370 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



can be grown, the selection should be S. Kraussiana, as this is the hardiest and most safe. 

 In plant houses where large Palms and Tree Ferns are grown, the Selaginellas may be 



planted, or rather dibbled in the soil in the pots, as then they form a charming covering, fresh 

 and bright, for when once established they grow rapidly. Selaginellas may be grown also into 

 quite large pyramidal specimens, but this is not of course a task everyone would care to undertake. 



PALMS. 



FEW classes of plants have advanced so much in popularity within the last few 

 years as the different Palms, particularly those that form light and graceful specimens while 

 stili young. A suitable soil for most Palms consists of two-thirds good yellow loam to one- 

 third leaf mould and sand. They need plenty of water at all times of the year, both at 

 the roots a ad overhead. Large plants may be grown in comparatively small pots, but in 

 many Palms the roots, though few, are of a deep descending nature, and much given 

 to curl around the bottom of the pot. This sometimes goes on to such an extent 

 that the ball of earth is lifted up, thus allowing the water to escape at the sides, 

 and the plant consequently suffers. A great many of the Palms enumerated below 

 will succeed in a greenhouse, but for a few stove heat is necessary. Many Palms 

 have been necessarily omitted from the following list, but sufficient kinds are here 

 named for the beginner, indeed more than he will require at first. 



Areea. — The members of this genus 

 all have prettily divided leaves even 

 when young, and are very popular. 

 The best known are A. Baueri, A. 

 lutescens, A. monostachya, A. rubra, 

 A. sapida, and A. Verschaffelti. 

 CaryOta UreriS. — A very distinct 

 Palm requiring stove temperature. 



Chamcerops exeelsa, Fm-tunei, 



and humilis are all Fan Palms that 

 are nearly hardy. 

 COCOS. All light feathery Palms, a 

 universal favourite being Cocos 

 Weddelliana, which needs a stove. 



Corypha australis. — This, which 



will succeed in quite a cool green- 

 house, has fan-shaped leaves, the 

 stems of which are furnished with 

 hooked spines. 

 Doemonorops.— Exceedingly pretty 

 Palms when young, the much 

 divided leaves being of a rich green. 

 Require a stove. 

 Geonoma. — Warm house Palms that 

 differ greatly from each other, the 

 best being G. gracilis. 

 KGIltia. — The most popular class ot 

 Palms in cultivation, two species, 

 K. Belmoreana and K. Forsleriana, 

 being grown in immense numbers 

 for decorations. 



Latania borboniea has immense 



fan-shaped leaves, and is effective 

 either when small or large. 

 Phoenix. — P. dactylifera is very in- 

 teresting as furnishing the Dates of 

 commerce, but in beauty it is 

 greatly surpassed by P. reclinata, 

 I', rupicola, and P. tenuis. 



Rhapis flabelliformis is a native 



of Japan, and does well in a 

 greenhouse. 



Seaforthia elegans, once popular, 



now superseded by the Kentias. 

 Other good Palms are the 

 Calamus, Euterpe edulis, Licuala 

 grandis, Pritchardia grandis, Sabal 

 umbraculifera, and the Thrinax. 



