The herald., 1894-01-01
PALMS IN TIE EAST.

Their Use far DscoratIyo Purposes In
Housas is Growing.
"Palms are rapidly growing more
popular for the decoration of houses"
rnid leading foris. to a writer OF the
Washington Star. "No drawing-room
nowadays is considered complete with
ont the adornmsnt which they lend.
The fashion has long held in London and
elsewhere abroad, hnt cnly OF late has it
obtained vogue on this side Of the water.
In connection with this faehion a
new business has grown up--nsmely,
tho renting out Of palms by the season.
You can hire drzan fine, large trees
ior the winter for $500 or $490, care in
claded. This means that the florist
looks out for them aud keeps them in
proper condition. Every morning a man
calls at your house and gives them the
attention they require in the way of
watering and what not. As fast as they
yet rusty or unhealthy they are removed
and others put in their places.
"You see, palms will not long retain
their health in q dwelling house. The
atmospheric conditions are not suitable,
and after a short time they begin to
wilt. The grower takes them back to
his hothouse and restores thom. Thus,
in order to keep dozen trees running
in proper shape, twice that number
are required. They remain the prop
erty OF the Horiet, but for the sum |
have mentioned euite of parlors like
those OF the Corcorsn house may be
kept beautiful with tropic vegetation
from autumn until spring. That is the
way Senator Brice procures his palms.
sin London this business OF renting
out and caring for palms has assumed
an extensive development. They are
away ahead OF America in the art OF
decorating with potted plants, though
we are far in advance of them in res
pect to cut flowers. The paine which
they use for snch purposes are grown
slowly in greenhouses, kept ct very
moderate temperature, in ofdsr that
they may be hardy and may thus with.
stand better the unfavorable conditions
10 which they are exposed In dwell
ings.
"But tho Americans want to do every
thug at the most rapid rate possible.
This yiorce the palms in hothouaee, which
they raise to an unnatural pitch OF tenn
pernture. 80 ns to make the plants grow
fast. 1t is amazing what they accomp-
lish by such means, actually producing
four yearH' growth in one year. OF
course, the species selected for indoor
decoration are mostly subtropical, being
better adapted for enduring low tenn.
perature than the tropical kinds. But
they are forced in greenhouses, where
great furnaces are kept going all summer
an we'll as winter, and the air is 30 hot
and laden with moisturs that one can
hardly breathe 1t.
The palms grown in this manner
have not the hardness and toughuess Of
those developed in natural way. They
readily dispose of them, because they
of the hothouse, they will not last any
time at all they quickly sicken. owing
to their extreme delicacy. The hotels
in New York and other cities. by the
way, are utilizing. palms already for
decoration. One OF the chief beauties
of the new Hotel Waldorf iH great
court that 10 surrounded by thess trees.
Palms are opagated in green
houses to some sAient, from seeds. The
latter are extremely hard, and are
soaked in water for 90 much az a month
sometimes. Hot water--not too hot of
course--is often used for the purpose.
When they have sprouted, they are
planted. But most Of the palms which
supply the market are raised on plan
tations in milder climates, and imported
into this country when about I foot
high. Some come from Bermuda, and
many from Brazil, but Trinidad is a
great source Of supply. They are cul-
tivsted in aslds, planted in rows. and