378 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



sifted leaf-mold and one-half sand makes an excellent 

 medium for seedlings. The seeds are placed in flats and 

 covered about one-half inch deep. If possible, the flats 

 should be placed where they will get a bottom heat of 

 about 80. The seeds should be kept moist at all times. 



612. Culture. Palms object to having their root 

 system disturbed, and seedlings should not be transplanted 

 until they have developed their second leaf. They may 

 then be put into three-inch pots. The soil should be two- 

 thirds rotted sod, and one-third well-rotted cow manure. 

 Never use commercial fertilizers for palms. The soil 

 should be mixed several days 'before potting. There 

 should be an abundance of drainage in the pot, for palms 

 will never grow in wet, undrained soil. 



Seedling palms look alike, and do not show their charac- 

 teristic leaf divisions until the third or fourth leaf. They 

 may then be a year or more old. Pots in which palms are 

 grown should be kept clean. The plants should not be 

 re-potted unless absolutely necessary, and then large 

 pots should not be used. Palms have few fibrous roots 

 and require little pot room. Some species may be root- 

 pruned, that they may be kept in smaller pots. Palms 

 should be re-potted during the early spring, just before 

 rapid growth begins, and they should be potted firmly. 

 In re-potting, set the base of the palm level with the soil. 

 As growth develops, this will become elevated, but it is a 

 provision of nature to keep the stem from rotting off. 

 Water should be given abundantly during the season when 

 palms are making rapid growth, but from November to 

 March it should be given sparingly. The plants should 

 not be set in jardinieres with water in the base. They 

 should be given an abundance of air during the summer, 

 and kept partly shaded at all seasons, or they will lose 



