THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 21 



could desire. In such a bed some of the choicer kinds of alpine 

 plants, sedums, saxifrages, sempervivums, mountain forget-me-not, 

 vernal gentian, alpine primula, and all other choice and pretty 

 dwarfs, might and should he mingled with such things as I have 

 named. The alpines generally would be presentable all the year 

 round — as interesting at Christmas as at Midsummer. When the 

 choice bulbs are at rest, the bed would be highly interesting from 

 presenting the gems of the mountain flora, interspersed here and 

 there with the brilliant magenta-coloured Calandrinia umbellata ; 

 while in spring the little bulbs would push up between, and illumine 

 the bed with the loveliest of flowers. 



ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 



We will next discuss plants without perfume or beauty of colour, 

 without any of those charms that usually go to make a flower popu- 

 lar, but which for delicate grace and elegance are not surpassed by 

 any plants of this world ! But, reader, do not take the " ornamental 

 grasses" usually shown at agricultural and horticultural shows by 

 the seedsmen as a good example of the class. Indeed, they are 

 often so ridiculously selected and arranged that I do not doubt the 

 display has prevented many from cultivating a tribe so beautiful, and 

 above all useful to ladies for indoor decoration. I do not know that 

 any grass can be much less ornamental than the common cocksfoot, 

 but you often see him tied up with the best, tied up like a broom in 

 such a way that if he had any grace it would be literally " bundled" 

 out of him. Why not show a dozen or score of really ornamental 

 species in vases, the stems inserted in sand, and waving just as they 

 do when growing ? Then, again, some of the stiflest kinds are 

 named in lists of " ornamenlal grasses," and some of the very best 

 omitted. Believing the great opportunities those plants, com- 

 bined with everlastings, afi'ord for winter embellishment of our 

 houses, and knowing the arrangement of such to be a very pleasant 

 recreation for ladies in the autumn months, I will give a i'ew hints 

 about the best kinds and their culture. They are all cheap and 

 quite easy of culture, requiring only one particular attention, and 

 that is to be cut at the right time hrfore the plants begin to seed and 

 waste their energies, and then laid on a shelf in a dry room to dry, 

 which they will do in a week or two, and then be quite ready for 

 use. The following dozen are among the very best : — Agrnstis nehu- 

 losa, exquisitely slender and elegant when looked at raised above 

 the eye, above which it is sometimes necessary to raise it from the 

 stems being nearly as flue as a hair. From this cause also a healthy 

 patch of the plant in flower looks like a little cloud lying upon the 

 ground. Ton can see the dense inflorescence, but not the stems 

 which support it, and the whole has a fairy-like aspect. Agrostis 

 pulchella is not so elegant, but quite as desirable from its prettiuess 

 and distinct bushy habit. Stipa ])en7iata, the well-known and elegant 

 feather grass. Pajikdheruiii', or Miliuvi multiflonun, a most grace- 

 fully drooping, slender flowering grass. Briza gracilis and maxima, 

 well-known, popular, and good, but not so good as others mentioned 

 Jaere less seen in cultivation, but quite as cheap as the Brizas. 



