1877.] 



AND EOBTIGULTURIST. 



135 



the plant itself might be taken out without^much 

 trouble, planted in the ground for the Summer, 

 and set in a tub again with new earth in the 

 Fall. 



In regard to a list of palms that thrive well in 

 rooms, there are indeed but few which will not 

 •do well. We know a lady who has had for eight 

 years a Date-Palm which has done duty every 

 Winter in her parlor. In the room where we 

 are now writing, in a tub eighteen inches over, 

 is a Banana which was taken up out of the open 

 ground, and put into the tub last Fall. It has 

 been standing in the middle of the room ever 

 since, and though far from the windows has 

 made three large new leaves. In a little while 

 now, it will go out into the open ground again. 

 Last year it sent out a bunch of flowers, but not 

 early enough to mature fruit before frost. The 

 various kinds of bananas we regard as among 

 the best of window palms, and are admirable for 

 Summer decoration. All the species of Cha- 

 mserops, to which our Palmetto belongs — the 

 Sabals, Latania, Seaforthia, the various kinds of 

 Areca, Livistonia, several kinds of Thrinax, 

 the Zamias and Sago Palms, we feel safe in re- 

 commending. But we are sure there must be 

 more that would do well as Winter window- 

 plants, and grow out in the open air in Sum- 

 mer,and of which our palm-growing friends could 

 give us a list. Palms, of course, are more ex- 

 pensive than ordinary plants, but then when one 

 once has a plant, it never decreases in value, 

 and will always bring its cost. 



While taking this care of the tropical plants, 

 we must look up different quarters for those 

 from cool countries. There are the Primulas, 

 Auriculas, Pansies (if we wish to keep some 

 tinds over), Cinerarias, Calceolarias, and numer- 

 ous things which do not like much heat. Many 

 Australian plants are of this character, as well 

 as those from Alpine and high northern regions. 

 It is not so much the heat that worries these 

 plants in our Summers, as it is the dryness of 

 "the atmosphere. We may have some day Al- 

 pine houses for these plants during Summer ; at 

 present the best quarters for them is a cool 

 frame. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



NASTY GREENHOUSES. 



BY REV. E. P. POWELL, CHICAGO, ILL. 



There is no milder word for it. They are su- 

 perlatively and emphatically nasty. It is im- 



possible to remain in them for half an hour 

 without being poisoned. The air you can de- 

 termine to be charged with spores that attack 

 the human as they do the vegetable tissue. 

 Green mould is thriving on pots and on brick 

 walls and on partly decayed boards. Pumps 

 work in sloppy corners and rotten troughs. The 

 plants are covered with fungi as well as innu- 

 merable insects. These latter do what they can 

 to transform vegetable decay into animal life. 

 The plants strive to use up the surplus of car- 

 bonic acid. But both work in vain. There is 

 but one thought in the mind of the owner, to 

 force the growth of as many plants as possible, 

 and then send the withered diseased things out 

 into the pot windows and cases, or conservato- 

 ries of our homes. The amount of disappoint- 

 ment that follows is great and shameful. A single 

 plant from such a carnival of filth, diseases all 

 one's choice specimens, and the labor of years. 

 I have no words to condemn the loathsome 

 stuff that is shipped about every Spring, without 

 regard to our pleasure or health. It has been a 

 sore pecuniary loss to me; and a vexation of 

 soul that nothing could compensate. There are 

 thousands who give over the culture of plants 

 "because they cannot make them grow." The 

 secret of failure lies in thrips, and red spider 

 and lice of every species. Out on nastj' green- 

 houses. 



CHAM/EDOREA. 



BY MANSFIELD MILTON, CLEVELAND, O. 



A genus of beautiful slender growing palms ; 

 natives of tropical America, forming in their 

 native country masses of underwood. Male and 

 female flowers are produced on distinct plants. 

 The undeveloped flower spikes being used by 

 the natives as a culinary vegetable. Some of the 

 many species make excellent subjects for dinner- 

 table decoration, and in Europe are greatly in 

 demand for this purpose. They are most at 

 home growing in a well shaded house, their 

 leaves being very easily injured when exposed 

 much to the direct rays of the sun. For soil, 

 they succeed best in peat having a good mixture 

 of clean river sand; and as they require abun- 

 dance of water, thorough drainage is indispensa- 

 ble. During the hot Summer months they thrive 

 best, standing in a flat filled with water. A few 

 of the best for general cultivation are the fol- 

 lowing : — 



C. Ernesti Augusti. — The leaves of this species 



