12 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Palmae continued. 



wax is formed on all parts of stem and leaves ; in Coper- 

 nicia cerifera, it is found only on the leaves. An Eastern 

 Palm (Calamus draco) yields a resinous, red substance, 

 known as " Dragon's Blood," of an astringent nature, 

 exuded from stems and fruits. Reference has already 

 been made to the preparation of coir from the cocoa-nut, 

 and to the uses of Coquilla-nut kernels, and of the peri- 

 sperm of the Ivory-Palm, for carved ornaments, &c. As 

 yielding food to human beings, Palms are not less valuable. 

 The softer tissues of the interior of the stems of many 

 trees contain large quantities of starchy stuffs, which, 

 when prepared, form the well-known Sago. The greater 

 part of that brought to Europe is obtained from Metro- 

 scylon Iceve and M. Rumphii. The seedling plants of 

 the Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabelliformis), and the tender 

 tissues of the terminal bud of many Palms, are cooked 

 and eaten in various regions of the tropics. A sweet 

 juice, containing a large amount of sugar, is obtained 

 from cuts in the young tissues of many Palms. When 

 allowed to stand, the juice ferments, and forms a drink 

 much used under the name of Palm-wine or Toddy. 

 The fruits of several species of Palmece afford valuable 

 articles of food. Pre-eminent among these are the Date, 

 either fresh or preserved, since it forms the chief food 

 of multitudes of persons in Northern Africa. The peri- 

 sperm of the Cocoa-nut forms a great part of the food 

 of various other tropical races. Of less importance as 

 food are the fruits of the Peach Palm, and of certain 

 other Palms of America ; but even these form a valuable 

 resource, at times, to the native races. From the fruits 

 and seeds of many Palms a large amount of oil can be 

 expressed. The oil obtained from the Oil Palm, as 

 already mentioned, is a valuable article of commerce, and 

 that from several other species is also suitable for use, 

 though not so abundantly produced. From the fruits 

 of certain kinds (Elaeis melanococca, Euterpe edulis, 

 E. oleracea, (Enocarpus Bacaba, (E. Bataua, <E. distichus, 

 &c.), the natives of South America are accustomed to 

 prepare a pleasantly-flavoured drink by crushing the 

 fruits in water. Though this, also, is called Palm-wine, 

 it contains no alcohol, if drunk, as it always is, when 

 freshly made; but alcohol can be obtained from similar 

 preparations of many Palm fruits, when they are allowed 

 to ferment. But to indicate the many uses of Palms is 

 impossible in a brief article. In conclusion, it may be 

 mentioned that in the Tamil language of Southern 

 Hindostan a poem exists, called "Tala vilasam," in 

 praise of the Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabelliformis) ; 

 in it 801 uses for this single species are mentioned, 

 and, even to this number, others might easily be added. 

 Those who desire information on this noble order of 

 plants will find Seemann's "Popular History of Palms" 

 serviceable as an introductory work. Martins' large and 

 expensive " Historic Palmarum " is still the only com- 

 prehensive work on the group ; but very great additions 

 to our knowledge have been made since it was published. 

 Bentham and Hooker's " Genera Plantarnm " is the best 

 and most recent source of information upon the genera. 

 The Palms of Asia have been written upon by Blume, 

 Griffith, Soheffer, Beccari, and others ; those of Australia 

 by Miiller, Wendland, and Drude; the few species from 

 Africa by Wendland and Mann ; and the American Palms 

 by Poppig, Humboldt and Bonpland, Martius, Wendland, 

 Grisebach, Wallace, Spruce, Trail, Im Thurm, and others. 

 The most important work of late years on American 

 Palms is one by Drude, in "Flora Brasiliensis," on the 

 Palms of Brazil. 



Remarks on Decorative Uses, Culture, fyc. The majority 

 of Palms are by no means difficult to cultivate; yet 

 there are a few points relating to their management 

 which require strict attention. All of them need good 

 drainage, and an abundant supply of water in summer ; 

 in winter, too, their roots must never approach dryness. 



Falmse continued. 



By far the larger proportion are stove plants, and, as 

 such, they need a considerable amount of heat, as well 

 as moisture. One species (Tr achy carpus Fortunei) is, 

 however, hardy enough to live outside in many favour- 

 able localities all the year round ; several are available 

 for sub-tropical gardening in summer, and succeed in a 

 warm greenhouse temperature in winter. Many others 

 of a tenderer description may be utilised for conserva- 

 tory embellishment in summer, if transferred to warmer 

 quarters again in autumn. For exhibition, nothing is of 

 nobler aspect than large specimen Palms; these may be 

 most successfully cultivated in pots, or tubs, small in 

 proportion to the size of plant. As decorative subjects 

 for dinner tables, some of the elegant-habited Palms in 

 a small state are indispensable, particularly the well- 

 known and beautiful Cocos Weddeliana, than which 

 nothing better for the purpose exists. Some of the 

 stiffer-growing species withstand confinement in rooms 

 and indifferent treatment remarkably well, even for a 

 long period. Palms represent, therefore, an invaluable 

 class of plants in gardens generally, and a selection of 

 the most useful species is indispensable wherever plant- 

 grouping for effect, and other phases of horticultural 

 decorating, have frequently to be executed. 



Propagation. A few Palms may be propagated from 

 suckers where there are established plants from which 

 such may be procured ; but the general method of in- 

 crease is from imported seeds. Some of these germinate 

 in a much shorter time than others, and also grow on 

 faster afterwards. Seeds should be sown thickly in 

 clean, well-drained pans, and covered with about their 

 own depth of soil; this latter should be rendered rather 

 fine, and should consist of about two parts yellow loam 

 and one sharp silver sand. It may be observed that 

 the seedlings must remain, in many instances, a long 

 time in the seed-pans ; the kind of soil, and the amount 

 of drainage are, therefore, important considerations. 

 The pans should be plunged in, or placed immediately 

 above, a brisk bottom heat, and kept watered, though 

 not sufficient to cause sourness. Seeds may be sown at 

 almost any season early spring being that preferred. 

 Many of the slender-growing and more delicate species 

 may have a sin ill portion of peat added to the loam 

 and silver sand, as this sometimes tends to encourage 

 root action quicker and better than when a heavier 

 soil is used. 



After-treatment. Palms always succeed better, pro- 

 vided proper attention is given to watering, when they are 

 somewhat restricted at the root, than when over-potted; 

 and this rule is applicable from the very first. When 

 two or three leaves are formed on the seedling plants, 

 they should be placed in the smallest-sized pots that will 

 contain their roots without injury, and be arranged close 

 together in a house where a high temperature and moist 

 atmosphere are maintained. It is important at the first, 

 and also at every subsequent potting, that no part of 

 the stem be buried ; the plant's base should merely rest 

 on the surface of the soil, which should be rendered 

 firm throughout by a hand rammer. Roots of Palms 

 should never be cut, if it can possibly be avoided ; indeed, 

 with some genera, this practice would be likely to prove 

 most disastrous. Repotting should be conducted according 

 to the rate at which the plants progress : some grow much 

 faster than others. The quantity of roots may be taken 

 as a guide ; if these are not more or less crowded, the 

 operation of re-potting may be deferred, as a rule, until 

 they are. Established plants, of any size, should be over- 

 hauled in early spring, and any necessary shifting done. If 

 roots are found to have become matted near the base, the 

 old crocks should, if possible, be removed, and soil after- 

 wards substituted. The ball should then be placed intact 

 in another pot, where there is a space of about 2in. all 

 round ; this will often suffice for the next two years, at 



