October 23, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



511 



Pandanus. 



A AIONG the various members of this interesting genus are 

 ■^~^ found some of the most useful foliage plants for decora- 

 tive purposes in general cultivation, and for this purpose some 

 of the species are grown by thousands annually by commer- 

 cial florists. Being of easy cultivation in most instances, and 

 especially so in the case of the two most useful sorts, F. Veitchii 

 and P. titilis (if a few reasonable conditions are observed), 

 they have become very well known and appreciated. Though 

 most species of Pandanus are natives of the South Sea Islands, 

 many of them may be grown in a moderate temperature, say 

 from 55° to 60°, and, in fact, when grown at this temperature, 

 that is, under cool treatment, the plants are found to be in 

 much better condition to bear exposure to changes of atmos- 

 phere such as are unavoidable when they are moved about 

 for decorating purposes. 



The best known representatives of the Screw-Pines, as the 



off is perhaps the most critical time for them, I)ecause if kept 

 too damp or in too close an atmosphere many of them will 

 rot off. 



After this period the most necessary points in their cultiva- 

 tion are to keep them potted on, so that the lower foliage does 

 not suffer from starving, and to place them in a light "house, 

 only slightly sliaded in midsummer, giving them space 

 enough to develop their leaves,for when crowded they quickly 

 become weak and drawn. 



Pandanus Veitchii, when well grown, is undoubtedly the 

 tinest of the genus, and can be managed in the same way 

 as P. utilis, though it is possible that'P. VeitcJiii will stand 

 more abuse in regard to over-watering than P. utilis. 

 Either may easily be injured in this way during the winter. P. 

 Veitchii is only propagated by cuttings, which will root at 

 almost any season if given a reasonable amount of care. 

 They are best separated from the parent plant witli a small 

 portion of the hard wood attached, so as to form a heel for the 





Cliatsworth. — See page 50 



Pandanus family is frequently called, from the spiral arranger 

 ment of the leaves about the stem, are P. utilis m\<1 P. Veitchii, 

 the (irst named being a native of Madagascar, and long known 

 in cultivation, and the latter of more recent introduction, hav- 

 ing been one of the many fine plants brought into horticultural 

 use by the late John C^iould Veitch. 



As is well known, /"rtwrfrtwz^j- z</'///a- is readily propagated from 

 seeds, which have become almost a staple article among the 

 larger seedsmen of late years, and when the seeds are received 

 in good condition they will come up in from si.x weeks to two 

 nionths from the time of planting if strong bottom heat is 

 given. These seeds, of a peculiar angular shape and from one 

 to two inches in length, are compound, producing several plants 

 from each; and there are sometimes seven or eight shoots, 

 which may be easily separated from the seed with a sharp 

 knife. They should be potted off in two and one-half or three- 

 inch pots, as the size of the plants may require, after which 

 they should be shaded for several days, until thev become es- 

 tablished. The first few weeks after the seedlings are potted 



cutting. Plenty of pot room and light should be given to this 

 plant, as, when well colored, it makes one of the most effec- 

 tive specimens for exhibition pin-poses. 



P. caiidelahruiii, perhaps better known as P. Javanicus,\'^x., 

 is another handsome variegated variety of rapid growth, but 

 from its branching habit it makes a less shapely plant than the 

 preceding. It is also propagated from cuttings in the same 

 manner as P. Veitchii, and is of easy cultivation. 



Among the species with plain green foliage, perhaps P. 

 rcflexiis is the most notalile, though rather an unpleasant plant 

 to handle, the long, pendulous leaves being refiexed or re- 

 curved to such a degree as to almost hide tlie pot of a large 

 specimen. Besides this, it is the best armed species of the 

 genus, the spines being very nimierous and strong, both on 

 the edges of the leaves and on the under surface of the 

 midrib. 



A pretty species of dwarf habit is P. graminifolius, a native 

 of Tenasserim, and having narrow, grassy leaves of dark green, 

 edged with small, white spines. It is of branching habit of 



