generally erect. 
SrpTEMBER I, 1902. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
15 
The large order Palme or Palmacez is 
pre-eytinent in the whole world of plants 
for t¢fe grandeur and beauty attained by 
many of its species. Some tower, when 
fuli grown, to a height of considerably 
over 100 ft. without emitting a single 
leaf; others have stems not exceeding 2 
or 3 ft. in height and 4 inch in thickness; 
and gthers, again, have the stems so short 
that the leaves borne on the top of the 
‘stem rise out of the soil, and the whole 
plant does not reach 3 ft. in height. The. 
tall-gfowing species can only be accommo- 
dated in botanic gardens and princely 
estabjishments, such as the winter gardens 
of th¢ opulent, and even in these, however 
Spacigus the accommodation, the’ speci- 
Mens never attain the wonderful beauty 
of the same subjects in their native forests. 
The dwarf Palms, however, are no less 
graceful than their lofty allies, and better 
adapted, from their low stature, for general 
cultivation. 
A Palm stem is usually unbranched 
from the ground to the top, though that 
of a few species furcates, in some instances, 
several times. Once formed, the trunk 
increases in height, but not in thickness, 
taperjng upwards almost from the base and 
Its outer surface is 
usually very hard and the centre is soft, 
so that this can be easily removed, leaving 
aholJow tube. The leaves vary, but may 
be referred to two leading forms—(1) The 
feather-leaved, in which the leaflets arise 
from the sides of a long midrib, such as 
in Phoenix rupicola; and (2) the fan- 
leaved, in which the midrib is so short 
that all the veins seem to arise from the 
top of the leaf, and to spread out like the 
ribs of a fan through the leaf-blade, such 
‘as Livistona australis. 
In the very young state the leaves of 
almogt all species of Palms are undivided, 
except at the tip, and the species are re- 
markably alike in most cases while young. 
The inflorescence is simple or branched, 
and bears numerous inconspicuous flowers. 
Indiyidual plants, or individual’ inflores- 
_cences, in many species,.are either male 
or female, but in most the same bunch 
bears flowers of both sexes, the females 
usually lower down, and the males nearer 
The fruit also” 
the tips of the branches. 
varies greatly. 
The majority of Palms are by no means” 
difficult to cultivate. All of the species 
require good drainage, as in summer they 
need a plentiful supply of water, and in 
winter, too, their roots must never suffer 
from. lack of moisture. One species, 
Chamerops or Trachycarpus Fortunei, is 
hardy enough to live outside in many. 
favorable localities. all the year round, and. 
several species are available for sub-tropi- 
cal gardening in summer, and succeed in 
a warm greenhouse in winter. A few 
thrive in greenhouses and conservatories 
at ordinary temperature (40 deg. to 45 deg. 
at night, and 45 deg. to 50 deg. by day in 
winter), and many others of the tenderer 
description may be used for conservatory. 
decoration in summer, transferring them 
to warmer quarters in the autumn. 
As exhibition specimens, large plants. 
' ported seeds. 
may be successfully cultivated in pots or 
tubs, small in proportion to the size of the 
plant. For dinner-table decoration some 
of the elegent habited Palms in a small 
state are indispensable, and no better sub- 
jects for the purpose exist. As room 
plants, some of the’ stiffer-growing species 
are remarkably well adapted, as they 
withstand the confinement and indifferent 
treatment, even for a long period, in a 
surprising manner. Palms, therefore, re 
present an invaluable class of plants, and 
the most useful species are indispensable 
for effect in the decoration of the home. 
A few select species are Latania bor- 
bonica, Kentia Belmoreana, K. For- 
steriana, K. Canterburyana, Areca 
Bauerii, A. lutescens, Seaforthia elegans, 
Thrinax radiata, Phoenix reclinata, P. 
rupicola, Rhapis flabelliformis, R. humilis, 
Geonoma gracilis, Cocos flexuosa, C. Wed- 
deliana, and Chamerops humilis. 
All the species mentioned except those 
of the genus Rhapis are increased by im- 
The Rhapis species are pro- 
pagated by suckers, and a few other Palms 
may be thus increased; but the general 
mode of increase is from seed. This is a 
very interesting process, as many lovers of 
‘palms like to raise their own plants and 
note them in their several stages of de- 
velopment. 
