426 GENERAL REVIEW. 



leaved and Pinnate-leaved groups ; and it is a little singular to 

 note their present popularity in our gardens, when we remember 

 that ten years ago a Palm was scarcely to be found in England, 

 except in our great botanical or other public gardens. All 

 Palms are readily propagated by sowing imported seeds in a 

 heat of 80 to 90, taking care not to supply moisture too lib- 

 erally until germination commences. Few Palms will germin- 

 ate in a low temperature ; but in this respect the Date-palm 

 appears to be one of the hardiest, as its seeds germinate in a 

 sitting-room window, and it can be readily raised by sowing 

 the Date-stones of the shops. The best plan is to sow the 

 seeds as soon as they are received on a genial bottom-heat in 

 a high temperature. Cocos Wedddliana bore fertile seeds at 

 Manley Hall, Manchester, in 1871-72, and it has also done 'so 

 since elsewhere. The csespitose species, as Rhapis, may be 

 multiplied by division ; but seeds are to be preferred in all 

 cases where attainable. 



It is rather singular that none of our lynx-eyed propagators 

 have succeeded in hybridising Palms. Their bisexual flowers 

 would rather facilitate cross-breeding than otherwise : and if 

 fruit-bearing plants can be procured of Cocos Weddelliana, Cha- 

 nuzrops humilis, Calamus dliarts, or any of the dwarf-growing 

 species of -Geonoma, Areca, or Chamadora, pollen could in 

 most cases be procured from such allied species or genera as 

 continue flowering nearly all the year round in one or other of 

 our great botanic or public gardens. 



A hybrid Palm was grown by M. Denis, Hyeres, and was 

 obtained by fertilising Cham&rops humilis, var. arborescens, with 

 pollen of the Date-palm Phoenix dactlyifera. The leaves are 

 described as being like those of the male parent, as are also the 

 small, ovate, Date-like fruits. The seed, however, occupies 

 nearly the whole of the interior of the fruit, is rounded in form, 

 not grooved, as in the Date, and the embryo, instead of being in 

 the centre, is at one end of the hard albumen. It would be 

 very interesting to know if progeny of this hybrid are in existence. 



THE SCREW-PINE FAMILY (Pandanacece). 



A small family of tropical plants, having for the most part 

 sword-shaped, sharply serrate leaves, curiously arranged in a 

 spiral or screw-like manner, on a more or less woody stem, the 

 latter being often supported several feet above the surface of 

 the earth by stout buttress-like roots. The flowers are borne 

 on a wholly-covered spadix, and are either unisexual or poly- 

 gamous. They are most abundant in the tropical islands of 



