STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 53 



they have reached a certain stage, say in 6-inch pots. They are plunged 

 in half-decayed stable litter and partly shaded with lath slats. Large- 

 sized plants will bear the full sun, but not when taken directly from the 

 greenhouse. When it is desired that plants shall occupy the same pots 

 for any length of time, very little, if any, vegetable humus should be 

 among the soil. Crushed bone and a little charcoal will be found bene- 

 ficial. 



Areca (chrysalidocarpus) lutescens was grown largely as a decora- 

 tive palm a few years ago, but owing to its tender nature it has been 

 superseded by the Kentias. 



Cocos Weddeliana in a young state is exceedingly ornamental, the 

 leaf divisions being narrow and close together. It will stand a lower 

 temperature than is generally given. Small plants are admirably 

 adapted for the dwelling house. 



Kentia (Howea) Belmoreana and K. Forsteriana are two of the best 

 kinds, either for house plants or decorating. When they reach a desira- 

 ble size they should be kept on the cool side, as they will then be less 

 liable to injury when used. 



Latania borbonica (Livistona chinensis) is the best known of all the 

 fan palms. It should be grown under the same conditions all the time, 

 otherwise some of the leaf stems will be short and others long, making 

 an unsymmetrical specimen. 



Livistona rotundifolia makes a very neat, little specimen plant. The 

 foliage is of a bright green color. This palm grows best in a warm 

 house. 



L. Jenkensii is not much used as a decorative plant, but it is one of 

 the most desirable for collections. 



Phoenix rupicola has taken the place of the older species. It is the 

 most graceful of the genus. P. dactylifera bears the date of commerce. 



Euterpe edulis, Rhapis flabelliformis, Ceroxylon andicola, Corypha 

 australis, Cocos plumosa, Seaforthia elegans, Stevensonia grandifolia, 

 Licuala grandis and Caryota sobolifera are a few of the better known 

 species grown in collections. 



PANDANUS VEITCHII There are other variegated Screw Pines, but 

 none approaching this one as a commercial plant. No one will dispute 

 its right to a place among the best twelve decorative plants; in fact, 

 most people would put it in a shorter list. As a bedder it stands our 

 warmest weather without the least shade. As a dwelling-house plant 

 it has no superior, and as a stove plant, owing to its beautifully striped 

 leaves, it tends to relieve the dull monotony of green. There are good 

 and bad forms common in cultivation; those to be avoided have mono- 

 colored leaves, and leaves with dirty white variegation. The good one 

 has almost pure white markings. In selecting stock plants take those 

 which show lateral growths at or near the base of the plant. Large 

 lateral growths do not make good specimens, but they should be rooted 

 for subsequent use as stock plants. In rooting it will be found a good 

 method to put each piece into a pot of sand and plunge in a propagat- 



