152 
THE ELOIllST. 
is laden with large bunches of its black, shining fruits, each about the 
size of a Grape berry. 
Popular taste inclines to the cultivation of plants remarkable either 
for their form, size, or colouring of their foliage ; we feel confident, 
therefore, that Palms will shortly play an important part in this move¬ 
ment. But, says some one. Palms cannot be properly cultivated except 
in a house of gigantic proportions, like that at Kew; and who can 
afford such a stove, except, indeed, the ducal proprietor of Chatsworth ? 
Yes, that is the point which has hitherto kept them out of our exhi¬ 
bitions ; that idea has prevented our nurserymen from obtaining a stock 
of Palms, and discouraged almost every one who would have tried the 
experiment. And yet there is just as much error in the matter as truth, 
I have practically studied horticulture in more than half a dozen diffe¬ 
rent countries, and my native land is the only one in which Palms are 
considered unfit for general cultivation. In Prussia, in Saxony, in 
Austria, in Hanover, in Belgium, you will hardly find a garden of any 
note in which Palms are not grown for decorative purposes. There 
are dozens of species which may be grown in the same sized pots, and 
not occupy more room than most of the plants which are cultivated for 
the beauty of their foliage. We hope soon to see prizes offered specially 
for Palms, as they are now for Dracaenas. Variety is what we want 
among fine-foliaged plants; we want as many kinds of gracefully 
growing plants as can be obtained, why then should we not seek them 
among Palms, whose great characteristic features are elegance and 
beauty. There are Palms which may be grown in the greenhouse, as 
well as those which require a stove. There are bright colours among 
Palms, too—as for instance, Latania rubra, L. aurea, and Areca Vers- 
chaffeltii; while for gracefulness of appearance there are few Ferns 
which could rival a well-grown plant of many species of Calamus and 
Chamtedorea. The only objection which can be brought against Palms 
is, that they grow too large; but people forget the time it takes them to 
attain any great size. A specimen of either of those we have named, 
or of many others which could be mentioned, would take from 10 to 25 
years before it became too large for exhibition purposes, and surely that 
is as long as we can expect any plant to remain in perfection. 
So great is the demand for Palms upon the continent, that some 
nurserymen devote themselves almost exclusively to their cultivation, 
and in every establishment at least one or two houses are set apart for 
them. The nursery of M. Augustin, of Wildpark, near Potsdam, is 
one of the most noted for these plants. Every excursionist who goes to 
Berlin should visit this garden ; it is only a trip of some 15 or 16 miles 
from that city. Palms will be found growing there, not by the dozen, 
or the score, not even by the hundred, but b^y thousands and tens of 
thousands. It is almost impossible to conceive the number of them 
raised in this establishment without personal inspection. M. Augustin’s 
catalogue contains the names of between two and three hundred species, 
and of almost all of them he has a large stock. All I can say in con¬ 
clusion is, that I hope Palms may soon become as plentiful as Ferns in 
this country. Should the cultivation of this family be once fairly 
started, there cannot be the slightest doubt that they will become 
thoroughly and generally popular. Delta, 
