828 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 5, 1882. 
erect-growing plumose-leaved Palms of rapid growth and healthy 
robust nature. They are stove species, both being natives of the 
New World tropics. 
A Palm which is yet rare, and the name of which seems some¬ 
what undecided, is that known as Glaziova insignis. Whatever 
this Palm may be it is certainly closely allied to Cocos Weddelliana, 
with which in foliage characters it is almost identical, the only 
distinction being in the terminal pinnule, which in the Glaziova 
is broad and in the Cocos very narrow. The name Glaziova has 
long ago being given to another plant, so that it cannot be retained 
for this Palm. A plant at Kew labelled Juania australis seems to 
be in no way distinct from the Palm known as Glaziova. How¬ 
ever, be the name what it may, this is a very handsome species, 
quite as handsome as the Cocos, and likely to become as popular. 
Amongst Geonomas there are several very graceful species, 
notably G. Carderi, G. gracilis, G. Seemanni, and G. Schottiana. 
These are all deserving of a place in the stove, G. gracilis being 
already well represented in a few collections ; whilst G. Seemanni 
is very rare, Mr. Williams of Holloway possessing perhaps the finest 
cultivated specimen of it. 
Brahea filamentosa, now known as Washingtonia filifera, is a 
handsome fan-leaved Palm, clothed with long silvery threads 
which add considerably to its attractiveness. This species thrives 
well in a greenhouse or conservatory, and if liberally treated soon 
developes into a noble plant. 
The genus Calamus contains many beautiful species—in fact 
every one is worthy of cultivation, their graceful pinnate leaves 
and handsome habit even in young plants being especially service¬ 
able. The best of them are C. ciliaris, which I consider to be the 
most beautiful Palm known ; its Fern-like pale green foliage 
arranged alternately along the stem are most attractive. This 
species is rather delicate, but in a moist stove there is no difficulty 
in keeping it in good health. A character possessed by this Palm 
is that of throwing up young ones from the base, sometimes before 
the stem is a foot high, which may be taken off and grown on in 
separate pots. C. asperrimus, C. calilepis, C. fissus, C. Lewisianus, 
C. palembanicus, C. periacanthus, and C. melanochastes are other 
beautiful kinds, some of which are known as Dmmonorops. 
Amongst the Chammdoreas there are C. elegantissima, a graceful 
Cocos-like species ; C. elegans, with broader pinnules ; C. glauci- 
folia and C. graminifolia, with plumose pale green foliage ; and 
C. tenella, a pretty little dark green species, interesting from its 
being the smallest Palm known, plants not more than 6 inches 
high flowering and fruiting yearly. 
Deckenia nobilis is one of several beautiful Palms which are 
found in the Seychelles Islands, and which are becoming great 
favourites. This species, along with Acanchophcenix crinita and 
Nephrosperma Yan Houttii are remarkable for their graceful pin¬ 
nate foliage, and a stem and leaf-petioles thickly covered with 
long stiff spines. They are really beautiful stove species, and 
thrive well in a moist atmosphere. 
Verschaffeltia splendida, V. melanochastes. and Stevensonia 
grandifolia are noble simple-leaved Palms, also from the Seychelles. 
The first is a rather delicate Palm, but when well grown it is 
undoubtedly one of the very best exhibition plants. The Steven¬ 
sonia is a very large-leaved Palm, remarkable in that the foliage 
is thickly marked with brown spots on a dark green ground. The 
stem of this species is also thickly clothed with long spines. 
There are some very fine specimens of the Stevensonia in the 
Kew collection. 
The Euterpes were once more largely cultivated than they 
appear to be now, especially E. edulis, the Cabbage Palm, as it is 
called, from the hearts or young undeveloped crowns being largely 
used as food by the natives of South America. It is a graceful 
free-growing species, with pinnate leaves and smooth erect stem. 
The same may be said of E. oleracea, or perhaps even more, for 
this Palm is a very handsome table plant, the gracefulness of its 
foliage being very attractive. 
Heterospatha elata is a dwarf pinnate-leaved Palm, handsome 
when well grown, but rather miffy, and perhaps somewhat too 
stiff for table work. A noble plant for the stove or warm con¬ 
servatory is Hyophorbe amaricaulis, closely resembling H. (Areca) 
Verscbaffeltii, but of stronger habit, and with reddish stem and 
leafstalks. 
