Mauritia

A genus of half a dozen species of lofty palms from the lower West Indies and South America. I do not think that they have been cultivated to any extent in Florida but they should be tried.

Pritchardia

The species of this genus vie with those of Latania in beauty and majesty but, unfortunately, they are all very tender and can only be grown successfully in practically frostless situations. I have had P. marti, P. pacifica, P. thurstoni and one or two others and all of them have been injured repeatedly.

Rhapis Flabelliformis And Humilis

Rhapis Flabelliformis And Humilis are elegant, tufted, reed-like palms from China and Japan, both quite hardy but slow of growth. Both are doing finely for me in shade in the edge of the hammock; the latter is making the better growth. Most elegant effects might be produced by planting these in masses, especially along the banks of pools or lakes.

Thrinax

Thrinax is a genus of very beautiful and useful palms for the warmer parts of the state. Besides the native species which I have discussed elsewhere there are a number of others eminently adapted for growing in clumps, or for borders of large palm groups. I have in perfect condition T. argentea, a fine Cuban species, T. barbadensis, T. morrisi, T. parviflora, T. radiata and T. pumilio. T. altissima is one of the finest palms I have. The large, orbicular leaves are cut into many segments, are rich, shining green above and silvery beneath and are indescribably beautiful. Unfortunately it was planted in a somewhat exposed position and its splendid foliage is injured by high winds. I know of no more satisfactory group of palms for regions exempt from frost as they are at home in almost any kind of soil.

Thrincoma alia from Porto Rico is a fine Thrinax-like palm which is growing nicely for me in pine land.

Trachycarpus

A genus of a few species from Asia, one of which, T. excelsus, should be hardy over the entire state. It has never succeeded with me and Nehrling has had the same experience with it in Gotha, but Mr. C. E. Pleas states that it does finely at Chipley.

Washingtonia

It is probable that this name which was once applied to the great redwood trees of California should not be used for this group of palms but the longer one Neowashingtonia. W. robusta is grown in this vicinity to a considerable extent for shading streets and roads and for ornament in grounds. It is a strong, rapid grower, with dark, glossy leaves whose petioles are armed with heavy, curved spines and it is altogether a very ornamental and satisfactory tree. W. filifera is a slower grower with somewhat glaucous and larger leaves. I have under the name of W. sonorae a young palm which is more delicate in all its parts than the other two. Nehrling reports that all the Wash-ing tonias fail at Gotha.

A surprisingly large number of the palms are succeeding with me and as I make no claim whatever to skill as a cultivator, and as, for want of time, my plants are much neglected, I cannot but believe that these glorious productions of nature are very much at home in Florida. Uncle Nat Berry remarks in the well-known play Shore Acres that "You can't have too many babies" and it may be said here that you can't have too many palms. They are so magnificent, so characteristic of the tropics, so strange and striking to northern eyes that it seems to me it is hard to overdo in planting them. Put them out singly, in groups, mix them with other vegetation, and in a few years they will grow into objects of wonderful beauty and stateliness, a perennial comfort to the heart, a joy to the eye, something to show with swelling pride to friends and visitors.