A. crinita is a remarkably handsome warm house palm that has been in cultivation for the past thirty years, but is still rather an uncommon species. It has much the habit of growth of an areca, the leaves being pinnate, the leaflets long and drooping, and the plant in general very graceful in appearance.

One of the characteristics that distinguish acanthophoenix from areca is very distinct in the species in question, namely, the fact that the former is abundantly supplied with long, blackish spines all along the stems, while no true areca bears spines, and in addition to this the under side of the leaves of A. crinita is silvery white. The latter peculiarity doubtless accounted for an erroneous name under which this palm was once introduced, that is, Calamus dealbata.

Being a native of Seychelles, and probably of low, moist land near the coast of that island, we find that this palm is best suited under stove culture, a night temperature of 70 degrees and plenty of water being among the chief essentials to its welfare, while a rather light and well drained soil seems to give the best results.

In common with palms in general that require warm treatment, there is the ever-present probability of finding some injurious insects on acanthophoenix, the most likely pests being scale and, unless well syringed, also red spider, but with proper attention these pests may be kept down, and so beautiful a palm is worthy of a little extra attention in the line of cleanliness.

Acanthophoenix Crinita.

Seeds are the only means of propagation for A. crinita, and as the seeds of this species sometimes take over two years to germinate, it is scarcely probable that this palm will become popular for trade purposes. W. H. T.