4FG 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  29,  1900. 
Two  Great  Aids  in  Frofitabie  Cnitnre. 
The  old  proverb  tells  us  we  must  cut  our  coat  according  to  our 
cloth.  Much  as  we  think  of  these  little  islands  of  ours,  they  only 
form  a  small  fiart  of  the  inhabited  globe.  They  are,  perhaps,  with 
kii  their  faults,  the  most  deslrahle  spot  on  earth  wherein  to  live;  no 
scorching,  burning  suns  in  summer,  no  long  night  of  Arctic  winter,  no 
excessive  drought,  no  tempestuous  flood,  no  great  emeigencies  arise, 
and  we  are  seldom  driven  much  out  of  the  beaten  path.  Truly,  we  do 
have  exceptional  seasons  occasionally,  Avhich  bother  us  mightily,  but 
they  are  mere  deviations  from  the  sober,  temperate  mean. 
Taking  the  country  (Clreat  Britain)  generally,  we  may  sav  we  suffer 
more  perhaps  from  lack  of  sunshine  than  from  drought.  Our  periods 
of  drought  certainly  have  been  more  frequent  during  the  last  ten 
years,  but  we  are  looking  back  far  further  than  that  time.  How  we 
are  to  get  more  sunshine  is  a  difficulty  for  which  we  can  sb^^o-est  no 
remeuy  ;  we  have  to  take  what  we  can  get  and  he  thankful,'’'"Then, 
again,  tbg  reader  may  observe,  is  there  any  known  remedy  to  combat 
drought  ?  We  certainly  cannot  command  the  rain  clouds,  but  we 
are  blessed  with  great  supplies  of  water  below  the  clouds,  and  the 
question  is.  Do  we  utilise  these  stores  to  the  best  advantage  ? 
We  can  all  perceive  the  ill  result  of  a  long  drought,  but  few  of 
us  have  any  idea  how  very  much  water  plant  life  will  absorb.  Analyse 
any  fruit,  vegetable,  or  grain  grown,  and  the  immense  percentage  of 
water  will  astonish  the  unthinking  mind.  During  the  later  summer 
months  we  call  to  mind  the  saying  respecting  the  christening  of. the  little 
Apples  on  St,  Svvithin’s  day.  Most  certainly,  unless  there  be  rain 
on  or  about  that  date  the  little  Apples  keep  little,  succumb  to  grub, 
and  drop  off,  or  ripen  prematurely.  Too  much  rain  makes  the 
Strawberry  bed  into  a  pulpy  mess,  and  the  Easps  ungatherable  ;  sti'l, 
in  some  districts  these  fruits  fail  year  after  year  for  want  of  the 
necessary  moisture. 
As  many  of  us  know,  North  America  has  immense  tracts  of  very  dry 
land  where  the  rainfall  is  merely  superticial,  and  where  to  produce 
anything  at  all  well  recourse  must  be  had  to  artificial  watering, 
which  we  all  know  is  a  very  tedious  business  with  pail  or  can, 
even  when  water  can  be  led  straight  up  into  the  garden  or  fruit 
plantation.  But  the  Americans  have  adopted  the  plan  of  artificial 
irrigation  which  is  not,  wonderful  to  say,  an  original  idea, 
but  as  old  as  the  very  hills.  So  far  the  principle  has  been  applied 
to  small  areas.  In  some  cases  river  water  is  diverted,  in  others 
storm  water  stored,  in  others  spring  water  drawn,  and  again  in  others 
liquid  sewage  applied.  Happily,  here  we  have  not  to  deal  with  wide 
tracts  of  arid  sand,  moisture  is  pretty  equally  distributed ;  but  there 
are  districts  even  in  this  humid  climate  (eastern  counties)  where 
the  rainfall  often  falls  far  short  of  the  needs  of  the  crops. 
