PALM 



PALMEBELLA 



1197 



mentioned under the name of "Wine Palm," but it 

 seems likely that some species of Raphia are most used 

 for liquors, some portions of these Palms giving a large 

 amount of sap when tapped, and as the juice is rich in 

 sugar, the sap soon ferments and may become strongly 

 alcoholic. The best sago is produced from the pith of 

 Metroxylon or Sagus, the trees being cut down and split 

 into segments for the removal of the pith, the latter 

 being then prepared 

 in a rough granulated 

 form for export. Sago 

 is also procured from 

 Caryota and some other 

 species, but the prod- 

 uct is not equal to that 

 of Metroxylon. The 

 so - called whale - bone 

 brooms frequently used 

 in stables and f orstreet- 

 cleaning are mostly 

 made from Piassaba 

 ( or Piacaba ) fi b e r, 

 this being gathered 

 from around the base 

 of plants of Attaleas, 

 mostly A. f tin if era. 



The Attaleas also produce large seeds or nuts, 

 those of A. funifera being known as Coquilla 

 nuts, and quite largely used for ornamental 

 purposes, being very hard and capable of receiv- 

 ing a fine polish. Many small articles are manu- 

 factured from vegetable ivory, this being had 

 from the nuts of Phytelephas macrocarpa, a 

 singular Palm from South America, bearing a 

 large fruit in which are contained from 6 to 9 of 

 the ivory nuts, the plant itself having a short 

 and sometimes creeping stem from which pro- 

 ceeds a noble head of pinnate fronds that are 

 frequently 15-20 ft. in length. The seeds of Areca 

 Catechu, after preparation with lime and the 

 leaves of the pepper-plant, become the betel nut 

 of the East Indies, so much used by the natives 

 of that portion of the world as a mild stimulant. 

 The Cabbage Palm of the West Indies is Euterpe 

 oleracea, the smooth and straight stems of which 

 are frequently 80-100 ft. high, and the removal of 

 the "cabbage," so-called, means the destruction 

 of such a tree, for the portion eaten is composed 

 of the central bud in which the young leaves are 

 compactly gathered together. 



Palm culture, for decorative purposes in the 

 United States, has made its greatest progress 

 during the past 10 years, and now seems 

 to be a well-established business, with 

 the prospect of a steady increase as the 

 adaptability of these plants becomes 

 better understood. A great area of glass 

 is now in use for Palm culture alone, the 

 Middle States being the center of this 

 industry, though large numbers are also 

 grown in a few southern states; and 

 owing to a favorable climate and gradu- 

 ally improving business methods, it 

 seems probable that American growers 

 will soon be able to compete with their 

 more experienced brethren of Europe in 

 this class of plants. 



The species most used in commercial 

 horticulture in the United States are contained in a 

 very short list, the greater quantity being confined to 

 five species, namely, Llvistona Chinensis, Howea Bel- 

 moreana, Howea Forsteriana, Clirysalldocarpus lutes- 

 cens and Cocos Weddelliana, while less quantities of 

 Caryota urens, several species of Phoenix, P. Canari- 

 ensis being quite largely planted outdoors in the South 

 and on portions of the Pacific coast, Seaforthia elegans 

 and some others of the Ptychosperma group, and some 

 few Livistonas cover the extent of the catalogue for 

 many growers. 



Of these, the seeds are imported in a majority of 

 cases, and on the quality of these seeds the success of 

 the grower depends, so far as getting up a stock is con- 

 cerned. Most of these species germinate readily in 



1627. Germination 

 of Howea Belmoreana. 



a warm greenhouse, providing the seeds are fresh, the 

 slowest of the common commercial Palms being the 

 Howeas. In small quantities these seeds are usually 

 sown in about 6-inch pots, the pots being well drained 

 and nearly filled with light soil, then the seeds sown 

 thickly and covered with half an inch of soil, watered 

 thoroughly and placed where they may receive the bene- 

 fit of some bottom heat, and at no time should they be 



allowed to become 

 very dry, The period 

 required for germi- 

 nation varies greatly 

 with different spe- 

 cies, Livistona Chi- 



/ I / / nensis germinating 



in 2 or 3 weeks if 

 fresh, and being 

 ready for potting in 

 about 2 months, while 

 seeds of some of the 

 Attaleas have been 



f /,7 / known to remain in 



the earth for fully 3 

 years before starting. 

 The seedlings of 

 many species are 



very much alike, the seed-leaf in many instances 

 being a long, narrow, simple leaflet, this de- 

 scription often applying equally to the seedlings 

 of both fan-leaved and pinnate-leaved species; 

 and from this fact it is somewhat difficult to 

 recognize a species while in the juvenile form. 

 Figs. 1624-7 show stages in the germination of 

 common Palms. Special cultural notes for par- 

 ticular species of Palms will be found through- 

 out the Cyclopedia, but at this time a few general 

 remarks regarding treatment of Palms as a whole 

 may be admissible. It has already been noted 

 that Palms in general are tropical in nature, and 

 while there are a number of species that are found 

 at considerable elevations, where the nights are 

 decidedly cool, yet in a young state the same 

 species may make more progress in a night tem- 

 perature of 60 F. ; and with this in view, a mini- 

 mum temperature during the winter of 56-60 is 

 safest for young and growing Palms, while an 

 advance of 15-20 during the day will not hurt 

 them. 



An abundance of water is required, for many 

 Palms grow on the banks of rivers or in swampy 

 ground ; and even those found 6n high and rocky 

 ground send their roots down to such a depth 

 as to find a liberal water supply. 



Some shading throughout the summer is best, 

 the foliage grown under glass being more tender 

 than that naturally produced outdoors. Repot- 

 ting should be done during the spring and sum- 

 mer months, preferably, there being compara- 

 tively little root action on the part of most Palms 

 between November 1 and March 1. Give only 

 moderate-sized shifts, that is, use pots only 1 or 

 2 inches larger, and always ram the soil firmly. 



Rotted sod is the basis for the best soil for 

 Palms, and a fair proportion of stable manure is 

 a safe fertilizer, such a soil being mixed with 

 various proportions of peat or sand, to make it 

 lighter and more open for some delicate species. 



Insects are frequently troublesome if allowed 

 to gain headway, various scale insects doing the great- 

 est damage, while red spiders and thrips may become 

 established unless forcible syringing is persisted in. 

 The most successful practice requires close observation 

 on the part of the grower, and the prompt removal of 

 all insects W . H . TAPLIN. 



PALM A Christi is Castor Oil Plant, Bicinus. 



PALMEKfiLLA (Dr. Edward Palmer, contempora- 

 neous American botanical collector). Lobeliaceas. A 

 genus of one species, a rare herb found in Lower Calif., 

 with small blue fls. like those of a Lobelia. The genus 

 differs from Lobelia in the remarkable adnation of the 

 stamens, as well as in the integrity of the corolla-tube, 



