i8z 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Phcenix. — Easily raised greenhouse Palms from Asia and Africa ; of free growth, 

 and are ornamental as well as serviceable. The species most often met with are 

 P. dactylifera (the Date Palm), P. reclinata, P. rupicola, and P. sylvestris. They are 

 elegant, popular, and much used for decorative purposes. 



Peitchardia.— P. pacifica is a noble stove Palm from the Pacific Islands, well 

 worthy of general cultivation. 



Baphis. — Slender-stemmed Palms, distinct, serviceable, ornamental, and easily 

 grown in a greenhouse or conservatory. P. flabclliformis, China, of which there is a 

 variegated form, and P. humilis, Japan, are desirable species, and produce offsets freely. 



Sabal. — A small genus from America, with fan-shaped leaves. They are amenable 

 to greenhouse culture, but grow more satisfactorily in stoves. The best are S. Blaek- 

 burniana, Bermuda, and S. umbraculifera, West Indies, both attaining to noble 

 proportions. 



Seaforthia (Ptychosperma). — S. elegans is an easily cultivated, tall, strong-grow- 

 ing species from Queensland and New South "Wales. It thrives in either a plant stove, 

 warm greenhouse, or conservatory. Pot in a mixture of equal parts loam and leaf-soil, 

 with a little sand. 



Thrinax. — Several beautiful species belong to this genus, and are ornamental when 

 either of small or large size. The leaves are fan-shaped, finely- divided, and borne on 

 long slender petioles. The most popular species are T. elegans, syn. T. radiata, from 

 Trinidad, T. excelsa and T. parviflora, both from Jamaica. All the species should be 

 assigned shady positions in a warm house. 



Veitchia. — .V. Canterburyana, syn. Iledyscepe Canterburyana. Lord Howe's 

 Island is nearly allied to Kentias, and should receive similar treatment. 



Verschaffeltia. — V. splendida, syn. Eegelia magnifica, a noble, broad- leaved 

 species from the Seychelles, attains a height of 12 to 60 feet. Pot in two parts fibrous 

 peat to one of loam, adding charcoal and sand freely. It should be grown in a moist, 

 shady part of a plant stove. 



CYCADS. 



Although usually associated with Palms, Cycads, as has been previously stated, are 

 quite distinct from them, belonging to the order Cycadaceae, which is nearly related 

 to Conifer®. They form unbranched stems "marked with leaf-scars, and having large 

 rays in the wood, along with punctuated ligneous tubes." Leaves pinnate, stout, and 



