THE CULTURE AND 



cause the oil repels water. If you want the 

 foliage of your Palms to look bright and fresh, 

 put three or four spoonfuls of milk in a basin 

 of water and wash the plant with this infusion. 

 Go over them leaf by leaf, using a sponge or a 

 soft cloth to apply the liquid. 



I frequently receive letters from the owners 

 of Palms who tell me that their plants elevate 

 themselves above the soil, making stilts of their 

 roots. Some write me that they have repotted 

 their plants repeatedly, using deeper pots, and 

 sinking the plant so that its base touches the 

 soil, but in a short time it is up in the air again. 

 Do not worry over this condition of things. 

 It is the nature of the plant to grow in that 

 way. No harm comes from the exposure of 

 the upper part of the roots, and great injury 

 may be done by putting the base of the plant in 

 contact with the soil. I have known decay to 

 set in, in many instances, because of it. 



How large pots shall w r e use ? That depends 

 on the age of the plant to a considerable ex- 

 tent. If three or four years old and of vigor- 

 ous development, a twelve-inch pot may be 

 required, but up to that age I would not advise 

 pots more than eight or ten inches across. If 

 concentrated fertilizers are used, the plant 



