1873.] HALF HARDY PALMS. 227 



HALF HARDY PALMS. 



The many fine varieties of these in cultivation now are great acquisi- 

 tions for room-decoration, and for grouping or standing singly out- 

 doors. Their noble appearance, and light and graceful forms, and 

 their great diversity of character, enhance their value. When large 

 enough many of the varieties can be set out for the summer with good 

 effect when judiciously placed. Where there is convenience for 

 wintering them many more of the Palm tribe should be used in 

 flower-gardens, especially when they are well sheltered, as high winds 

 soon disfigure the majority of them. All are of easy growth, delight- 

 ing in a rich loam, with a few bones to keep the soil porous. In the 

 case of any plants thafare getting too large for table work, this is a 

 good time to give them a liberal shift, paying particular attention to 

 the drainage, which should be carefully and well done. If they 

 are put into 11 and 12 inch pots, large plants will be the reward. 

 Scarcely any plant gets so large in the same sized pot and looks healthy 

 for a long time, as Palms do. After potting them let the plants be 

 put into a vinery or peach -house at work, not overwatering them 

 for some time until they have commenced to root freely, after which 

 they must not be checked for want of it, allowing them to stand 

 under glass all this season in a moist growing temperature. Although 

 they will stand a large quantity of rough and cool treatment, still they 

 enjoy liberal culture and soon make fine large plants for standing 

 about in summer. Grown on as recommended the first year, and by 

 gradually hardening them off as the autumn approaches, they will 

 stand all the winter anywhere if the glass does not get below 40° and 

 take no harm ; and if there be large demand for room-decoration or 

 where there are entrance-halls or staircases to be filled with plants, 

 they are invaluable. In such positions there is not much light and 

 little ventilation, and there is no other class of plants to equal Palms 

 for such places. After having done duty in this way through the 

 shortest of the days in winter, and if desirous to get them a little 

 larger for placing out of doors in summer, if they have been potted 

 the previous year, nothing wiU be needed but to put them in a vinery 

 starting about March, where they can stand until the latter end of May, 

 when hardening-off should commence, so that by the time all the 

 heaviest of the bedding-out is done they will be ready to be jDlaced 

 in their allotted places. When in small pots, and it is wanted to keep 

 them so, if very much pot-bound, reduce the balls considerably ; put 

 them in clean pots with good drainage, making the compost pretty 

 rich, and ramming it quite firm to get in as much soil as possible 

 in the pots, as the pots will be small in proportion to the size of 

 plants. Let them be placed in a close moist house for a short time, 



