236 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



conservatories and greenhouses, because of their distinctive beauty 

 and great powers of endurance. Therefore, I anticipate the list 

 which follows will be largely useful, both to such as desire to enlarge 

 their collections for window and table decoration, and for others who 

 would prefer to have in their conservatories the most elegant and 

 striking forms of vegetation without incurring great expense or 

 serious trouble. It will be noticed that Palms play an important 

 part in the embellishment of apartments in Paris : — 



Chamcerops humilis and excelsa, two very fine hardy palms. 



Corypha australis. — This plant, although now but little known, is 

 destined in a short time to occupy a foremost place in the decora- 

 tion of apartments, where it makes itself conspicuous by its peculiar 

 beauty, and the number of its leaves ; it is, I believe, the most rustic 

 in appearance of all the palms. 



Cocos coronata and flexuosa are very elegant, and produce a 

 charming effect. 



Latania borbonica is certainly the most recherche plant of this 

 family, and is valued as much for the beautiful green of its leaves as 

 for its elegant appearance. 



Phoenix dactylifera, leonensis, and reclinata are also very much 

 sought after, and are highly esteemed. 



Areca alba, lutescens, and rubra, are distinct and handsome. 



The following list of palms could also be used with great advan- 

 tage in the decoration of apartments ; but their high price and great 

 rarity cause them to be not much known, although they accommo- 

 date themselves to the atmosphere of rooms as well as any of those 

 previously mentioned. 



Areca sapida, most of the species of the genus Caryota, Cha- 

 uncedorea amazonica and elatior, Chamcerops palmetto, Elais Guinien- 

 sis, Euterpe edidis, with its finely-serrated and very graceful foliage ; 

 Oreodoxa regia, young plants of which are frequently used ; Phoenix 

 pumilis, Phapis Jlabelliformis, and Thrinax argentca and elegans. 



Next in importance to the palms we must place the Drac^nas. 

 Those which are the most frequently noticed are Dracwna australis, 

 canncefolia, congesta, indivisa, rubra, striata, terminates, and umbra- 

 culifera. Those most easily managed, and therefore the most popu- 

 lar for window ornameuts, are Dracama congesta, rubra, and ter- 

 minalis. 



Pandanus utilis, and Javanicus variegaius ; Cycas revoluta, and 

 the different varieties of Aspidistra, occupy also a very important 

 place in the decoration of apartments. 



The plants composing the following list, although very rural and 

 elegant in appearance, are less sought after and cultivated than the 

 preceding ones, because tbey are more difficult to manage as window 

 plants, and require considerable care and attention. They are more 

 suitable for frames and cases, and may frequently be met with cul- 

 tivated in that manner. 



Several species of Aralia, more especially Aralia Sieboldii ; 

 Bambusa japonica varieqata and B. Fortunei variegata; the different 

 varieties of Begonia; most of the Bromeliacea ; Caladium odorum, 

 for winter decoration, and the other species, with their beautifully- 



