158 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



show signs of splitting open, tie a string or piece of raffia around them 

 to prevent water from getting inside. Leave the pods on the plants 

 until they begin to crack open, when they should be removed from the 

 plant, placed in a paper bag and stored in a dry place to prevent loss 

 of seed until time to sow. 



"One way of sowing the seed is to sprinkle it on the surface of the 

 compost in which the plants are growing. Personally, from observa- 

 tions taken at several places where Orchids are successfully raised from 

 seed, I believe it is better to use muslin or calico; that is, take a piece 

 of this material and place in it a ball of sphagnum and press the whole 

 into, say a 3^-inch or 4-inch pot, in such a way that the highest part 

 is in the center of the pot, sloping gradually toward the edges, and 

 pressed in firmly. After this is done water thoroughly and allow to 

 dry, after which the seed may be distributed over the surface of the 

 goods. 



"If a propagating case is available it may be used if the tempera- 

 ture does not exceed 75 degrees; otherwise place a piece of glass over 

 the pot, put the pot on an inverted pot, and the latter in a saucer of 

 water to prevent insects from attacking the seed. Watering should 

 at first be done only by immersing the pot up to within an inch of the 

 rim, as any overhead watering would wash away the seed. Later on 

 spraying with a very fine sprayer will be all right. Air must also be 

 admitted carefully. After germinating the little seedlings should not 

 be allowed to get dry. When germination takes place it may be noted 

 by the fact that the seed takes on a green apearance, after which it 

 develops into green bodies showing a growing point; then roots appear. 



"The tiny plants are now ready to be pricked off into pots, several 

 to a pot. These should be prepared carefully, with ample drainage 

 of broken pots and charcoal, over which good Osmunda fiber should 

 be placed, the top being finished off with the same material mixed with 

 a sprinkling of live sphagnum and cut up finely. Insert the little plants 

 in holes a quarter of an inch apart and spray the whole with a fine 

 sprayer to settle the plants in position. Great care should now be 

 exercised to prevent them from damping-off, through excessive moisture 

 or too close an atmosphere. A constant, genial moisture and the 

 admittance of air in moderation in short, constant attention is what 

 is now required. Later on, when the little plants begin to send forth 

 their leaves, they may be transferred to small one-inch pots, a plant 

 being put in each." 



PALMS 



Among the many plants excluded by Quarantine No. 37 are Palms 

 Most of the stock of Palms sold in the United States formerly cam 

 from Belgium, but a few Palms have been grown in California for som 

 years. 



Kentia (Howea). The two commoner Palms used by the com- 

 mercial florist are the Kentias, K. Forsteriana and K. Belmoreana. These 

 are propagated to the extent of a half million seeds per year hi America 

 alone. The seeds come from Lord Howe's Island, in the South Pacific, 

 and are often a long tune in transit. They sometimes heat badly in 

 the cases and suffer some injury. The Florists 1 Review for June 5, 

 1919, says of them: 



