THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 133 



them to receive liberal supplies of water without difficulty. From 

 early in the spring until the autumn, the supplies of soft water must 

 be most liberal, but not excessive ; and, during the remaining part 

 of the year, the soil should be maintained in a moderately moist 

 state. During the growing season, an occasional syringing, or a 

 washing with a watering can, to which a rose has been affixed, will 

 materially assist in keeping the foliage clean, and in maintaining 

 the plants in health. Palms kept in the drawing-room, or other 

 indoor apartment, should be taken outside once a week, and have 

 the leaves sponged to remove the dust from them. Here we grow 

 a large collection of both stove and greenhouse kinds, and from the 

 latter I have selected the undermentioned as being specially suited 

 to the requirements of amateurs : — 



Areca aurea, an elegant species, with graceful pinnate leaves and 

 yellow stems; first class for the diuner-table. 



A. rubra, similar to the preceding, but more robust, and with 

 purplish stems. 



C'hamoerops Fortunel, a handsome fan palm, of rather dwarf 

 growth, very cheap and very hardy. 



C. Jiumili-9, similar in ciiaracter to the preceding species, but 

 smaller and of dwarfer growth, neat and useful, also cheap. 



Coryplia australis, one of the smallest of fan palms, handsome 

 and usetul for windows. 



Kentia australls, a handsome species, with bold pinnate leaves, 

 very handsome and desirable. 



Latania borhonica, one of the most ornamental and best known 

 of fan palms ; it is very cheap, and should be one of the first pur- 

 chased. 



Phoenix dachjlifera. This is the Date Palm, and is well worth a 

 place for the interest attached to it, as well as for its distinctness 

 and beauty. With the aid of a cucumber frame a stock of plants 

 can be readily raised from the stones of the dates purchased at the 

 shops, and small plants may be obtained at a low rate. 



Eliains flabelUformis, a beautiful palm, small in growth and 

 distinct. It produces a large number of stems averaging an inch in 

 diameter, as shown in the accompanying illustration, and these are fur- 

 nished with small palmate leaves. Small plants with a single stem, 

 are very pretty, and well suited for jardinets and windows. 



Seaforthia elegans, a robust and very elegant palm, with bold, 

 graceful pinnate leaves. 



Thrinax parviflora, one of the most elegant of fan palms, and 

 worthy of a place in the smallest collection. 



ELiiCTiio-PLATiNo NATURAL Flowehs. — An ingeDi'ous application of electro- 

 metallurgy has recently been brought before the notice of the Society of Arts. It 

 •consists in the application of a coat of silver, by means of electro-deposition, on 

 natural leaves and flowers. By tliis means very delicate ornaments are produced, 

 since the precise form and texture of tlie natural leaf is preserved under the thin 

 silver film. The special priccss by which these results are attained is the invention 

 of Mr. Denton. 

 Msy. 



