THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 417 



I shall give n few liiiits for tlicir cultivation for room decoration, for liot- 

 liousc, and for summer decoration outside, for eacli of whicli tlioy are both use- 

 ful and ornamental. 



Until within a very few years all of the species were imported from Europe 

 in the shai)e of young plants, and although these plants travel better than do 

 most species of jjlants, yet there were many losses, and these, added to the 

 freight and duty, increased the price very considerably ; but of late years many 

 florists have imported seeds and raised a large number of plants themselves, so 

 that at the present time some species are sold in this country for less money 

 than in Euroj^e ; the only difficulty being that the seeds alone are not sufficient 

 for botanists to distinguish the species, so that we often sec a strange confusion 

 of names in a lot of plants obtained in this way. When the plants have devel- 

 oped their perfect leaves, it is easy for any one having a knowledge of this class 

 of ])lants to rectify any mistakes. 



Many of tlie species are natives of the hottest parts of the world, and of 

 course are only fit for hot-house decoration ; from growing under the shade of 

 more lofty trees, these will not stand the hot sun without the leaves becoming 

 discolored, and must tiierefore be grown in the shade. In this class I may 

 name Geonoma pumilla and the Cariudovicas, although tlio latter are not true 

 palms, but from their palm-like growth are usually included among them. 

 From the fibre of the Palmata variety the well-known Panama hats arc said to 

 be manufactured. Doemonorops, Bactris, Calamus, and several others of their 

 section are furnished with very sharp spines, in some instances, on the leaves, 

 as well as on the stems, which makes them rather unpleasant to handle. All 

 the spiny species whicii have come under my observation require a strong, 

 moist heat at all times, and are of no use for outside decoration, although many 

 of them are among the most beautiful. 



For furnishing rooms, and for outside decoration, the same species are em- 

 ployed. These include the Livistonas, the type of which is the Avell-known 

 Latania borbonica, whicli is one of the most useful varieties, being of free 

 growth and very cheap, and also iiandsome when well grown. The Seaforthias, 

 or, as they are now more frequently named, the Ptychospermas, are also very 

 handsome and hardy. The various species of Date palm or Phoenix are well 

 adapted to this purpose, and the Kaphis ilabelliformis is one of the best window 

 palms grown ; it is of moderate and compact growth, and will stand the dry air 

 of a room better than most plants. The Arecas are among the most handsome 

 palms grown, and are excellent for this purpose ; lutescens, rubra, and ver- 

 schaffelti are three of the best for all purposes. The Chamfedorea and the 

 Corypha australis are also very useful ; the Chamcerops, with the exception of 

 C. stauracantha, are fine and nearly hardy, but of slower growth than many 

 other palms. It must be remembered that all the palms require an abundance 

 of water both indoors and out, and that if they are allowed to become dry the 

 foliage turns yellow, and the ends of the leaves die. 



Those plants intended for outside decoration must not be grown too warm 

 during the winter, or they will receive a check when removed to the open air, 

 and the plants must also be carefully taken up before frost is expected. As 

 these plants should be grown slowly during the winter, a cellar is not a good 

 place to keep them, and although some sorts might live under such treatment 

 they would be sure to suffer. 



As single specimen plants on the lawn, few equal the palm in beauty, and if 

 the plants are grown in a cool house, the winter will seldom do them any injury. 



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