318 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 



large masses, whether they are kept closely shorn or cropped, or 

 whether they grow to uniform height and are viewed at various 

 stages of their growth as the clouds drift over the fields or 

 'Hhey wave their fairy tassels in the wind.'' 



Occasionally, near springs and streams, the frost deposits on 

 the panicles a covering which is indescribably beautiful. 



Within a few years, florists have given considerable attention 

 to the grasses for winter bouquets and for other decorative pur- 

 poses. Our enterprising growers and dealers offer the seeds of 

 quite a long list of the best for these purposes. 



In one other respect the grasses have not yet begun to assume 

 the prominence their merits demand. The writer has grown a 

 large number of our native and foreign grasses, and has studied 

 them where each kind grew by itself in isolated bunches or 

 patches, and he is free to say that in no other place does a grass 

 appear to better advantage. Here is an almost endless variety, 

 as exhibited in form, texture and color of the leaves. The 

 culms also, and the spikes, racemes or panicles reveal their pe- 

 culiarities in a manner which is most varied and pleasing. 



Such bunches of many kinds of grasses are well worthy of a 

 place among the ornamental plats of our lawns and gardens. 



Where so many are fine it is difficult to discriminate. Those 

 advertised by the florists are all good, including those with striped 

 leaves. 



Mays, sugar cane. Sorghum, bamboo, Arundo donax, Zizania 

 aqualicK, Phrar/inifes communis, and other tall species with 

 broad leaves are valuable for the sub-tropical garden. The two 

 latter are excellent for growing in tlie shallow margins of ponds. 



For plumes and ])ouquets the following are much used, for 

 accounts of which consult the text elsewhere : Briza maxima, 

 B. media, B. gracilis, Bromus asper, Lagurus ovatus, Polypogon 

 monspeliensis, Deschampsia eoesjntosa, Phragmifes communis, many 

 species of Fextvca, Elymxx unniariiix, Agros/is elgans, A. nebu- 