Drought  years  and  rainy  seasons  seem  to  come  in  cycles.  If  we 
knew  what  to  expect  it  \Vould  probably  be  worth  while  to  devise 
some  means  of  combating  drought.  There  are  many  acres  of  light 
sandy  land  that  have  been  immensely  improved  by  good  cultivation, 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  a  cheap  and  easy  mode  of  irrigation  would 
be  of  the  utmost  value.  We  once  knew  a  farmer  who  had  a  field  of 
Clover,  bounded  on  one  side  by  a  celebrated  trout  stream.  The  season 
was  very  dry,  the  Clover  in  great  need,  and  we  grieve  to  say  this  man 
so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  cut  an  aperture  in  the  bank,  making  with 
stones  a  barrier  to  prevent  the  exodus  of  the  trout.  By  the  time  the 
stream  watcher  was  down  upon  him  he  had  got  enough  water  to 
insure  a  good  Clover  crop.  On  the  outskirts  of  Paris  may  be  found 
rich  and  fertile  gardens,  in  which  all  manner  of  fruits  and  vegetables 
abound,  even  to  Watercress.  The  land  is  the  sandy  gravelly  banks  of 
the  Seine  ;  the  rich  fruitfulness  is  the  outcome  of  irrigation,  sewage 
water  being  the  active  agent.  These  gardens  answer  two  ends  ;  they 
provide  wholesome  food,  and  render  innoxious  what  otherwise  would 
be  liquid  poison.  Gross-growing  crops,  such  as  Potatoes,  Turnips, 
Mangolds,  and  Cabbages,  will  do  well  on  land  that  receives  only 
winter  irrigation.  Coming  to  orchard  trees,  what  a  boon  a  thorongh 
soaking  would  often  be  !  We  have  much  fault  to  find  with  many 
orchards,  when  we  see  the  grass  allowed  to  grow  right  up  to  the  very 
stems  of  the  trees.  If  that  were  cleared  away  in  a  circle,  and  a  good 
supply  of  either  sewage  or  pure  water  applied  at  a  critical  time,  how 
much  better  chance  would  there  be  of  fine  fruit,  A  dry  season 
generally  means  superabundant  sunshine.  If  there  is  moisture  as 
well  as  sunshine  the  thing  is  done. 
b\e  think  facts  have  thoroughly  disproved  the  idea  once  so 
prevalent  that  sewage  irrigation  made  unhealthy  vegetable  growths. 
Is  it  not  close  on  two  years  since  the  great  pastures  of  Craigentinny, 
near  Edinburgh,  were  first  treated  to  sewage,  and  the  grass  from 
tho.'^e  meadows  has  fed  all  the  milk  producers  of  that  large  city  ?  In 
Milan  the  same  thing  has  been  going  on  for  200  years  with  no  ill 
result.  The  milk  of  the  sewage-grass- led  cows  has  been  tested  side  by 
side  with  that  of  cows  fed  on  other  material,  and  in  no  case  has  it  been 
found  that  the  sewage  cows’  milk  developed  any  taint  or  went  wrong 
before  that  of  the  other  cows  on  trial.  More  than  that,  it  was  amply 
proved  that  the  vetch-fed  cows  produced  milk  which  went  wrong  the 
more  quickly. 
Not  only  is  it  the  actual  moisture  that  is  so  necessary  to  plan  t 
life,  but  in  many  waters  are  found  held  in  suspension  such  valuable 
substances  as  potassium  sulphate,  phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen. 
Imagine  the  effect  of  this  application  to  coarse  sandy  soils.  We  have 
systems  of  irrigation  here  of  old  establishment,  the  water  meadows 
and  the  warping.  This  latter  prepares  the  soil  for  arable  cultivation, 
and  the  improvement  has  to  be  seen  to  be  believed.  We  talked  of 
two  useful  aids  to  cultivation,  our  space  is  filled,  and  we  have  only 
lightly  touched  on  one.  The  other,  ventilation  of  the  soil,  must  be 
held  over  for  the  time  being. — F, 
Palms  from  Seeds. 
In  the  raising  of  any  plant  from  seed  the  first  essential  is  to 
procure  seed  which  is  good  and  fresh.  Though  this  may  look  like  a 
stereotyped  observation  it  is  nevertheless  necessary,  as,  in  the  first 
place,  Palm  seed  is  by  no  means  a  cheap  commodity,  and  if  it  fails  to 
germinate  it  means  considerable  loss.  In  the  second  place,  some  of 
the  species,  being  slow  to  germinate,  would  be  occupying  valuable 
space  for  months  that  might  be  utilised  for  growing  something  else, 
I  would  suggest  to  anyone  about  to  commence  to  arrange  with  some 
reliable  seedsman  to  send  seeds  of  the  different  Palms  as  these  arrive 
(which  they  do  at  different  times,  usually  somewhere  from  October  to 
April),  and  plant  the  seeds  as  soon  as  they  come  to  hand.  We  prefer 
to  use  pans,  but  have  also  succeeded  well  with  boxes.  Either  should 
be  about  4  inches  in  depth,  to  allow  of  liberal  drainage,  and  about 
2^  inches  of  soil.  A  compost  of  equal  parts  of  good  loam,  peat,  and 
sharp  sand  (and  finely  sifted),  with  the  addition  of  charcoal,  will  suit 
almost  any  of  the  Palms.  After  ample  drainage  material  has  been 
placed  in  the  bottom,  cover  with  about  2  inches  of  soil,  pressing  this 
moderately  firm.  Sow  the  seeds  rather  thickly. 
