Copyright, i898, bv 

 FL.ORISTS' PLIBL.ISI1ING CO., 520-333 Caxton Building, CtllGAGO. 



Vol. n. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8, 1898. 



No. 4J. 



THE PANDANUS. 

 For many years past some few spe- 

 cies of pandanus have occupied quite 

 a prominent place among decorative 

 plants, and this is deservedly so from 

 the fact that the members of this ge- 

 nus in general are not difficult to man- 

 age, and are also quite rapid growers 

 under favorable conditions. 



But from the tact, that the pandanus 

 are natives of the tropics, a rathei 

 high temperature is required to se- 

 cure the best results, a night tem- 

 perature of 65 to 70 degrees being best 

 adapted to their needs, and during the 

 winter months little or no shading is 

 needed, especially for the variegated 

 species. 



Pandanus Reflexus. 



A good loam enriched with old ma- 

 nure forms a satisfactory soil, and as 

 the plants make many coarse roots it 

 is found best not to pot them too firm- 

 ly and during the summer to give an 

 abundance of water. If grown in a 

 moist atmosphere there is but little 

 need for syringing overhead, and par- 

 ticularly during the winter an excess 

 of water may lead to an attack of 

 "spot," if coupled with an accidental 

 low temperature at the same period. 



Propagation is effected by means of 

 cuttings of those species that sucker 

 freely, and also by seeds. Where side 

 shoots or suckers can be obtained 

 there is Init little difficulty in rooting 

 them at any season, this operation be- 

 ing quickened (as in the case of a 

 pine-apple) by keeping the cuttings 

 rather on the side of dryness until 

 they are calloused, and by giving them 

 a fair amount of bottom heat. 



Seeds should be planted in light soil, 

 and placed in a warm house, and the 

 seeds should preferably be set with the 

 bottom end up. this being the end 

 from which the germs emerge. These 

 seeds are somewhat peculiar, being 

 closely set in a more or less globular 

 mass that hangs down on a stout stem, 

 while the individual seeds, or rather 

 fruits, are compound, ana often con- 

 tain 8 or 10 germs, the latter being en- 

 closed in cells of a tough, horny sub- 

 stance within the body of the fruit. 

 Soaking of the seeds is sometimes re- 

 sorted to prior to planting them, but I 

 have not found any gain in rapidity 

 of germination after soaking seeds of 

 P. utilis for 48 hours in tepid water. 



The most/ useful and most widely 

 known species in cultivation at the 

 present time are doubtless P. Veitchii 

 and P. utilis. the first named being un- 

 questionably among the best varie- 

 gated plants for decorative purposes, 

 while its endurance as a house plant 

 depends largely on the conditions un- 

 der wliii-Ii it has been grown, for soft 



