8o8 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 





Very few foliage plants can equal the Palms, although Ferns ■ 

 may in some respects. From the noble appearance of certain 

 species of Sabal, Bismarckia, Corypha, &c, to the fine and 

 delicate forms of others of moderate sizes, such as the charming 

 Cocos Weddeliana or Geonoma gracilis, all are conspicuously 

 beautiful. 



The Palms are all natives of tropical countries, with the 

 exception of a very limited number extending to the limits of 

 the cool regions. They appear at 36deg. N. lat. in America, 

 44deg. N. lat. in Europe, 34deg. N. lat. in Asia, and 38deg. 



S. lat. in the Southern 

 Hemisphere. Several 

 are found under the blue 

 sky of the Riviera ; 

 and anyone who has 

 had the pleasure of 

 visiting the Mediter- 

 ranean regions, from 

 Toulon, along the coast 

 in the direction of Italy, 

 as well as by the side 

 of the Italian coast, 

 will have gained an idea 

 of their valuable decora- 

 tive properties, and of 

 the fine contrasts that can 

 be obtained when they are 

 cleverly arranged with other 

 plants. At Nice the splendid 

 Promenades des Anglais is 

 planted with some enormous 

 Pha>nix dactylifera. 



Decorative Uses. — Such 

 varieties as Cocos Weddeliana, 

 Geonoma gracilis, small 

 Kentias, Arecas, Coryphas, 

 and Euterpes may be very 

 profitably utilised for decora- 

 tive purposes. They remain 

 in perfect order for a long 

 time when kept in rooms, 

 and in many cases they will exist where Ferns would soon 

 perish. The only requirements in such cases are that they must 



Fig. 546. — Phcenix dactylifera. 



