THE GARDENING WORLD. 
245 
PALMS FOR TABLE ORNAMENT. 
In offering a few remarks on plants suitable for table 
decoration, I shall confine myself to such as may be 
grown on to a useful size in 48 pots. Although, for 
some occasions, plants in larger pots may be_used; yet, 
for general purposes, anything larger than a 48 is not 
admisable. In growing plants for market purposes we 
find this a very essential point. Palms are perhaps the 
most useful of all the green foliaged plants ; we will, 
therefore, give them the first place. In making a selec¬ 
tion, as many of the hardier sorts should be included 
as possible, as these can be used without fear of being 
damaged, where many of the tender sorts would be 
destroyed. 
Kentia Fosteriana. —This is certainly one of the 
very best Palms for table decoration, it is of very grace¬ 
ful habit, and will succeed well in an intermediate tem¬ 
perature. K. Belmoreana and_K. Wendlandiana, are 
also very useful. 
Cocos Weddelliana. —This elegant Palm is a general 
favourite, being particularly adapted for the centre of an 
epergne ; if plants of a suitable size are used for this 
purpose they show off to great advantage. It requires 
stove treatment, and is rather delicate ; if over potted 
or given too much water it will soon get into a sickly 
condition. 
Geonoma gracilis. —This is another slender-grow¬ 
ing species, somewhat resembling the above, the leaves 
are more recurved, however, and it is particularly 
graceful in a small state. 
Phcenix rupicola.— In habit this somewhat resem¬ 
bles the older and better known species P. reciiuata, it 
quired it will be found very useful, and as the seed is 
inexpensive and germinates freely, it is brought within 
the reach of those who have not the convenience to 
grow the more delicate sorts. 
Areca lutescens.— This is a very graceful Palm, 
the pale yellow leaf stalks giving it a very light ap¬ 
pearance; plants that have been hardened off will stand 
well, but it is best to avoid using them while they are 
developing young leaves. 
Areca Herbstii is a very handsome plant, the 
leaves which are of a pale glaucous green are beauti¬ 
fully recurved, and the leafstalks are covered with long 
sharp spines. 
Rhapis flabelliformis. — This is very distinct, and 
being of a hardy nature it will stand more exposure 
than most Palms. 
Corypha australis.— This is very valuable on 
accountof its hardy nature. In growing young plantson, 
however, they should have stove treatment, as under 
such treatment the leaf-stalks become more elongated, 
and the plant altogether assumes a lighter and more 
graceful habit. After they have attained sufficient 
size for use they may be hardened off, and will do much 
service either for table or other decoration in exposed 
positions without being damaged. 
Chamerops humilis. — In a young state this some¬ 
what resembles the above, except that it has no spines 
on the leaf-stalks ; it is also equally hardy, and may 
be grown under the same treatment. 
Latania borbonica. —-This is another very service¬ 
able Palm. Plants grown in a high temperature and 
December 19, 188o. 
I have had to go through the martyrdom of standing 
by the side (or in) a frame of Carnations and Picotees 
on a bitterly cold day, to take up the pots one by one, 
trimming away any dead leaves, and also others badly 
infested with spot. It was a case of slow freezing until 
the blood appeared to be stagnant in one’s veins, and 
their nether extremities were like blocks of ice. Talk 
of the poetry of flowers ! Under such conditions one 
thought of the poetry of the fireside and some heat¬ 
giving food and drink ; and that went on for several 
days, and had to be borne patiently and uncomplain¬ 
ingly, too. 
I remember that on one occasion Mr. Dodwell, in one 
of his contributions on the winter treatment of the 
Carnation and Picotee, alluding to the necessity of 
going over the plants in this way, and cleansing them 
from decaying foliage and dust, said :—“To do this in 
the open garden is a work which, in the case of any 
person not of the most robust health, would involve 
serious punishment from cold, and very considerable 
risk to health. To obviate this danger my practice is 
to remove the plants to the shelter of the house, and 
here in the evening in the warmth and comfort of the 
sitting-room, I give to my pets the little attentions 
needed, and which their subsequent development so 
well repays. ” This is all very well in the case of an 
amateur cultivator ; but it cannot be done at a nursery 
where the plants are grown on an extensive scale. 
Let this be noted —the Carnation and Picotee are 
thoroughly hardy plants, and no harm can come to 
them from the most severe weather, provided they 
have been thoroughly hardened-off, and so inured to 
wintry influences. But while what may be termed 
calm cold is not injurious, cutting icy winds are, and 
while it is necessary to give as much air as possible on 
all occasions, the lights should be so raised as that such 
dangerous winds cannot blow upon the plants. 
Mr. Dodwell emphasises this, for he states:—“In 
my experience, no severity of cold has been injurious 
unless the plants have been previously teuderised by 
injudicious confinement; but guard sedulously against 
cutting icy winds. During long-continued severe frosts, 
one—or at most two—mats will be ample protection. 
These should be allowed to remain on during the day, 
to prevent excitement from the bright light usual at 
such seasons. Do not, however, exclude air ; tilt the 
lights of the frames, and open the windows of the 
house on the leeward side.” 
One word more. Be very careful how the watering- 
pot is used in January. At that time of the year the 
atmosphere is quite full enough of moisture to maintain 
the plants in a healthy state. If water must be given, 
apply it sparingly, and on no account wet the foliage. 
-F. D. 
Gladney Apple. —We do not need large apples for 
the dessert table. Small ones are far preferable. The 
Lady Apple is popular chiefly because it is small and 
pretty. It is not remarkable for superior flavour. We 
have often wondered why Gladney was not taken up 
for this purpose. About the same size, just as pretty, 
keeps well through the winter ; and yet far more 
sprightly and agreeable to most tastes .—American 
Gardeners' Monthly, 
is, however, of much more graceful appearance, the 
leaves being more elongated, and the pinna: narrower. 
Seaforthia elegans. —This is especially valuable 
on account of its free-growing habit ; it attains to a 
large size much quicker than most of the Palms, and 
for purposes where a large plant in a small pot is re¬ 
kept well shaded during the summer, assume quite a 
different habit than when grown in a lower temperature 
and more exposed ; it is very effective under either 
mode of treatment 
Djemoxorops palembaniCUs is another beautiful 
Palm, the young leaves are of a bronzy brown, forming 
a nice contrast to the dark green of its older leaves ; it 
is a stove species. 
Many more Palms might be added to the list of use¬ 
ful table plants, but the above will be found sufficient 
for all ordinary purposes. In the general treatment of 
Palms it should be remembered that although they like 
plenty of atmospheric moisture, they should not be 
over watered at the roots. An occasional watering 
with liquid manure made from cow-dung and soot will 
give the foliage a dark green and healthy appearance ; 
or where the pots are well filled with roots, a sprinkle 
of artificial manure may be given, in which case, either 
Clay’s fertilizer or Standeu’s manure will be found very 
beneficial.— A. Hemsley. 
( To he continued. ) 
-—- 
PRUNING. 
Whilst we may look forward with some curiosity to 
the realization or contradiction of the old proverb, 
“ When the Ice bears a man beforo Christmas it will 
not bear a goose after.” There is ample reason to be 
grateful for the week of dry frost we have just had, 
and which, if coming suddenly, almost as suddenly de¬ 
parted. Without doubt there are few large gardens in 
which the frost did not come as a sort of god-seml to 
enable the houses to be filled, and thus created much 
