The age-herald., 1902-03-02
PALMS IN. VOGUE
From -the New York Sun

From the New York Sun.
 Palms are today among the most fash ionable household decorations. Their pop ularity represents the growth, chiefly of the last ten years.
 Thousands of palms are purchased out right in this part of the country every year at an enormous outlay of money, and thousands of dollars are spent annually in hiring palms and in having them care fully looked after. Except on special occasions, towering plants are not much seen in the houses of the well-to-do their place having been taken by the palm.
 As rule, the first thing to greet the eye on entering the hall, the drawing room, or the dining room of a fashionable house, is palm, and the boudoir, sleeping rooms and nursery even are apt to contain each one CT more handsome palms.
 A main reason, some people think, for the vogue of the palm Is that 1t is perhaps the most expensive of the family of dec- orative foliage plants, and has aristocratic uncertainty of constitution which makes the purchase of one take on the alluring phase of a speculation. Palms, like some people," said a dealer have very uncertain dispositions.
 Another reason given for its prestige is that nowhere in this country can the foreign varieties be raised out of doors, and the largest and handsomest specimens must be imported from Madagascar. Asia, Africa and Australia, thus ensuring to their owners the distinction of having something out of the common.
 Many varieties, though, are now propa- gated very successfully in this country under glass, and there are florists who do nothing else. When the baby plant Is about a foot high. it seems, these dealers turn it over to others who make a spec ialty of coaXing it on to sturdler growth and getting it ready for the retail dealers
 In one extensive palm nursery for ex- ample, as many as one million infant palms have been seen under glass at one time, every one of which, surviving the perils of first year. is sure of good market.
 There are not enough large palms In New York to supply the demand re- marked Fifth avenue dealer who makes a speciality of them, 'and we are only too glad that so many of our customers are willing to rent palms instead of pur- chasing them.
 The majority of the large palms you See in the swell houses are rented for the season. Eight to twelve of them to a mousse. This means that they are left solely in the florists care.
 send man to the houses of my cus- toners every day or so to water, wash, and look after the palms generally, and II Tor any reason a plant begins to droop 1t must immediately be replaced with a fresh one.
 When the houses of my cust omers are closed Tor the summer. the plants are taken out and soon after they are crated and sent to Newport for change of air and scene. The palms in my establish ment are pretty hard worked and never go out of commission unless, indeed when one gets disabled through the carelessness of 0 servant by being frost-bitten. or overheated from standing too close to a radiator. I have n good many palms in that condition stored away, which for commercial purposes will be valueless for four or five years, or until an en- tirely new growth of leaves is induced from the old root.
 "The Kentia or umbrella palm," he went on in answer to a question: ''is one of the most popular, most beautiful and most expensive. That, for example" pointing to a stately beauty about six feet high, would sell for $75. Other fa- vorite house varieties are Latania, or fan palm, and Phoenix"
 "The palm may be classed among the li.xuries." declared a grower. Although one of the longest t-lived of plants under favorable conditions, 1t Is also one of the most perishable when given over to the care of novice. Too much care Is as fatal to it's well-being as too little. "The palm is fastidious, and perhaps