before becoming salable. The setting over helps them wonder- 

 fully in getting symmetrical in shape; besides, it seems to tickle 

 the eyes to sprout and throw up fronds more rapidly. A tem- 

 perature of 68 degrees at night is all right at this period with 

 74 to 76 during the day. In clear days the temperature will run up 

 to over 80 degrees, which is satisfactory if it is mostly sun heat, 

 with a small crack of ventilation. In Summer the thermometer 

 runs up quite high, but the plants can bear plenty of ventilation at 

 this time of the year after they have got hardened off and you 

 have ceased firing; yet it is necessary to be careful not to let the 

 young fronds flag too much. .When the weather is dark and dull 

 for a couple of weeks in Summer it has been very helpful to 

 scrape off some of the shading and on the return of bright, 

 sunny days put shading on again. During such spells as much air 

 as possible should be afforded the young fronds that are sprout- 

 ing, otherwise they may get too soft and wilt when the sun comes 

 out bright and clear. I have seen a good many plants damaged 

 in this way. 



If your plants have got soft and tender during a dark spell it. 

 is advisable, if you do not want to put any more stationary shad- 

 ing on your house, to go out and throw wet sand on the roof, 

 letting it stay on till the plants get used to the bright sunlight. I 

 have seen a house of Farleyense with the stems of the young 

 leaves turned and twisted like a corkscrew. This happened after 

 dark days, the young fronds getting very soft, and when the sun 

 came out bright the leaves tipped over; the night following the 

 points of the leaves straightened up again. The sunlight affected 

 them again the second day with the same results, and when the 

 leaves turned up to stay they were curved and twisted. This can 

 be prevented by putting a little extra shading on for a couple of 

 days. Toward the Fall, when the sun is not as strong, the shading 

 should be diminished gradually. This is a good plan to follow 

 in regard to shading ; to give the plants, whether young 

 or old, as much light as they can bear without getting bleached. 

 During the 'Winter very little shading is required. 



