326 THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



them more room when this is necessary to prevent their overcrowding and spoiling 

 oach other. 



Not till the pots are well rilled with roots should re-potting take place, and at no 

 time ought a largo shift to be given, palms apparently thriving Lest when strongly rooted 

 in comparatively small pots — a great point in their favour. For the rc-potting, a 

 mixture of equal parts of peat and loam, with a dash of silver sand, answers well, 

 and this should always he packed firmly about the roots. Whenever a shift is given 

 during hot weather, the plants should have extra shade for a fortnight, be watered 



sparingly, applying 

 only sufficient to keep 

 the old ball of soil and 

 roots moist, without 

 saturating the new 

 soil, and be syringed 

 frequently. The aim 

 being to grow the 

 plants to a saleable 

 size as quickly as pos- 

 sible, the temperature 

 should be kept at 70° 

 to 75°, accompanied by 

 abundance of atmo- 

 spheric moisture, also 

 affording shade from 

 strong sun. They may 

 be arranged somewhat 

 closely, on ash-covered slate or galvanised corrugated iron stages, not far from the glass, 

 and in these positions they will not become more drawn than is desirable. At the same 

 time they must not be crowded to the extent of disfiguring the lower leaves. The 

 somewhat drawn plants of Latania borbonica are the most valued for house decorating, 

 though it need hardly be added they are not nearly so durable as the heavier, more 

 slowly-grown plants. 



When other kinds of palms become unduly " leggy," these, with three small plants 

 of the same species, are sometimes placed in the centre of pots just large enough to hold 



Fig. 187. Latania boebonica. 