The seeds of Palms vary considerably in 
size and form. Seeds may be sown at 
almost any time of the year—early spring 
being that preferred. The seeds should 
be sown thickly, in clean, _well-drained 
pots, pans, or boxes, and covered with 
about their own depth of soil. The com- 
post for all the strong-grewing species may 
consist of 2 parts of turfy yellow loam, 
and 1 part of sharp silver sand. The soil 
should be made rather fine, and as the 
seedlings must remain, in many, instances, 
a long time in the seed-pot, pan, or box, 
the kind of soil and the amount of drainage 
are important considerations. For many 
of the small or slender growing species a. 
small portion of peat may be added to the 
loam and silver sand, as this sometimes 
tends to encourage a quicker and better 
root action. 
The pots, pans, or boxes should be 
plunged in or placed on a brisk bottom 
heat and kept watered, always moist, but 
never so excessively as to cause sourness.: 
Nursery men use boxes, called propagatiny 
trays, 15 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 2 
inches deep. They put Moss or siftings 
in the bottom, use no crocks, place. them 
as thick as they will go, and just cover 
them with soil. ; 
der the stages of a warm house, anyhow 
near warm pipes, but some prefer a fibre 
bed with a brisk heat. an ae . 
Some of the seeds germinate in a much 
shorter time than others, and also grow on 
faster afterwards. The seedlings are 
potted off when they have formed one 
leaf and a second is showing, always in ad- 
vance® of the third leaf, placing them in 
the smallest sized pot that will hold the 
roots without injury, and then arrange 
them close together in a house where a 
high temperature and moist atmosphere 
_ 
The trays are placed un- 
down when the leaf is dry.. 
are maintained. The roots must not be 
cut, and the stem not buried, the base of 
the stem being just within or resting on 
the soil. 
Repotting will need to be carried out 
according to the rate at which the plants 
grow, some progressing much faster than 
others, always taking the roots as a guide, 
not shifting them until these are crowded. 
As the value of Palms for decorative pur- 
poses mainly depends on a large size of 
plant for the small size of pot, the en- 
deavor should be to give the smallest shifts 
in the young state consistent with the rate’ 
of progress made by the plants, overhaul- 
ing these early in spring after they be-. 
come established, and doing any necessary 
potting. 
Palm seeds sprout in from two to three 
months, and require from six to eight 
months before being ready for potting. 
In about four years the plants are of ser- 
viceable size, grand plants for decorative 
purposes in 6-inch pots. By the rush 
method—high temperature, moisture, and 
feeding—deep green Palms are had in one- 
third less time, but they will not bear the 
hardships of decoration so well as those 
grown on more rational lines—- The 
Gardener.’ 
> REVIEWS, < 
KERNER’S “NATURAL HISTORY OF 
PLANTS,” WITH BOTANICAL NOTES 
I BY “ Ss”? 
[We shall ba pleased to review any books, mag- 
azines, or periodicals dealing with plants sent to 
us for that purpose.—Ep,]. ses 
ApsorPTION or Water—As. a rule 
leaves are provided with hairs, or covered 
‘with yarnish, and absorption of water is 
thereby prevented, but in many. cases the 
water thus thrown. off is. led by. special 
grooves to cavities provided with -absorbing 
hairs, where the dew. or rain is utilised. 
‘The proof of this is that if, say, leaves of 
the Gentian are “cut off and left to-fade, 
and the cut surfaces are stopped. with seal- 
ing wax, andthe whole. then bathed with 
rain. water, they take up in twenty-four 
hours two-fifths of their weight in water.” 
- In the case of. some Saxifrages . with 
toothed edges the teeth. are rigid, but the 
“space between soft and absorbent:. In 
others the leaf is dotted with.depressions,. 
covered by a.lid of lime kept in its place 
by little pegs or plugs. This lid lifts in 
wet weather to admit water, and closes 
In some Tamarisks growing. in arid 
steppes the leaf is covered with salt, which 
attracts moisture from the air, deliquesces,. 
and runs into the cavities. In dry weather. 
the salt acts as a protecting crust-prevent-" 
ing evaporation. Pas 
~ Symarosis—This is the technical term 
