86 PALMS. 



SECTIOISr VIII. 



PALMS. 



The order of Palmacese is confined very much to tropical 

 regions, where many of the species grow with a stately gran- 

 deur and luxuriance which we can never hope to see them 

 attain under cultivation in our hothouses. Still, many of 

 them are grown with much success in our stoves and green- 

 houses, especially those of lower stature, which accommodate 

 themselves better in the limited space that can be afforded for 

 their development. They are all noble-looking plants when 

 they have attained to a fair size, and many of them are ex- 

 tremely graceful even while in a young and small state. It is 

 among these that the best and most useful kinds for exhibition 

 are found, a selection of which is given in this chapter, with a 

 few notes on their characteristics and treatment. As a rule, 

 palms are best when raised from seed, which in general is the 

 only method of increasing them. 



AKECA. 

 A very graceful genus of palms, most of which are tropical 

 plants and require to be grown in the stove, although the}' 

 stand well for weeks at a time in conservatories and moderately 

 heated halls and rooms. The best for exhibition includes A. 

 aurea, A. lutescem, and A. rubra. These grow rapidly under 

 good treatment, and soon attain a considerable size. They 

 grow well in a compost of fibry loam, peat, leaf-mould, and 

 sand ; and when they attain specimen size, loam with a sprink- 

 ling of bone-meal suits them best. A moist atmosphere while 

 growing and plenty of water at the roots is necessary. Liquid 

 manure should be given when the pots are full of roots. 



CALAMUS. 

 An elegant genus of slender, rapid-growing palms, chiefly 

 from the East Indies, and consequently they require a strong 

 moist heat with plenty of water during the growing season. 



