February 25, 1892, ] 
143 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
-distributed along an ascending or descending axis or stem, accDrd- 
ing as the plant desires to be deeper or shallower, and such forma¬ 
tion is never vigorous. A depth of 14 inch to the top of the 
tuber will be sufidcient. The roots may "be planted pretty closely ; 
large tubers 2 inches apart, in rows across the bed, with a 4-inch 
distance between the rows. If the foliage meets across the rows, 
It affords the advantage of keeping the soil cooler, and helps to 
check evaporation. 
(To b 2 continued.) 
PALMS FOR ROOM DECORATION. 
Palms are indispensable for room decoration ; whether they are 
vised in solitary positions or rising out of groups, they impart attrac¬ 
tions that no other plants can do. There are numbers of varieties 
from which a suitable selection may be made that will bear the con¬ 
finement of rooms for a long time without being seriously injured. 
It is necessary, however, to keep these plants free from dust, water 
them with care, and remove them from dark to light positions fre¬ 
quently, Some judgment is needed in selecting positions for the 
different kinds. Those of a hirdy nature that can be kept in a cool 
house should be assigned to draughty corners. Although some 
Palms bear greenhouse treatment with impunity and will live in the 
open air during the summer months, it must not be forgotten that 
tMs treatment does not improve their appearance or promote their 
progress. The beginner would do well not to divide those selected 
for this purpose into two sections and grow some in a warm house 
and the others in a cool one. The cool house kinds will be found 
to increase in size and make double the progress if grown in heat 
•until they have attained a size sutficiently large for the purpose for 
which they may be required. They may then occupy a position 
during the winter months where the night temperature is never 
allowed to fall below 45^ Chamferops Fortune! is not considered, 
for it will thrive in almost any position, and will in some localities 
endure the severity of our winters out of doors. For general 
use, however, it is too stiff and heavy. We keep an average night 
temperature of 55'’ for our Palms during the winter months, both 
for growing and restoring those that have been used in rooms. 
The summer temperature ranges from 65° to 70° at night and 10° 
or 15° higher from sun heat. AVe syringe freely and maintain a 
moist temperature, giving air daily from May to October to maintain 
a sturdy growth. Plants from this structure are hardened for a 
few days before they are taken into rooms. If the whole are 
needed for any special occasion the temperature of the house is 
lowered 5° at night and more air is given during the day. By this treat 
ment vre find little or no harm results by using plants for a night 
or two. Shade is necessary in growing Palms, and a high dry 
temperature must be avoided, for it is favourable to the production 
of thrips and the rapid increase of scale. Soot water in a perfectly 
clear state is invaluable both for watering and syringing over the 
foliage. This imparts to the foliage a dark green healthy 
appearance. 
Cocos Weddelliana, being a general favourite, is given the first 
place. It will not, however, bear the hardships that many other 
varieties will. Fortunately it is a cheap Palm, and can be grown 
on quickly into a suitable size for table and other forms of deco¬ 
ration. It will be found to do better in a temperature of 60° 
during the winter, and should be potted in three parts peat to one 
of loam, with a liberal quantity of sand. It is a fine rooting Palm, 
and will not flourish satisfactorily if the soil used consists mainly 
of loam, which forms the staple soil for all other kinds. Even for 
Kentias we have discontinued the use of peat. AYe use good fibry 
loam and coarse sand, with charcoal added and bonemeal. Arti¬ 
ficial manures are applied about three or four times a year to those 
that have filled their pots with roots. 
Kentias are the best of all Palms for decoration : there are no 
others that can equal them, either for bearing the hardships of 
room decoration or for their graceful appearance. K. Belmoreana 
is the most handsome of these, but is of slower growth than 
K, Canterbnryana and K, Fosteriana. The whole of the Kentias, 
however, are well worth growing, and if limited to one class of 
these plants we should certainly grow Kentias, to the exclusion of 
all others. K. sapida is the hardiest of all. Being of dwarf slow 
growth it is very shapely, and suitable in a small state. K. Bel¬ 
moreana is also perfect in shape in a sma'l state, while Fosteriana 
is rather too thin. 
Phoenix reclinata and P. tenuis are useful Palms for room 
decoration, but they are stiffer and not so graceful as P. rupicola. 
AVe are increasing the stock of this, and shall gradually excluole the 
other two. This ranks next for gracefulness and beauty to 
K. Belmoreana. During the past two years we have had 
frequently in the centre of a room a large plant of this variety, 
and little or no harm has been oione to it. It is wise, however. 
to take them out occasionally for a few months to the more genial 
conditions of the structure in which Palms are grown. 
