VENTURA-BY-THE-SEA, CALIFORNIA 



49 



Palms, Dracaenas 

 Grasses 



These grand plants have been most 

 appropriately called the "Kings and 

 Princesses of the Vegetable Kingdom." 

 The soil and climate of California is es- 

 pecially adapted to the culture of palms; 

 they grow so rapidly, are so distinctive 

 and tropical in appearance that every 

 garden should have one or more, as there 

 is room. Palms with slender stems are 

 best for small gardens, while those with 

 massive trunks should only be planted 

 where there is plenty of room. For the 

 conservatory and house culture, for halls, 

 offices and indoor decorations, they can- 

 not be excelled. 



Chamarops Excelsa or Windmill Palm 



Chamaerops Excelsa or Windmill Palm. 

 China, Japan, Inaia, 30 feet. Leaves fan- 

 shaped, deeply cut. This is the hardiest 

 palm we have, and, although it is not 

 such a rapid grower as some, it is beau- 

 tiful and worthy of extensive cultivation, 

 as it is very ornamental, a symmetrical 

 grower and has handsome palmate leaves. 

 The trunk is slender, making it especially 

 desirable for small places. It makes an 

 attractive pot plant. 15c to 25c each; 

 larger ones 75c; $1.50 to $2.50 doz. 



Corypha Australia. From Australia, 

 grows from 60 to 80 feet high; one of 

 the handsomest of the fan palms; the 

 fan-like leaves are dark green, supported 

 upon brown petioles, which are armed at 

 their edges with stout spines; well suited 

 for the decoration of apartments; hardy 

 only in localities not subject to severe 

 frosts. 50c to $1 each. 



Erythea Armata. From lower Califor- 

 nia. The striking "blue palm," known al- 

 so under the names of Brahea glauca and 

 B. Roezli; probably the most glaucous of 

 fan palms; will prefer rocky soil, and will 

 stand some degree of frost. Leaves a 

 beautiful grayish blue. 75c to $3. 



Erythea Edulis. From Guadalupe Isl- 

 and.. More rapid grower than the pre- 

 ceding, and one of the finest and hard- 

 iest fan palms. Trunk slender, 30 feet 

 and more high; leaves broad, bright green 

 with wooly petioles; blooms quite young, 

 bearing a wonderful profusion of large, 

 round fruit turning black at maturity, and 

 edible. A very pretty house plant even 

 when quite young. 25c, 50c to $3. 



Latania Borbonica. A Chinese fan 

 palm; elegant and graceful with large 

 shining beautiful arching leaves. 25c, 

 75c and $1. 



Kentia Belmoreana or Curly Palm. 

 From Lord Howe's Island. One of the 

 most valuable of house palms'; elegant, 

 pinnate leaves on long stems, beautiful, 

 even when small. 75c to $3. 



Kentia Forsteriana or Thatch-Leaf 

 Palm. From Lord Howe's Island. A ro- 

 bust-growing variety; very graceful and 

 attractive. The two palms are immense- 

 ly popular for house palms, the leaves are 

 on long slender stems that give a grace 

 peculiarly their own. They resemble in 

 general style, the difference in manner 

 of growth. 75c to $3. 



Phoenix Canariensis. One of the most 

 valuable and easily grown of the fam- 

 ily. Fine for house plants, and grand for 

 planting out, it attains immense propor- 

 tions, with a massive trunk three feet in 

 diameter, crowned with long arching pin- 

 nate fronds 8 to 12 feet long; a superb 

 tree. Small ones 25c; larger sizes 50c 

 to $5 each. 



Phoenix or Cycadifolia. A beautiful 

 pinnate variety with shining, arching 

 foliage; grows fast and makes splendid 

 specimens; fine for pots. $1.50 to $10. 



Seaforthia Elegans. One of the most 

 graceful and beautiful palms for house 

 decoration or the garden where there is 

 no frost. It has a tall slender trunk sur- 

 mounted by plumy arching fronds, and 

 when mature bears from a sheath above 

 the lower fronds which fall away, to give 

 room to a great stem of flowers that loosen 

 and fall like ropes of beads, me ropes or 

 strings are creamy-pink, the buds the 

 most exquisite shade of mauve; these de- 



