THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



The ground rattan {Rhapis flabettiformis) is 

 the only house palm that is "furnished"' 

 with leaflets all the way from the ground 



Palms are the most graceful, arching foliage plants for indoor decora- 

 tion and generally have a wide spreading top occupying but little ground 

 space. This Kentia has been grown in a steam-heated room for two years 



The curly palm (Howea Belmoreana), one of 

 the two best palms; leaflets more upright but 

 frond more spreading than in Forsteriana 



piece, small ferns such as pteris and selagi- 

 nella b p in placed about the base. This is 

 often referred to as the cocoanut palm that 

 belongs to the same genus, but is quite 

 different, however, having large, broad leaves 

 in the young state. 



Although of no value as a house plant, 

 lots of pleasure may be had from growing the 

 real cocoanut palm (C. nucifera) from seed. 

 To do this, secure a cocoanut with the husk 

 on and place it on its side in a pot filled 

 with soil. Do not bury more than one- 

 quarter of the nut. The germination is 

 very interesting, as a leaf will appear long 

 before there is any sign of a root, which 

 may not develop for a year. The cocoanut 

 is easily injured by too much water; it 

 needs practically none. 



ONE THAT NEVER GROWS UP 



About the only other palms which succeed 

 in the house are the date palms (Phoenix 

 Canariensis, reclinata,rupicola and Roebelinii). 

 These are all very • much alike, the chief 



difference being the habit of growth. P. 

 Roebelinii is a real dwarf; the leaves, grace- 

 fully curving, are only a foot or so long. 

 It withstands the hardships of house cul- 

 tivation equally as well as does the Kentia, 

 and when small is as graceful as Cocos Wedde- 

 lliana. It is perhaps the most costly of all the 

 house palms. P. rupicola is probably the 

 hardiest. It seems able to withstand almost 

 any hardship which may be imposed upon 

 it. In the South and in California, P. Canari- 

 ensis is considered the handsomest of all the 

 date palms. The leaves are more slender and 

 graceful than in other palms and it is also the 

 fastest growing date palm. 



A great deal of pleasure and amusement 

 can be had from growing palms from the 

 date of commerce. - Save the seeds of the 

 dates (which are the fruits of Phoenix dacty- 

 lifera) found in the market and plant them. 

 They will germinate in a few weeks and 

 with ordinary care the plants will thrive. I 

 do not care for the true date palm as a house 

 plant, however, because its habit is so stiff, 



and the other date palms already mentioned 

 are much more graceful and equally hardy. 

 The foliage of this palm is glaucous green, 

 almost whitish. 



The palm most often sold by the florist 

 is the areca (Chrysolidocarpns lutescens, 

 but known in the trade as Areca lutescens). 

 This is easily distinguished from the other 

 palms by its golden yellow leaf-stem and also 

 by the little plants which may be seen growing 

 around the base. Like the rhapis, the areca 

 sends out underground suckers. The leaflets 

 are flat, long and narrow, and of a bright 

 glossy green. The areca can be grown 

 in the house, but it requires more care and 

 it will not stand hardships like the other nine 

 palms already mentioned. 



THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS 



The plants must not be subjected at any 

 time to sudden changes of temperature, 

 such as a draught blowing across them from 

 an open window or door; and the sudden 

 falling of the temperature of the room will 



The hardiest palm is the roch date (Phoenix rupdola). It differs from the drooping 

 date (P. reclinata) in its stiffer, more erect habit 



The latania (Livlstona Chinensis) is the most popular palm, the most graceful 

 and the only one fit for house culture of the fan-leaf type 