Geanoma gracilis is also a light useful Palm, and in potting and 
general treatment, in a young state, it should be grown with Cocos 
WeddelHana. In a young state, oven in very small pots, it is useful 
for table decoration. Being perfect in shape, it is one of the best 
Paims that can be grown in 2 and 3-inch pots where plants of this 
size are appreciated in glasses for the ornamentation of the dinner 
table. As the plant advances in growth it still retains its light 
graceful appearance. Although it does not bear confinement in 
rooms long without injury it is nevertheless well worth growing 
for special occasions. For rising above groups of plants at the 
b.a ;e of minors, or for elevation near the sides, it and Cocos 
AYeddelliana have no equals. 
Seaforthia elegans, although it cannot compete in beauty with 
the Kentias, is for the purpose in view a valuable quick-growing 
Palm, and one we employ largely for general purposes to save 
those of slower growth and greater value. AYell-grown plants are 
very effective in groups, and even if they becoma injured they are 
much more quickly restored than Kentias. This is unquestionably 
a useful conservatory Palm, and in this structure ic may be freely 
employed whea it is large enough for use in rooms. It will also 
grow under the shade of A ines, and will bear this treatment 
throughout the greater portion of the year, although when the 
Tines are at rest it is advisable to remove the Palms where the 
temperature will not fall quite so low. Seaforthias grow quickly 
in heat, and thosi starting to raise a stock of Palms would do well 
to employ this until better kinds of slower growth can bo 
developed. .... 
Latania borbonica can be used in small pots, for which it is 
suitable when grouped with other plants. If these are grown in 
heat they are more effective than if grown cool, and assume a low 
flat appearance. AA’^hen fully developed it is perhaps the most 
unsuitable Palm that can be grown for decorative purposes. It is 
too stiff and flat, and is difficult to arrange tastefully with other 
plants. AYe have only found it serviceable for one purpose or 
position, and that is when the pot can bs wedge! into a corner and 
the whole of the plant exposed to the front. AA e may pass Thrinax 
elegans, Chamie ops excelsa, Corypha australis, and others of this 
style of growth as too formal and heavy for general purposes. A 
few plants at times may be found useful in positions where it 
would not be unwise to use those of a valuable and tender nature. 
Again, the plants can be stored in any cool house when they are 
not wanted. This certainly is an advantage, and a few there¬ 
fore of these may be grown for supplementary purposes. 
Decokator. 
SEED BEDS AND SOWING SEED. 
Borders in front of walls or fences having a south or west 
aspect are favourable sites for raising young plants wherewith 
to stock the kitchen garden. A south border is obviously better 
than a west one for making the earliest sowing. Every foot of 
space should be made the most of, as, indeed, it is in many places 
In making early sowings, only a pinch of seed of the several kinds 
and varieties required need be sown. The ground having been 
previously manured and dug, should be trodden when dry enough 
not to adhere to the feet, raked, and marked into beds 4 feet wide, 
with an alley 1 foot wide between the beds. Assuming the beds to 
be 9 feet Icng (the average width of borders from the alley running 
parallel with the wall), one or two of these beds can be divided 
into twelve plots, each by the impression of the marking-rod, will 
be amply sufficient space in which to raise the necessary plants. 
In making the divisions, give large spaces to seeds of the Brassica 
family —•'’Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Borecoles, 
Savovs, and Broccoli—and Leeks, and proportionately small 
patches to Lettuces, By sowing in the manner indicated, not 
only space, but seed is saved. 
I am well within the mark in stating that annually seeds of 
Cauliflower, Cabbage, Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuces, Endive, 
Turnips, and Peas, are sown much too thickly, resulting in the 
crowding and consequent attenuating of the plants. If the seeds 
are obtained from a reliable seedsman there need be no anxiety as 
to their being good. This being so, they should, in the case of 
seed sown broadcast, be scattered thinly over the seed beds or seed 
pans covering them lightly, say to the thickness of half an inch, 
with soil from the alleys, raking them, and patting the soil with 
the back of the spade to compress the soil, and cover with garden 
netting, supported by short forky sticks, as a protection ^rom birds. 
The seedlings will thus have room to develop three or four leaves 
without touching one another, when they must be thinned, and 
the thinnings be pricked in small beds or fina!^y transplaffied, the 
ground being then ready. In sowing Parsnips, Carrots, Turnips, 
Beet, Spinach, Ac. in drills, the seed should only be sown a little 
