THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



101 



prevented by drying them quickly in, the dark, and in a very dry, 

 warm atmosphere. Try them in an oven when the fire is nearly 

 out. 



The selection of Grasses may be almost indefinitely extended, 

 and the hedgerows will supply many of the most lovely grasses in 

 the world. The following, however, are wortby of special attention 

 for associating with everlasting flowers. 



Sti])a pennata is one of 

 tbe most distinct of all our 

 garden grasses. Ifc grows 

 superbly on a dry, sandy 

 bank, and is adapted for a 

 sunny part of the fernery. 

 What grace, what delicacy, 

 what is there in the vege- 

 table kingdom to equal it 

 for fairy - like elegance ? 

 Beware ! In the seed cata- 

 logues you will see that 

 seed is offered. True, seed 

 is offered, but it is compa- 

 tatively worthless, and the 

 only sure way to secure 

 this grass is to purchase 

 plants. 



A(jrostis nebulosa, a 

 most elegant grass, having 

 stems as fine as hairs, and 

 fruit panicles so light and 

 " nebulous " that at a littlo 

 distance a patch of this 

 grass looks like a cloud of 

 vapour. Some seedsmen 

 send out Polypogon Mons- 

 peliensis, under the name 

 of Agrostis nebulosa. 



JSriza maxima is the 

 most useful of the quaking 

 grasses, but all the Brizas 

 are pretty. This grass is 

 much used for winter bou- 

 quets, and is invaluable to 

 persons engaged in taxi- 

 dermy, on account of its 

 suitability for dressing up 

 cases of stuffed birds, etc. 



Chloris radiata is a very curious grasB, the flowering occurring 

 in a compound spike which consists of five or six separate rays, re- 

 motely resembling long fingers. 



Larjurus ovalus, a favourite with those who grow grasses for 

 bouquets. It is popularly known as Haro's-tail grass. 



April. 



TANICUJI ITALICUM. 



