26 



The Florists^ Review 



Jancauy 19. 1922 



Kentia Belmoreana Follows Forsteriana in Favor. 



kentia, but, nevertheless, there is a 

 great deal in treatment, and arecas that 

 have been j^own in full light and not 

 overstimulated with strong fertilizers 

 will stand a great deal more than those 

 that have been forced to an unnatural 

 degree. 



The phoenix, or date palms, include 

 several varieties that are considered 

 among the useful commercial plants, and 

 these stand much abuse, but, like a good 

 horse, will respond better to kind treat- 

 ment. 



The phoenix, of which there are many 

 species, have given successive advances 

 in elegance and usefulness as the va- 

 rious species have been presented to 

 commerce. The first phoenix with which 

 the writer became familiar was the or- 

 dinary date. Phoenix dactylifera, a stiff 

 and thorny palm in its early years, and 

 it did not create great enthusiasm 

 among the trade. Soon after this he 

 met with P. rcclinata and P. tenuis, 

 both of which were more graceful than 

 the ordinary d;ite, but even these are 

 not to be found in quantity at the pres- 

 ent time. They were superseded by 

 Phoenix rupicola, a much more attrac- 

 tive plant in every way and one that 

 was of reasonably rapid growth. 



The Best Phoenix. 



But none of these could compare for 

 all-around good points with the now 

 well-known Phanix Koebelenii, a lovely 

 plant of dwarf type and one that may be 

 said to occujiy the same position in" the 

 date family that Cocos Woddelliana does 

 among the cocoanuts. 



Phanix I{oebf]<-nii lias been rather 

 scarce for some years, owing to an in- 

 sufficient supply of seeds, but it is possi- 

 ble that this condition will be remedied 

 in the years to come and young stock 

 will be available in the various sizes 

 that are most useful.. 



Phoenix canarieusis is a useful palm 

 for the decorator, the foliage being 

 tough and enduring, but it is of little 

 use for this purjiose until it reaches an 



8-inch pot size. This palm is being 

 grown in considerable numbers for trade 

 purposes in California and will doubt- 

 less find a better market when lower 

 freight rates permit a more profitable 

 deal to the buyers, for war prices may 

 not endure forever. 



Fan-Leaved PaJms. 



The fan-leaved palms seem to have 

 lost favor among both growers and re- 

 tailers of late years, and one seldom sees 



a greenhouse filled with Latania bor- 

 bonica or with Livistona rotundifolia 

 nowadays, and yet both are good palms 

 when properly grown. 



Of course, there have been spindly 

 latanias and also imperfect livistonas 

 offered for sale at times, and such plants 

 do not inspire a rush of customers in a 

 store unless they be offered at 29 cents 

 each or some such apparently attractive 

 price, but a good, stocky latania is really 

 attractive and for the sake of variety 

 would find many customers. Livistona 

 rotundifolia is more refined in character 

 than the last-named, is dwarf and com- 

 pact in habit, and possesses a lovely 

 fresh green color, but does not enjoy 

 ji low temperature. 



Proper Treatment. 



A few suggestions aa to the treatment 

 of these palms in the store and in the 

 home may be welcome to those of slight 

 experience, for it is well known that a 

 satisfied customer is likely to prove to 

 be the most profitable to the florist. 



In the first place, so far aa may be 

 possible, get only plants that are well 

 established in their pots, for a newly 

 potted palm is much more likely to fail 

 than one with a good root system, and 

 with this in view advise your customer 

 against frequent repotting. 



Do not stand the palms near the door 

 of the store, where they will be exposed 

 to cold drafts; it is better to reserve 

 such locations for ivies, aspidistras and 

 other comparatively hardy plants. 



During the winter the palms will be 

 better for having all the light you can 

 give them and a night temperature of 

 not less than 60 degrees. 



Attend to watering every day; this 

 does not mean to water every plant every 

 day, but to look them over every day 

 and water all that need it, making sure 

 that plants in vases do not stand in sur- 

 plus water, for "wet feet," as some 

 term it, is a source of many troubles. 



Arcca Lutcscens Is a Useful Palm. 



