Palm 



( 156 ) 



Pampas Grass 



Propagation. A few Palms like Rhapis flabelli- 

 formis and K. humilis, which branch at the base, 

 may be propagated by taking off more or less 

 rooted suckers and establishing them in pots. 

 The majority are propagated by seeds, the more 

 common of which are imported in boxes containing 

 several hundreds. These may be sown thickly in 

 pans or boxes in good fibrous loam with a third of 

 sharp silver sand. Give good drainage, as many 

 of the seeds take a long time to germinate. In 

 Palm growing establishments the boxes are often 

 stood under the benches in warm pits till the 

 seeds commence to germinate. The process 

 will be hastened by standing the boxes at this 

 stage upon a hotbed or bench with bottom heat. 

 Pans containing choice seeds may be plunged in a 

 hotbed at once. Seeds may be sown at any season, 

 as soon as received, but early spring is the best 

 time. Cover them with their own depth of soil, 

 and never allow them to become dry, though 

 saturation must always be avoided. 



Soil. Good fibrous yellow loan), with plenty of 

 sharp silver sand, and a few nodules of charcoal to 

 ensure porosity, makes the best and most durable 

 compost for Palms. Some use a little peat as well ; 

 while others recommend loam, peat, leaf mould, 

 and sand, but everything liable to decay quickly 

 should be avoided. A little peat may be used in 

 the early stages of the more delicate and slow- 

 growing species. After the plants become of a 

 useful size, anything that would promote rapid 

 growth is undesirable, as slowly grown plants are 

 the most useful and durable. 



Potting. When the seedlings have developed 

 two or three leaves, pot them off singly in pots 

 sufficient to contain the roots, those most suitable 

 for Palms being narrow and deep. Place them on 

 benches near the glass as thickly as they will 

 stand. At all subsequent pottings use pots only 

 slightly larger than those they were in, the object 

 being to promote a slow, sturdy, healthy growth. 

 Over-potting is detrimental to their welfare, 

 especially when the roots are few. Avoid injury 

 to the roots, and pot firmly. The ball of soil must 

 be evenly moist before operations are commenced. 

 In the case of large plants in tubs, many of the 

 free-growing Palms will permit of the ball being 

 pared down a little. This must not be attempted 

 with small plants in pots. In large stoves, warm 

 conservatories, and Palm houses, large trees may 

 be planted out in prepared, well-drained borders, 

 3' deep. 



Other Cultural Points. Most Palms require a 

 moist, warm house or stove, with a range of tem- 

 perature of 50 to (5(1 in winter, and 60 to 80 in 

 summer. Some of the hardier kinds may be used 

 in the conservatory in summer, and even in the 

 sub-tropical garden. The leaves should be full- 

 grown, and hardened by ventilation, before plants 

 are taken into dwelling rooms. Trachycarpus 

 excelsa is hardy in the south and west of England. 

 Palms in pots should receive abundance of water 

 in summer, and must not get dry in winter. When 

 pot-bound, use liquid manure and soot water, 

 which will give the foliage a rich, dark green 

 colour, this feeding being preferable to repotting at 

 unfavourable seasons, or too frequently at any 

 time. Mealy hug and scale are amongst the more 

 troublesome insects. Frequent syringing will serve 

 to keep the plants clean. Sponging may become 

 necessary at times, but syringing with kerosene or 

 petroleum emulsion is less troublesome, very effec- 

 tive, and takes far less time. 



Palms for Subtropical Bedding. In places where 

 tall trees cast a light shade in summer, so as to 

 avoid the undue browning of the leaves, Palms 

 may be grown by themselves or in association with 

 other tropical plants, including Tree and other 

 Ferns, with bold and handsome as well as graceful 

 foliage. All must be removed indoors on the ap- 

 proach of inclement weather. Shelter against 

 rough winds is also a primary requisite. Small 

 specimens of Cocos weddelliana may be used as 

 dot plants in fully exposed carpet-bedding designs. 

 Some of the principal species of Palms for bedding 

 out are Chamserops humilis and varieties, Chrys- 

 alidocarpus (nyii. Areca), lutescens, Cocos weddel- 

 liana, Geonoma gracilis, Howea (si/n. Kentia) 

 belmoreana, H. forsteriana, Jubrca spectabilis, 

 Livistona australis, L. chinensis (xyn. La- 

 tania borbonica), L. rotundifolia, Phoenix canarien- 

 sis, P. reclinata, P. rupicola, Rhapis flabelliformis, 

 Rhopalostyle Baueri, R. sapida, and Trachycarpus 

 excelsa (hardy in the south). Many others might 

 be tried when they are easily obtainable. 



Palms for Dwelling Rooms. Many of the hardier 

 species of Palms are used from time to time in 

 house decoration, in dwelling rooms, reception 

 rooms, halls, and lobbies ; but those which may be 

 described as relatively durable are not particularly 

 numerous. Their durability also depends largely 

 upon their having been grown slowly in moderately 

 warm houses, rather than otherwise, before intro- 

 duction to dwelling houses. The following are 

 some of those most commonly met with : Chrysalid- 

 ocurpus (syn. Areca), lutescens, Cocos weddelliana, 

 Howea (syn. Kentia) belmoreana, H. forsteriana, 

 Livistona. australis, L. chinensis (si/n. Latania bor- 

 bonica), .Phoenix canariensis, and Trachycarpus 

 excelsa. Many other equally line species are 

 vised for shorter periods, especially in gentlemen's 

 establishments. 



PALMITE. 



An evergreen, perennial herb (ord. Juncacea?), 

 like a gigantic Wood-rush, the broad, deeply chan- 

 nelled leaves being finely but sharply serrated on 

 the edges. Propagation, by seeds, and by division. 

 .Soil, fibrous loam and peat or leaf mould, with 

 plenty of sand, plunging the pots for a few inches 

 in the tank of a stove. The only species is Pri- 

 onium Palmita, 6', brown, the old leaf bases of 

 which furnish a strong fibre used for brush- 

 making. 



PAMPAS GRASS. 



One of the most beautiful plants for lawn 

 specimens or for clumps near water is the giant 

 Pampas Grass, commonly known as Gynerium 

 argenteum, but recently referred by the Kew 

 authorities to Cortaderia argentea. Some care in 



Palma Onrifti (see Ricinns oommimit). 

 Palm, Cabbafle (sen Oreodoxa alerarea). 

 Palm, Date (see PJiaeni-x). 

 Palmetto, Cabbage, (see SabaT). 

 Palmfttn, Dwarf (see ftabal). 

 Palmetto Fan, (.tee fiabal). 

 Palmetto Palm (see 8a,bal). 

 Palmetto Sam (Serenoa serrulata). 

 Palm Oil (see Eltfis). 

 Palm, Patana (see Wmoaafpvi). 

 Palm, Thatch (see tribal). 

 Palmyra Tree (see Jiora suits'). 

 Palsy- Wort (see Primula, otfirinalis*). 

 Pahtmbina (see Oncidmm). 



