298 OESTAMENTAL li-QLIAGE PLANTS. 



■vidnally. The seeds are readily obtainable at the seei^ 

 shops, and should be sown in heat about February, and 

 the young plants potted and grown on as stocky as- 

 possible, previous to being fully hardened off for planting 

 out in the early part of June. 



a. communis. — This very ornamental plant and its 

 varieties attain a height of from four to six feet. The 

 stems are branching and glaacous, the leaves large, 

 palmate, and serrate at the edges of the lobes, and alto- 

 gether of a noble character. The varieties differ chiefly 

 in the tint of the stalks and leaves, some being reddish, , 

 some greyish, from the strong glaucous bloom on the 

 surface, and some glossy green. Those known as sangumea, . 

 borbonica, and viridis are among the best for decorative 

 purposes. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Sabal. 



A genus of magnificent fan-leaved Palms, belonging to- 

 the section Goryphon. They are distinguished by their- 

 irregularly branched flower spikes, which are produced 

 from amongst leaves ; the flowers are all perfect, and the 

 fruits are one-seeded. Many of them grow to an immense • 

 size, but are all highly ornamental in a young state, and 

 will stand well in the sub-tropical garden during summer. 

 They are plants of robust constitution, which enables them 

 to withstand uninjured a low tempe;^ature, and, in con- 

 sequence, several of the species form excellent window 

 plants, and our continental neighbours avail themselves of' 

 these and many others to a much greater extent than has 

 hitherto been practised in Great Britain. This disgrace- 

 to us as plant growers and plant lovers is, however^, 

 fast being removed, as Palms fortunately and deservedly- 



