Jnne 17, 183J. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



401 



PALMS.— No. 1. 



INNyGUS well-namecl these the princes of tliC! 

 vcgot.ablo world, for in inaj(!sty they surpass 

 all other plants. In this country, however, 

 they luivo not reccivi^d tho attention which 

 they deserve ; indec^d, thoj' were seldom in- 

 cluded in private collections, but usually had 

 to be sounlit after as curiosities in botanic 

 gardens. Our neighbours across the Channel, 

 appreciating their elepant and graceful foliage, 

 use them largely for decorative purposes — for 

 halls and corridors. Their persistent, leathery, green 

 foliage endures very well the dry atmospliere, the dust, 

 and the variable temperature of rooms and halls, making 

 them very desirable for in-door decoration, even more so 

 than Ferns and most handsomo-foliaged plants, which in 

 draughty and dusty places like these are neither healthy 

 nor long-lived, and many fine specimens after remaining 

 but a few days in them have to be removed' only to pine 

 away and die. With Palms the case is very difl'erent. A 

 stay of weeks, and even of months in such places, does not 

 seem to impair their beauty. It is only in a young state, 

 however, that tliey are of a size suitable for general in-door 

 decoration. Some of those which when young are best 

 suited for this purpose, after several years' growth become 

 too large, and are only available on particular occasions. 



The size of Palms appears to me tlie greatest drawback 

 to their extended culture, for few persons like to be con- 

 tinually purchasing young stock, as they must do if they 

 wish to have plants suitable for replacing those becoming 

 too large. It is true they may be raised from seed, but it 

 would hardly pay private growers to do so, and stUl keep 

 plants which have become too large, as Palms when full- 

 grown attain such proportions as unfit them for ordinary 

 plant houses. The only plan would be to grow them in 

 almost the same size of pot, giving but a slight shift every 

 second year, not potting more frequently than that, and 

 maintaining the vigour of the plants by top-dressings of 

 rich compost. In this way, I have no doubt, the plants 

 may be employed for ten or twelve years, or perhaps more. 

 Those that would not conform to this mode of treatment, 

 would do very well for the greenhouse or conservatory as 

 permanent occupants, and would also be available for 

 house-decoration on particular occasions when it might be 

 desirable to employ larger plants than usual, in order to 

 give a greater ellect than that produced by plants of nearly 

 tlie same size. In lofty greenhouses they would for many 

 years remain objects of great beauty and interest, whilst for 

 conservatories they are indispensable, as they are as hand- 

 some as tree Ferns, and have a more noble appearance. 



For indoor decoration Palms maybe grown in any glass 

 structure with the temperature of an intermediate house, 

 or in one where the heat maintained is between that of a 

 Btovo and greenhouse. No place could be better than a 

 warm vinery : or even a cool vinery not altogether un- 

 heated, would answer admirably for a number of species ; 

 but where plants for in-door decoration are in great de- 

 mand, a house should be set apart for them, as well as 



No. 129.— Vol. XVI., New Seeif.p. 



for other plants capable of enduring the dry atmosphere. 

 draughts, and dust of rooms. For general purposes a low- 

 roofed house would be sufficient, but to have the plants of 

 all sizes, both in height and in width, there should be room 

 for growing large as well as small plants ; and to secure 

 fine foliage, the hou-;e should be in two divisions— one 

 a sort of stove, and the other a greenhouse, taking care to 

 assort tho plants for each according to their requirements. 

 It should be at least '20 feet wide, C. feet high at the sides, 

 and in tho centre a height of 20 feet from the stage wonld 

 not be too much. There might be a stage and path, eacb 

 ••! feet wide, all round, and a central bed s feet wide. A 

 house of this description would do for growing the plants, 

 but not for raising them, as for the first two or three years 

 they require a much higher temperature than older plants, 

 and should have a hotbed to secure their becoming speedily 

 re-established after potting- oil', as it will aiford the roots 

 a uniform temperature and moisture without having re- 

 course to frequent waterings, which, wlien a plant is newly 

 potted, retard rooting. For established plants, bottom beat 

 is not necessary. 



As the seeds are not procurable in qWaiititieg, and at 

 prices suited to our requirements, I need no Bnake any 

 particular comments on that mode of raising tho plants. 

 To raise them, however, all that is necessary is a brisk 

 bottom heat of from bj' to 90", and a top heat of from 76* 

 or 75° to H.")" or !)0°, with a rather close and moist atmo- 

 sphere. This should be maintained until tho plants are 

 of a size fit for potting-off. When fairly up they should be 

 potted in ;!-inch pots, using a compost of .sandy fibrous 

 peat, with one-fourth of silver sand. The seeds of some 

 Palms do not vegetate for many weeks, or it may be months, 

 therefore patience will liave to be exercised. The seed- 

 lings should be continued in a brisk bottom and top heat 

 until they become established, and then the tempera- 

 ture may be reduced, or the plants removed to a house 

 having a night temperature of from (J0° to (i.')° in winter, and. 

 70° in summer, and a day temperature of 70° or 7-5" in 

 winter, and from 75" to i^H" or 00'" in summer. Place them 

 in larger pots as may be necessary, but do not give large 

 shifts ; keep them under rather than over-potteil, and 

 plunged in a bottom heat of 70' or 75°. When the pots 

 are plunged in a hotbed for several weeks after potting, it 

 will be suificient to sprinkle the plants twice a-day with 

 water slightly warmer than the atmosphere, as the less 

 water given, the more speedy will be the rooting. The 

 soil, however, must be kept moist. The bes^. time for sow- 

 ing the seeds is February or !March. The plants should 

 bo well-hardened-otr before being removed to a cooler 

 liouse. 



Although a liousc for the cultivation of Palms alone is 

 desirable, they will succeed in any glass structure which 

 is high enough, whether it be a stove or greenhouse. They 

 are to be found in greater or less number in most collee- 

 tions, and they will be more grown as their merits become 

 known, especially when they can be obtained at a lower 

 price. At present tlie cost of large plants fit for decorative 

 effect is not such as to lead many to enter on their culture. 

 Small plants, however, may now be had at most of th« 



No. 1081.— Vol. XLI., Old Seeibs. 



