NINE IRON-CLAD PALMS 1 83 



months. Cocos takes about ten weeks if 

 the seed is perfectly fresh — it not, it will 

 take longer; Areca and Livistona will come 

 up in a month and the date palms (Phoenix) 

 require about two months. When the seed 

 is not perfectly fresh, only part will grow. 

 Germination may be helped somewhat by 

 scratching or filing the outer coat of those 

 which have hard shells. 



After the young palm plants of any sort 

 have become established in two-inch pots, the 

 culture is simple. They will need, how- 

 ever, a rather high temperature and moist 

 atmosphere for some months to come, after 

 which they may be inured to almost any 

 reasonable hardship. 



Do not give the young plants any manure 

 in the soil. A potting soil made up of two 

 parts of peat, one of rich loam such as a 

 rotted sod, and one part of sand will give the 

 best results. Leafmould is too light for palms, 

 but a little may be added to the rotted sod 

 if peat is not available. An addition of 

 charcoal is also advisable, using the same 

 quantity as already advised for the seed soil. 



As the plants become older, a little well- 

 decayed horse manure may be added to the 