The  depth  of  covering  must  be  regulated  by  the  size  of  the  seed. 
To  cover  to  about  its  own  depth  is  a  fairly  safe  rule.  Press  the  soil 
evenly  and  firmly.  The  situation  just  after  sowing  is  not  a  matter  of 
great  importance  so  long  as  a  suitable  temperature  can  be  maintained. 
This  should  not  be  less  than  75°.  An  ideal  place  would  be  a  bench 
with  bottom  heat,  but  if  the  bench  is  needed  for  anything  else  the 
seed  will  start  just  as  well  placed  under  the  benches,  if,  as  soon  as  the 
growths  begin  to  show,  the  seedlings  are  removed  to  lighter  quarters. 
But  care  should  be  taken  to  have  some  arrangements  made  to  insure 
against  the  drip  from  other  plants  getting  into  the  boxes.  These  boxes 
should  not  be  set  directly  on  the  floor;  it  is  better  to  have  them  raised  a 
little  to  allow  of  a  free  passage  of  air,  and  insure  the  uniform  drying 
of  the  soil.  Close  attention  and  good  judgment  are  required  in 
the  matter  of  watering,  as  either  extreme  is  very  apt  to  result  in  the 
loss  of  the  seed  should  it  occur  during  the  early  stages  of  growth. 
The  time  required  for  germination  varies  considerably  with  the 
different  species,  Latania  borbonica  is  about  the  quickest.  Given 
fresh  seeds  and  all  conditions  suitable,  it  will  take  from  three  to  four 
weeks  to  germinate.  Cocos  Weddeliana  is  about  the  slowest,  taking 
some  two  to  three  months. 
Potting  should  not  be  done  until  after  the  second  leaf  is 
developed.  Palms  at  no  stage  of  their  arowth  will  do  well  if  over¬ 
potted,  so  it  is  better  to  start  with  as  small  a  pot  as  possible — one  just 
large  enough  to  conveniently  contain  the  roots  being  best.  Ample 
drainage  must  not  be  neglected.  A  soil  similar  to  that  used  for 
sowing  the  seeds  in  will  be  found  snitable  for  the  first  potting,  but  for 
subsequent  pottings  a  rather  heavier  soil  is  better.  Less  peat  and  s-and 
had  therefore  better  be  used.  Once  well  under  growth  the  temperature 
can  be  reduced  to  not  less  than  65°  at  night  when  fire  is  employed, 
allowing  a  rise  ol  from  15°  to  20°  by  sun  heat.  Keep  the  atmosphere 
moderately  moist,  and  syringe  freely  during  bright  weather  to  keep 
the  plants  free  from  insects.  Shading  from  strong  sunlight  is 
necessary,  also  all  the  air  that  can  judiciously  be  given,  to  keep  the 
growth  strong  and  prevent  drawing. 
I  would  not,  writes  “  Scotia  ”  in  the  “  Florists’  Exchange,”  advise 
beginners  to  go  into  growing  the  choicer  varieties  of  Palms  until  one 
has  gained  a  little  experience  with  the  hardier  and  eas'er  bandied 
kinds,  such  as  Latania  borbonica,  Kentia  Fosteriana,  and  Kentia 
Belmoreana.  These,  especially  the  latter  two,  will  always  find  a 
ready  market.  Areca  lutescens  might  also  be  included,  being  of 
comparatively  easy  culture,  and  usually  a  good  seller.  Cocos 
Weddeliana  is  a  pretty  little  Palm,  but  one  of  the  hardest  to  grow, 
and  where  its  cultivation  is  attempted  I  would  advise  planting  the 
seed  in  small  pots  at  once,  as  the  plant  makes  a  long  tap  root,  which  is 
apt  to  be  broken  in  potting  from  a  pan  or  box.  The  pots  can  be 
plunged  close  together  in  flats  to  make  them  easier  handled.  Most  of 
the  varieties  of  Phoenix  are  of  easy  culture  and  hardy,  but  the  demand 
for  them  is  always  more  or  less  limited.^ 
