Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-11

out leaf stalks four or five feet in length
when properly grown. These spring from
the center of the plant, and curve graceful
" outward in such a manner as to give
the plant an air of great beauty and dig
nifty. This variety needs no pedestal. but
it should be given a deep pot. Such pot
serves two purposeS-it eeVates the plant
to a proper height and allows il to send
It's roots down, which is something all
palms like TO do.
Phoenix reclnata is a variety of moderate
size. In habit II is spreading and somewhat
dropping. Its leaves often attain a length
of four feet. Its lower leaflets are often so
stiff and pointed as to be to all intents and
purposes thorns. but those farther uD the
leaf become fiat and have all the character
iSticS of true foliage. This variety is an
excellent one for general culture, because
1t often succeeds where others fail.
ChdmaerOpS eXcelSa has a leaf something
Ike that of the fan palm, but smaller and
the division Of the segments of the leaf
runs deeper-nearly TO the junction of leaf
and stalk, in fact. 1t is of lighter color
than most palms. 1t produces foliage in
great Drofusion, and this foliage is most
persistent in character. The writer has
plant about six years old which has never
lost but two leaves. 1t has now about
thirty. Because of its rather low and COM
pact habit. this variety IS eXcellently adapt
ed for the decoration of window. 1t
throws out suckers freely about the base
of the plant, and these if allowed to grow,
soon produce mass of small foliage, which
helps to cover the pot, thus adding greatly
to the attraction of the plant.
Arcca lutescens is a variety of medium
habit. This sort Is not at all formal in its
style OF growth, and may be considered one
of the most graceful varieties suited to gen.
eral cultivation.
How to Grow Palms.
To grow the palm well it is important
that We give 1t good soil. good drainage and
a pot suited to its root needs, and good
light.
1t seems to do best in a soil OF loan
containing some clay. Its roots are strong
and feshy, and like to feel themselves firm
ly supported by that in which they grow.
As have said, they have a tendency to
run down, rather than spread out, there
fore the ordinary pot Is never deep enough
TO suit the palm after it has reached the
age of two or three years. If you get pots
two or three feet deep and twenty inches
across, they will prove well adapted.to the
needs of large specimens.
Good drainage Is of the greatest i'm
pOrtance. If il is not provided surplus wa
ter is often retained about the roots of the
plant. This leads to souring of the soil,
and this condition always brings on an I'M
healthy action, the result of which Is soon
seen in the following of the tips of the
leaves. By-and-by the leaves turn brown
and are SO badly injured that they disfigure
the plant and must be cut off. and when
four or five leaves have been lost the plant
is generally past its usefulness for decora-
tive purposes, for most varieties of the
palm produce leaves SO slowly that they
can never afford to lose many. l find that
more trouble in growing the palm well
arises from poor drainage than from all
other causes. Therefore be sure that each
| pot has at least three inches of broken
| crockery, brick or charcoal in the bottom
| OF II to prevent the soil above from clogging
| the hole In it. 1t is good plan to put a
| layer of sphagnum moss or cocoa fiber over
| the drainage material before putting In the
\ soil. This will keep the soil from washing
| down and filling the cracks and crevices,
| thus allowing the surplus water to pass off
| readily.
| Great care must be taken in regard to the