160 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



It is often found best to resow the seeds which have not germinated 

 and which have been disturbed by lifting those which have grown. 



PH<ENIX OR DATE PALM 



Phrenix seed comes principally from Siam, P. Raebeknii being the 

 principal species used. If fresh seeds are obtainable they will germi- 

 nate easily if given an abundance of moisture and a regular tempera- 

 ture approaching 80 degrees. The seedlings are small and it requires 

 a year to grow a 3-inch pot plant. 



ARECA (Chrysalidocar pus) 



Areca lutescens is the common graceful Palm with yellow stems. 

 It will not stand as rough handling as the Kentia. The seeds come 

 from Brazil. 



COCOS (COCOANUT PALM) 



Cocos Weddelliana is the species most commonly propagated to pro- 

 vide small plants for the fern dish, or to grow on. Fifty per cent of 

 the seed can be counted upon to grow. M. L. Leopold thus describes 

 the growing of Cocos from seed in The Florists' Exchange: 



"Some growers fill flats with a mixture of soil and peat, put the 

 seeds on top of the soil and cover with moss and leave them until they 

 begin to geminate. There is where the trouble begins. The roots 

 of Cocos Weddelliana are very brittle and the smallest negligence while 

 uncovering the seeds to examine whether they have germinated will 

 break off the roots that have just started to show. By several such 

 examinations a large number of the seeds are destroyed. The re- 

 mainder of the germinated seeds which have not been destroyed are 

 put into pots in too heavy soil. The result is that a large number of 

 these die off before they are able to push through. 



"When the seeds of Cocos Weddelliana arrive, pick out a house in 

 which the pipes are placed in the middle of the benches and where no 

 water stands under the benches. Rake the ground well after liming 

 it; get new, or at least well washed, 2-inch pots. Cover the bottom 

 of the pots with a piece of slate or anything that will cover the hole. 

 Fill the pot half way with pure sandy peat, then put in two seeds, cover 

 with peat, and set the pot on the prepared bench. 



"When the potting is done take good care to keep the peat always 

 moist, but not too wet. In six weeks, if proper care has been taken, 

 the seedlings will come through. Give as little top watering now as 

 possible else the small plants will rot. Just spray occasionally. The 

 main point is to keep the ground wet enough for the plants to be able 

 to draw moisture from the bottom. Such care should be taken until 

 the first part of June, then the plants are lifted and plunged in fresh 

 ashes on a center table. 



"A few plants will probably have their roots through the bottom of 

 the pots. Take care that the roots do not get broken off, but cut them 

 off with a sharp knife. 



"Till the middle of September the plants should remain in the peat. 

 Give sharp sy ringings, but avoid heavy waterings. Every other week 

 give a light dusting with sulphur to keep the plants free from scale." 



