
been dispensed with, and in their place pleasing vistas, pro- 
duced by leaving the plantations open, and enhanced by a 
green flooring of selaginella, have been provided. Along the 
walks, on both sides, the largest plants have been placed 
and in such close proximity to them that they are readily 
seen. While not all of the specimens in the house are palms, 
the latter predominate and the general effect produced is that 
of a palm grove. 
On each side of the east entrance as one enters, are fine 
specimens of the rattan cane (Rhapis flabelliformis) banked 
in against the entrance; a similar pair decorates the west 
entrance. Turning to the right and following the path 
around the house an interesting succession of plants appears 
as follows: A large specimen of fortune’s palm (Trachy- 
carpus excelsus) a tree which, in England, is considered 
hardy. Behind it and almost touching the roof of the house 
is the tallest plant in the conservatory, a specimen of the 
Romanzoff palm (Cocos Romanzoffiana). This was formerly 
“in the old front house where, ones to the lack of head space, 
it had been sunk in a pit about twelve feet deep. Its removal 
was a difficult task, because of the long, brittle and slender 
trunk and even now it is necessary to support it by means 
_of wires fastened to the stem and to the sides of the house. 
In front of this specimen is a large phoenix, a species of date 
palm, which arches over the walk to meet a splendid specimen 
of the royal wine palm (Oreodoxa regia). The latter is a 
familiar sight in the southern states, especially in Florida. 
‘Behind the royal palm stands a small but interesting speci- 
men of the cabbage palm (Livistona australis), sometimes 
called the fan palm, and a little beyond the Chinese fan palm 
(Livistona chinensis). The latter form will attract consider- 
able attention because of its immense size. It formerly stood 
opposite the doorway in the center of the Linnean. house. 
Close by is a tall specimen of Agathis loranthifolia. It has 
outgrown all the old greenhouses and although it belongs to 
