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an underground creeping rhizome produces a new growth and it is 

 best to cut or ring this rhizome behind the growth and when a tuft 

 of roots has been formed the cutting may be removed. Root 

 cuttings, however, seldom make nice shapely plants, the process is 

 usually a slow one and the percentage of loss generally heavy, for 

 these reasons when procurable seeds are always preferred. 



In collecting palm seeds it is essential that the seed should be 

 perfectly ripe. This is generally easily determined by the hardness 

 of the seed, that is to say of the albumen, and also by the colour 

 and softness of the fruit, occasionally the albumen seems to be 

 fairly hard before the fruit is ripe enough to germinate. The 

 colour of the fruit is often a help, thus, in Iguanura the fruit is 

 first white, then becomes red, and at last black, and when it has 

 arrived at this colour only it is ripe enough for collecting. Seed 

 taken as it often has to be when travelling in the woods just before 

 it is ripe will sometimes continue its ripening in sawdust damped 

 and eventually be fit to plant. 



It appears from the number of dry seed received even from 

 Botanic Gardens that persons think that because a palm seed is 

 very hard, it can safely be sent to a long distance quite dry with- 

 out any packing material at all, this is a great mistake. The small 

 embryo placed in a hollow of the hard albumen at one end or on 

 the side of a seed is very sensitive to drying, and very readily 

 perishes. Palm seed should always be packed for travelling in 

 damp powdered charcoal if possible, or damp sawdust or earth. 

 In the forests damp earth may be used, either put into a tin box, 

 or if more convenient a mud ball may be made in which the seeds 

 are pushed and covered up, thus they will keep for a long time. 



The fruits of palms may be fleshy, fibrous or even woody, and a 

 few have a spiny spathe which has to be guarded against. Fleshy 

 fruits soon ferment and the pulp is easily removed. Fibrous fruits 

 may be macerated for a day or two when the outer covering can be 

 split or peeled off. The Malayan palm " Kabong " or "Gula 

 Malacca'' is one of the worst to handle, the juice from the fruits 

 being a skin poison. The Kitool, (Caryota nrens) is also a power- 

 ful irritant on the skin. Many palms germinate freely when left to 

 themselves, under cultivation however it is best to remove the outer 

 covering of the seed because of the decay of the pulp or fibrous 

 covering and possible loss from fungus. The period of germination 

 varies from 6 weeks with some to 3 or 4 years with others. Ex- 

 cepting, those palm requiring much space, Coco-nuts, Sago, it is 

 best to plant seeds in pots or boxes, whichever is used the drain- 

 age should be deep and well covered with half decayed leaves to 

 prevent the compost from blocking up the drainage. The compost 

 to be used should be free from fungi and consist of burnt earth, 

 well decayed leaf-mould, some sand, and a little powdered charcoal. 

 Seeds may be planted fairly close, small seeds placed upright, large 

 seeds on one side or flat, and covered with one-half to one inch of 

 the prepared compost which has been passed through a sieve of a 

 fine mesh. After planting the pots or boxes should be thoroughly 



