DUCKJIKKK l(i, IS'.IT. 



The Weekly Florists* Reviewo 



143 



Phoenix Rupicola. 



heated wagon or a cold wagon, in a big 

 box, or the weather being mild, you send 

 them standing up in an open wagon, never 

 send too many diiTerent deliveries in one 

 load. I have had men in my employ 

 who have loaded up with a hundred par- 

 cels demanding for fifty calls, a big mis- 

 take; it was enough for four trips; the 

 men get confused, the plants are taking 

 too much of a risk, and it is altogether 

 highly unsatisfactory; small loads and 

 quick delivery and you will have better 

 results. If a dictatorial Mrs. Parvenu 

 who thinks "she is the only lad\- on the 

 avenue," says "Now I want .those plants 

 delivered before 12 o'clock noon Xmas 

 eve," don't proini.se for certain, for you 

 won't keep your promise. Look at her 

 with a solemn pathetic expression and say: 



"Mrs. , we will be driven to death 



that day. If I promise to have them 

 there sure before 4 o'clock won't that 

 do?" The answer will invariabh' be "All 

 right, I guess that will do, good morn- 

 ing." Wm. Scott. 



PHOENIX RUPICOLA. 



The Date Palms, one of the finest of 

 which we illustrate in the present issue, 

 comprise about a dozen distinct species so 

 far as known up to this time; a larger 

 number than this have been catalogued, 

 but many of them are probably only 

 seedling forms from some of the recog- 

 nized species, though doubtless possessing 

 in some instances distinctive character- 



istics that give them value for decorative 

 purposes. 



The species under consideration is one 

 of the most graceful of palms, and de- 

 cidedly the handsomest member of this 

 genus, a well-grown specimen forming a 

 perfect fountain of drooping feathery 

 foliage. P. rupicola is of much dwarfer 

 growth than the typical Date, P. dactyli- 

 fera, when full sized only attaining a 

 height of fifteen to twenty feet, as com- 

 pared with 100 to 120 feet for the latter 

 species. 



The leaves of P. rupicola are long and 

 slender, divided into a large number of 

 narrow pinna;, these being dark green on 

 the upper side and pale beneath, the 

 whole leaf arching gracefull>', and the 

 pinuic- in turn drooping at the tips. 



This plant is well .idapted for decorat- 

 ing and also as a house plant, and may be 

 safely recommended for either purpose, 

 the foliage being of a more enduring 

 character than would appear at the first 

 glance, and in addition does not have 

 that stiff and spiny character that is so 

 objectionable in some of the phoenix 

 when used for decorating. 



As a native of India, P. rupicola has 

 been usually treated as a warm house 

 palm, but the mere fact that a plant 

 comes from a warm latitude does not 

 necessarily indicate that it requires a high 

 temperature, the altitude at which it 

 grows being a clearer guide to the culti- 

 vator than the simple statement that it 

 has been found in a certain country. 



But phcenix in general being rather slow 



growers while young, it is perhaps the 

 wisest plan to err on the side of heat in 

 their cultivation, and with a light and 

 rich soil, and plenty of moisture to 

 encourage them, it does not take very 

 long to grow useful plants in 6 or 7-inch 

 pots. 



Seeds of phtcnix take but a few weeks 

 to germinate if they are fresh, and should 

 be sown in light soil and placed on 

 bottom heat, remaining in the seed pots 

 until the first leaf is fully formed, after 

 which they are potted off into small pots 

 and need careful watering until they are 

 well established. 



W..H. Tapi.in. 



THE GARDENIA AS A FLORIST'S 

 FLOWER. 



This favorite white, sweet scented 

 flower is agam becoming very popular 

 with the buyers of choice flowers and is 

 seen in quantities in the elite flower 

 stores of our large cities at all times of the 

 vear. The gardenia belongs to a genus 

 comprising a large variety of species of 

 useful and ornamental tropical plants, but 

 it is only grown for its flowers either by 

 the florist or private gardener; in conse- 

 quence it is imperative to have the most 

 floriferous variety obtainable to make it a 

 profitable plant to grow. The varieties 

 florida, Fortunei, grandiflora, and one 

 known around New York City as japonica 

 Veitchii are no doubt the most desirable, 

 especially the latter, which will bloom 

 freely during the entire winter. The de- 

 mand for large gardenias, as in other 

 commercial flowers, will in the near fu- 

 ture be the correct idea; hence the old 

 conmion florida stands in the path of 

 retrogression and the risk of going entirely 

 out of cultivation. Intermedia, a cross 

 between florida and Fortunei, will take 

 its place. 



If plants are wanted for winter bloom- 

 ing it will be necessary to prepare them 

 for that purpose; the same also applies to 

 summer blooming plants. Gardenias are 

 certainly of easy culture; no difficulty 

 will be found in their cultivation provid- 

 ing the proper amount of heat and moist- 

 ure is given and they are always kept 

 free from insects. 



If the plants are intended for blooming 

 the coming winter, cuttings should be 

 made during the preceding winter, not 

 later than January. When rooted put 

 them in 2-inch pots in rich, sandy loam; 

 don't allow them under any circum- 

 stances to starve and get stunted in this 

 size pot, but pot them on into another size 

 as soon as the others are filled with roots. 

 A well drained and cuUivated piece of 

 ground should be selected and prepared 

 for them outside. When the weather is 

 sufficiently warm plant them out, giving 

 enough space so they may make well de- 

 veloped specimens and at the same time 

 allow space to cultivate and care for 

 them. 



Instead of the old system of pot cul- 

 ture, growers have discovered that they do 

 infinitely better when planted out in a 

 light, rich loam, as described above. 

 Strict attention must be given to syring- 

 ing and watering; this will materially 

 help to keep them clean and free from 

 mealv bug, which is their most trouble- 



