NATIONAL COUNCIL OF HORTICULTURE 51 



temperature of 68 degrees that is ordinarily given to Areca lutescens. 

 There are more pinnate leaved palms in the florists' lists than there are 

 of the fan-leaved section, the latter finding less favor with the general 

 public, about the only representatives of the fan-leaved section of 

 palms that are grown in quantity being a few species of Livistonas and 

 Chamaerops. 



Some of the date palms, or Phoenix, are used for decorating, and 

 these are also used quite extensively for outdoor planting in the extreme 

 South and Southwest. As already hinted, there is a dearth of novelties 

 of real value in the palm trade, but among the few of recent introduc- 

 tion there is one Phoenix that is being taken up extensively, namely P. 

 Roebelinii, a very charming dwarf species from Siam, this palm now 

 being procurable in quantity, owing to a more liberal supply of seeds 

 that has been received in this country during the past three years. 



Next in importance to the palms among the commercial ornamental 

 plants are the ferns, and to one unfamiliar with the trade, the numbers 

 of these plants that are annually distributed in our large cities would 

 seem marvelous. 



The fern trade may properly be divided into two sections, the first 

 comprising those that are grown into specimens in pots of five-inch 

 size and upwards, and the second including the various ferns that are 

 grown for the purpose of filling table ferneries and making other 

 decorations. 



These latter ferns for small ferneries are grown by the million in 

 small pots, 2-inch to 3-inch being the sizes most used, and while the 

 wholesale prices are not high, yet the crop is grown in a reasonable time 

 and is fairly remunerative. 



The species most in demand are various species of the Pteris and 

 Nephrodium groups, the chief essentials for a plant that is to be thus 

 used being rapidity of growth, compactness of habit and distinctness 

 of foliage. 



Among the ferns that are grown into larger sized plants for house 

 and store decorations, we find a greater variety, there being some of 

 the Maidenhairs or Adiantums, a number of Nephrolepis, some Pterises, 

 and an occasional representative of the tree ferns, among the most 

 notable being Cibotium Schiedei. 



These ferns are all grown in moderately rich earth, but are given 

 just as much fresh air and light as they will stand, this resulting in a 

 sturdy growth of fronds that will endure much more abuse than those 

 that are grown in closely shaded houses and potted in light soil. 



The methods of propagation vary with the species, some being 

 gotten from divisions of the crowns, others from runners, and those 

 used in the small sizes for table ferneries being raised from spores 

 almost exclusively. 



As a business proposition, the fern department offers some induce- 

 ments to the expert grower, but stock of this character must be of first- 

 class quality to ensure a prompt and profitable sale. 



The main crop of small ferns for ferneries is sown during the 

 preceding autumn, the time required from the sowing of the spores 



