12 



THE FLORAL IVORLD 



PALMS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



These pre-eminently useful decora- 

 tive plants are much misunderstood. 

 They are much easier to grow than is 

 usually supposed, though the treatment 

 commonly given accounts very well for 

 the failures. Contrary to the usual be- 

 lief, palms do not want a hot room, 

 but one hardly warm, and they are 

 quickly injured by a dry, hot atmos- 

 phere. Palms will thrive in the cool- 

 est living rooms and with compara- 

 tively little w^ater. Water does them 

 by far the most good when evaporated 

 into the atmosphere, or when showered 

 on them. Palms delight in showering, 

 but they should be kept out of* the 

 sunshine till dry. They should have 

 a very heavy, clayey soil, firmed well 

 down about the roots. The best sorts 

 for house culture are Kentias, Latania 

 Borbonica and Cocos Weddelliana. 

 And where room is not limited, add a 

 Gycas Revoluta and a Pillaferia. Un- 

 healthy, yellow leaves are most fre- 

 quently caused by imperfect drainage. 

 The scale is almost the only insect 

 which attacks palms. If it appears, 

 it may be easily removed by scrubbing 

 the stalks and leaves with a tooth 

 brush dipped in soap suds. A new 

 bath for palms is said to be milk and 

 water, and has a wonderful effect of 

 preserving them and preventing the 

 brown spots, which are so disfiguring. 



Indiana. Mks. R. A. Houk. 



Seaforthia Elegans is a very hand- 

 some palm, well adapted to the ama- 

 teur's window on account of its being 

 so easy to grow. It becomes ornamen- 

 tal when only ten or twelve inches 

 high, is easily propagated from seeds, 

 and increases in beauty as the plant 

 develops. 



The culture with me is very simple. 

 I use rich fibrous loam with a little 

 bone meal, as all palms dislike being 

 disturbed by repotting often. Sponge 

 off the leaves every week with soap- 



suds, being careful to syringe off all 

 the suds with clear cold water, as the 

 particles of soap drying on the foliage 

 will injure it. Keep the pots clean, 

 the drainage open, and constantly 

 moistened, and you will find this palm 

 one of the best for the window garden. 



Another fine plant you will find in 

 a well-grown one of Farfugiain Grand,, 

 and this is a very valuable addition to 

 your window. I have one that has 

 grown to an immense size. What 

 caused this fine growth was rich sandy 

 soil, good drainage, an abundance of 

 water, partial rest in winter, fine parti- 

 cles of charcoal mixed in the soil 

 caused tlie foliage to grow very glossy 

 and to keep the foliage fresh looking; 

 it was grown where it would only get 

 the early morning sun. Be very care- 

 ful about disturbing the roots of this 

 plant. 



A beautiful centerpiece for the din- 

 ner table was a pot of Acorus Grami- 

 neus Variegatus, surrounded with 

 four pots of Asparagus Plumosa. 

 The Acorus looked like a miniature 

 New Zealand flag, and the contrast be- 

 tween its variegated foliage and the 

 mist-like green of the Asparagus was 

 lovely. The pots were covered with 

 wood m-oss of different shades. 



Missouri. A. Elizabeth Badger. 



EASTER LILIES. 



Easter lilies for blooming in the 

 window should be strong, healthy 

 bulbs and should be potted before the 

 roots begin to grow. Use good drain- 

 age and have the soil a rich, turfy 

 loam, some leaf mold and a little bone 

 meal. I find six and eight-inch pots 

 large enough and the bulb must be put 

 half-way the depth of the pot, as it 

 wants at least three inches of soil 

 over it. 



Set away in a warm place until 

 growth begins. Water moderately, 

 and never allow them to suffer from 

 excesses. Give a light, cool place and 



