PALMS AND TROPICAL PLANTS 



hardly known. Of the fan-leaved varieties the best known 

 are the erpf/irceas. Erythraza edulis is well known as the 

 Guadalupe, and many gigantic specimens may be seen scat- 

 tered about over Southern California. 



The sabals are not quite so adaptable, especially in 

 Southern California, but when plenty of water may be 

 allowed the Sabal palmetto will be thoroughly at home. One 

 of the finest of the "fan-leaved" section is Livislona australis, 

 a most noble tree. 



For beauty, adaptability, enduring qualities, freedom 

 from disease and ease of propagation, there is nothing more 

 suitable for general planting as an ornamental tree than the 

 many, many varieties of palms. Throughout Southern 

 California they are entirely hardy, with scarcely an excep- 

 tion, even to the most delicate varieties, while in the North 

 with a little choice of location the hardier varieties seem 

 equally at home. The secret of success with palms is that 

 they must have good drainage. They suffer from wet feet, 

 and yet the hardier sorts will often survive an ordeal where 

 hard-pan or floods keep them constantly wet. An Arab 

 proverb concerning the date-palm is that it has "its head in 

 the fire and its roots in the water," but the fact is that sandy 

 soil, good drainage and freedom from pests are the prime 

 requisites of successful palm-growing. 



The finest collection of palms in California, and proba- 

 bly the finest grown out-of-doors in the United States, is that 

 belonging to Mr. J. W. Gillespie of Montecito, Santa Bar- 

 bara County. 



[47] 



