COPYRIGHT, 1B9S, BY 



rUORISTS' PUBL.I8t1irSG CO.. 520-535 Caxton Bulldlnft, GtllGAGO. 



Vol. n. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, OCTOBER 6, 1898. 



No. 45. 



VERSCHAFFELTIA SPLENDIDA. 



Under this name we have a remark- 

 ably handsome broad-leaved palm, 

 and the species in question is the only 

 member of the genus so far as known 

 at present. 



In a young state, as depicted in the 

 accompanying illustration, this palm 

 bears some resemblance to Stevensonia 

 grandifolia, but as the verschaffeltia 

 attains age it becomes much more dis- 

 tinct in appearance, its leaves being 

 usually fewer in number and the stem 



Verschaffeltia Splendida. 



of the plant more slender than that of 

 Stevensonia. 



The leaves of Verschaffeltia splen- 

 dida sometimes grow to a length of 

 seven feet, with an extreme breadth of 

 five feet, the tips being cleft, or bifid, 

 and the hody of the leaf irregularly di- 

 vided into broad segments. As noted 

 above ,the stem is quite slender, and 

 is thickly armed with long, blackish 

 spines, and in plants of considerable 

 age the base of the stem is usually 

 surrounded and supported by a mass 

 of strong, wiry roots, a characteristic 

 of many palms when they arrive at 

 large size and approach maturity. 



Verschaffeltia splendida is said to 

 grow to a height of 80 feet in its na- 

 tive land, the Seychelles, but so far as 

 one may judge from specimens of 

 moderate size it is more ornamental 

 in a small state. Seeds form the only 

 method of increase, and require 

 strong heat and plenty of moisture 

 for their germination, a process which 

 is rather slow and uncertain. 



A rather coarse, peaty soil seems 

 best adapted for this plant, and plenty 

 of water should be given, and owing 

 to its tropical origin a night temper- 

 ature of 70 to 75 degrees during the 

 winter months is found most favora- 

 ble. But with this strong heat a moist 

 atmosphere must be maintained, or 

 red spider and thrips will surely give 

 trouble. 



As a florists' palm verschaffeltia is 

 not very likely to become prominent, 

 being rather too tender for such use, 

 but for private collections, public 

 parks and other educational institu- 

 tions it is well worth a place. 



W. H. TAPIifN. 



A GENERAL FLORIST'S BUSINESS. 



Charles Held, Chicago, has a store 

 and about 15.000 feet of glass in a well 

 built up section of the city. He sells 

 much more than he can produce, but 