Amongst Kentias there are several very attractive and useful 
species, the best known being K. Fosteriana and K. Belmoreana, 
both very elegant table plants and valuable to the exhibitor. 
Others equally good are K. Wendlandii, with broadish dark-green 
pinnules and a robust grower. K. australis, which is not unlike 
K. Fosteriana and K. Lindeni, a robust broad-pinnuled species, 
and especially remarkable for the deep shining purple of the 
young leaves as they are unfolding. Several new Tbrinaxes are 
also deserving of mention, as also are Sagus vitiensis, Rhapis 
humilis, Phoenix rupicola, P. sylvestris, and P. reclinata, all very 
desirable species, and eminently adapted for furnishing and 
exhibition purposes. Other species might be mentioned which 
are also to be seen in large quantities in some of the London 
nurseries, but sufficient have been enumerated to show what a 
host of useful Palms have been recently introduced by nurserymen 
and others interested in this noble order. 
With very few exceptions the cultural requirements of Palms 
are such as need not puzzle the merest tyro, given of course the 
necessary temperature. A rich loam is the best soil to use for 
them, though almost any sweet and fresh soil will do. A liberal 
supply of cow manure either in the fresh or liquid state is a capital 
food for all Palms. Most of them require plenty of water all the 
year round, and in the event of any becoming root-bound, and it 
not being desirable to transfer them into larger pots, they may be 
grown for a considerable time in such a state by keeping the roots 
well supplied with water and liquid manure. The seeds of most 
Palms retain vitality for a year or two, so that there is little 
trouble in importing and growing them, the principal difficulty 
being in procuring them from the natives. This difficulty is, 
however, rapidly being met by the large numbers of fruiting 
specimens which are now to be found in our colonial botanic 
gardens, from whence abundance of seeds of many hitherto rare 
kinds are now to be procured, so that we may hope to soon be in 
possession of other Palms which will prove as serviceable as the 
few we have known for some time.—W. W. 
WORK.foiithe WEEK,. < 
dxE ' 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Vines .—As heavy and cold rains may now be expected, covering 
late Yine borders will be necessary to insure the fruit keeping satis¬ 
factorily. Wooden shutters are the best, but tarpaulin or a thick 
thatch of straw or bracken sloped so as to carry off the water answers 
well. Mats, or a light covering of straw, placed on inside borders 
will to some extent prevent moisture rising, as well as prevent the 
border becoming too dry. The Grapes should be frequently examined, 
removing all decayed berries, as if left others are soon affected ; but 
if thoroughly ripened the thick-skinned varieties will give little 
trouble if the house is watertight. The houses should be kept as 
cool and dry as possible, only employing fire heat to secure a tempera¬ 
ture of 50°, or when the external atmosphere renders it necessary. 
Have the ventilators closed in damp weather, opening only when the 
outside air is dry, at the same time applying fire heat. Turn off the 
heat early in the afternoon, so as to have the pipes cooled before 
night. 
The earliest Vines must be pruned, and the house receive a 
thorough cleaning, the border being top-dressed as advised in a 
former calendar. The outside border should be covered with a good 
layer of dry fern or straw litter, with shutters or tarpaulin to throw 
off heavy rains or prevent the border being chilled by heavy rains or 
snow. Where fermenting materials are obtainable in quantity to 
admit of their renewal when necessary, preparation should be made 
of these for placing on outside borders at least a fortnight before 
closing the house, and a bed of the same materials introduced inside 
at starting time will aid the Vines. 
Where new ripe Grapes are required very early preparation should 
now be made for starting the earliest Vines in pots, and if a slight 
bottom heat, such as that of three parts leaves to one of stable litter, 
their starting regularly will be the better insured. The pots should 
be raised on pedestals of brickwork, so as to prevent the pots sinking 
with the fermenting materials, the materials being brought up about 
the pots, but not to cause the heat about them to exceed 75°, between 
that and 70° being suitable. The soil in the pots must be brought 
into a thoroughly moist condition by soaking or repeated watering 
at 80°. The canes should be slung in a horizontal position. The 
temperature at starting must not exceed 55° artificially, but as the 
Vines break it should be gradually increased to 60° or 65°. Syringe 
the Vines in the morning and early afternoon. 
