APRIL 14. ISiiS. 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



813 



THRINAX PARVIFLORA. 



The thriuax include some ten or 

 twelve species of rather dwarf-grow- 

 iug palms, several of which have been 

 in cultivation for many years, though 

 hut seldom seen among the stock of 

 commercial places. 



This fact, however, is not by any 

 means owing to a lack of beauty or 

 gracefulness in the genus in question, 

 but rather to their comparatively slow 

 growth as young plants, the commer- 

 cial florist of the present day finding it 

 necessary to place the most reliance on 

 quick-growing crops, in order to utilize 

 the space at his command to the very 

 best advantage. 



The species specially referred to in 

 the present note. T. parviflora. and 

 which we also illustrate in a moderate 

 sized specimen, was introduced from 

 Jamaica over one hundred years ago. 

 but is still so little grown, in this coun- 

 try at least, that an order for one hun- 

 dred plants of a given size would prob- 

 ably be declined by a majority of our 

 leading palm growers. 



T. parviflora is a slender growing 

 plant, with much divided fan-shaped 

 leaves, that ultimately attain a diame- 

 ter of about two feet, and are support- 

 ed on slender petioles that extend al 

 most horizontally from the stem. The 

 whole plant is unarmed, and the foliage 

 is smooth and of good texture, bearing 

 considerable exposure without injury. 

 Some species of thrinax occasionally 

 sucker from the base, but I have never 

 seen T. parviflora develop that habit, 

 its usual form as seen in commerce be- 

 ing that of a light-looking, single- 

 stemmed plant. 



The seeds of thrinax are rather small 

 and roundish (about the size of a large 

 pea), and germinate freely in a warm 

 house, providing the seeds are fresh. 

 The seedlings are slow in growth for 

 the first two years, and are also sus- 

 ceptible to over-watering, but do not 

 seem to gain much by being grown in 

 a very high temperature, the latter con- 

 dition furnishing better opportunities 

 for the attacks of insects. 



From the fact that this palm seldom 

 grows more than ten to twelve feet 

 high, it seems likely that in its native 

 country it is overshadowed by larger 

 species, and this gives us a hint in the 

 matter of shading, a process that is 

 beneficial to the plants in question, 

 while in regard to temperature we find 

 fiO to t)5 degrees answers very well. 

 W. H. TAPLIN. 



DREER'S NURSERY. 



Riverton. the home for flowers, is 

 too well known to give any detailed 

 description of the extent and 

 glories of the greenhouses and their 

 contents. At the same time, a passing 

 glance and a casual allusion to some 

 of the most striking subjects and nov- 

 elties to be seen at this model estab- 

 lishment would not be entirely out of 

 order. 



Thrinax Parviflora. 



Mr, Always Busy Eisele is never too 

 busy, however, to escort you through 

 the labyrinth of glass and plants, and 

 as you start off. Lieutenant Strohlein 

 wishes you god-speed in case you 

 should get lost in the forest of green- 

 ery and never return. 



At the time of my visit, just before 

 Easter, the packing shed was filled 

 with orders, the demand for azaleas 

 having necessitated an extra "shift" 

 in this important branch. Palms there 

 were by the acre, and azaleas, too, one 

 solid bed of the latter measuring 2.50x 

 25 feet. The varieties grown for 

 Easter were chiefly Empress of India. 

 Vervaeneana. Bernhard Andreas Alba 

 and Mme. Van der Cruyssen. 



Always having had a reputation for 

 ferns, it is only neces ary it should be 

 kept up. and many novelties are to be 

 seen, the following the most striking: 



Adi.-intum Clowesii. a variegated 

 form of Adiantum Sanctae Catherioae 

 and Adiantum lineatum. a variegated 

 form of Adiantum Macr phyllum: both 

 very unique. Adiantum Victoriae 

 Eiselanum, a selected form of Adian- 

 tum Victoria, is sure to And favor as a 

 jardiniere p'ant. Adiantum Versail- 

 lense. a crested and tasseled form. 



with pendant-drooping fronds. Adian- 

 tum Lambertianura, a dwarf of com- 

 pact growing variety, like Adiantum 

 gracillimum. and a possible hybrid be- 

 tween it, and Adiantum cuneatum, are 

 also to be seen. 



Pteris biaurita argentia. a dwarf 

 form of Pteris argyraea and likely to 

 prove very serviceable as a jardiniere 

 plant. Pteris Wimsettii is a very dis- 

 tinct variety, like Pteris serrulata cris- 

 tata. with the habit of Owardii. but 

 more crested, and the pinnae more 

 prominent on the fronds. Pteris ser- 

 rulata voluta is a variety with a pecu- 

 liar drooping habit, giving one the im- 

 pression at first sight that it is wilted. 



Polystichum coriaceum. a distinct 

 and useful variety, either as specimen 

 or jardiniere, was noted. Asplenium 

 obtusilobum. a dwarf, compact va- 

 riety, has a future before it, as it is of 

 hardy constitution and very pretty. 



Dracaena Godseffianum is particu- 

 larly distinct, with its aucuba-like foli- 

 age." It is easy of propagation and 

 will doubtless prove a useful com- 

 mercial variety. Nicotiana collosea 

 variegata will prove an acquisition to 

 the bedding plant collection. The va- 



