Norembet 80, 1871. j JOUENAL OF HOBTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE QAEDENER. 



421 



another well of great depth in a more convenieDt place, which 

 has been done, and fitted up with improved machinery. In 

 such places rain water is prized, and Mr. Bogus has all that 



can be caught preserved in tanks, and only when these are 

 empty does he resort to that from the well, aa chalky water is 

 irijarious to most plants. — J. Eobson. 



The magnificent Palm here pourtrajed is a native of the 

 Seyuhelle Islands, belonging to the dependencies of the Mauri- 

 tius, and when first introduced to our gardens, in 1864, was 

 known by the provisional name of Eegelia majestiosi. The 



VERSCHAFFELTIA SPLENDID A. 



stem is slender and of somewhat quick growth ; as it increases 

 in size it sends down adventitious roots, which in the form of 

 an inverted cone ultimately serve to support the tree after the 

 manner of the genua Iriartea of the American continent, and 





TERSCHAFFILTIA 6PLEHDIDA. 



give to the plant a most singnJar and pieturetque appearance. 

 The stem is profusely clothed with very long black needle-like 

 spines, which spread around it in a fanlike manner. The 

 petiole is short, with the exception of the large, broad, sheath- 

 ing base, which completely envelopes the stem, the latter 

 portion being abundantly armed with long black spines, whilst I 

 the footstalk is only about 6 inches long and perfectly smooth. 

 The leaves are entire, broad, somewhat serrate at the edges, 

 and deeply bifid at the apex ; they are of a rich bright green in 

 colour, and in a plant of some 3 or 4 feet high the blade will 

 measure from 3 to 4 feet in length and nearly as much across. 

 One of the peculiar features of this plant is its broad entire 

 leaves, which is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the 

 genus. 



Verschaffeltia splendida is the only true species in the genus, 

 although we have another in our gardens which is at present 

 recognised as a second species. I allude to V. melanoohsetes. 



This plant, although similar in habit in a young state, entirely 

 differs in character with age, producing broadly pinnate fronds ; 

 and its seeds, moreover, which is a more certain indication, 

 will entirely separate it from the species now under consider- 

 ation. I shall now add a few remarks upon its cultivation. 



Many gardeners do not like it, and fay that it is difiicnlt to 

 grow. I can only tell them that no plant can be more easily 

 grown into a fine specimen, and that those who fail to appreciate 

 the beauties of this plant must indeed be extremely difficult to 

 please. It is majestic in appearance, and so thoroughly tropical 

 in aspect that it has never failed to strike me as one of the 

 most superb introductions of recent years. 



Eeferring to the culture of Verschaffeltia splendida one point 

 must be thoroughly impressed upon my readers, and that is, 

 it must have an abundant supply of heat and moisture to 

 develope its beauties. All growers of Palms may accept this as 

 a golden rule, that the more spiny the character of the particular 



