8 3 6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



grown in large quantities for the trade. Some of them, e.g., 

 L. australis and L. chinensis, are excellent for sub-tropical 

 gardening. The leaves, which are terminal, are fan-shaped, 

 divided into many segments, and supported by stout petioles 

 mostly enclosed at their base in a mass of netted fibres. 



The stem 

 in some species 

 is stout, and 

 reaches enor- 

 mous heights. 

 The flower- 

 spikes, which are 

 branched, are 

 thrown out from 

 between the 

 leaves, and the 

 flowers are per- 

 fect. Livistonas 

 thrive splen- 

 didly in a strong 

 compost of two 

 parts loam and 

 one of peat and 

 sand. Water 

 must be abundantly 

 supplied through the 

 growing period. They 

 are easily propagated 

 by seeds. L. altissima 

 is a very tall Palm 

 when fully developed, 

 forming a rath.er stout 

 stem, or trunk, but it 

 is very handsome in 

 its early state ; the 

 , leaves, which, as 

 well as the segments, 

 are very large, are 

 of a shiny green, 

 and are supported by 

 petioles varying 

 from 2ft. to 6ft. long, 

 which are enclosed 

 and are also armed 

 L. australis (Corypha 



Fig. 557.— Livistona australis. 



at their base in a brown network 



on each side with stout spines. 



australis) is a well-known species, grown in large quantities; 



it has a somewhat stout stem and petioles, which latter 



are deep brown, and are enclosed in a fibrous network ; 



