618 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
syringings; the drainage must be perfect. When the pots are well- 
filled with roots, the plants may be kept healthy, without repotting them, 
by giving them liquid manure about once a week. These two Palms 
are the most useful and the most popular of the many species grown for 
decoration. If used for table decoration, they should be given as much 
sunlight as possible, and the leaves should be frequently sponged with 
clean tepid water. This is a precaution that must be taken, to ensure 
freshness to any Palm used in the dry air of dwelling-rooms. 
Description of Howea belmoreana, the Curly Palm; young plant, 
te 288. oreatly reduced from the natural size. 
DATE PALMS 
Natural Order PALM&. Genus Phenix 
PHENIX (the old Greek name for the Date Palm). A genus of about a 
dozen species of stove or greenhouse Palms. The trunks, which are often 
of great height, are covered with the bases of fallen leaves. The new 
leaves are produced in a head at the summit of the trunk; they spread 
in all directions, and are more or less curved; they are pinnately divided 
into a very large number of slender segments, lance-shaped or sword- 
shaped, untoothed. Each plant bears flowers of one sex only; but the 
flowers are of very similar form, and consist of a three-toothed cup- 
shaped calyx, and three petals. The male contains from three to nine 
—usually six—stamens, and the female three distinct ovaries, with 
hooked stigmas. Only one ovary matures, developing into a one-seeded, 
fleshy fruit—the Date of commerce. They are natives of Tropical and 
Sub-tropical Asia and Africa. 
Phenia« dactylifera, the Common Date Palm, has been 
’ in cultivation here ever since 1597, when it was introduced 
from the Levant. Great quantities of its edible fruit are imported 
annually, and the so-called “stones” contained therein are the seeds. 
As a boy, we have often raised young plants from seeds so obtained, and 
sown outside in a sunny border; but trusting too much to the hardiness 
of plants so raised, have lost them early. In the South of France large 
numbers of Phwniz are raised out of doors from seed, afterwards potted 
and grown on in a gentle hot-bed. P. sylvestris, one of the hardiest of 
_ the genus, was introduced from India in 1763; P. reclinata, from South- 
East Africa, in 1792; P. acaulis, from Central India, 1816; P. spinosa, 
from Western Tropical Africa, in 1823; and P. rupicola, from India, in 
