32 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



used separately they add hours to their Hfe 

 and beauty. 



The device will be found useful, as well, 

 in mantel and basket work, as they are 

 readily placed in soft soil and the moss of 

 baskets. We find that a vase without a cap, 

 holding four or five sprays of lily of the 

 valley or other flowers adds considerably to 

 a plant basket when it is inconvenient to dis- 

 turb it to crowd in something with roots. 



The spray of flowers on the handle also 

 lasts much longer when the vases are used. 

 A rubber cap with a larger opening readily 

 admits and holds orchids, such as cattleyas, 

 and other soft and thick-stemmed flowers. 

 For a w^indow display with curtains of as- 

 paragus or on tree stumps and. branches, 

 they hold and keep the flower better than it 

 can be kept in any other vsa.y .—American 

 Florist. 



JAPANESE ZEBRA GRASS. 



Fig. 173 1. Zebra Grass. 



iN our garden the hardy ornamental grasses 

 have always been favorites. But among 

 .=^ our collection of these, comprising many 

 sorts, there is no other one kind which gives 

 better — we were about to say gives equal — 

 satisfaction, to the Japanese Zebra Grass, 

 Eulalia japonica zebrina. 



The accompanying engraving affords a very 

 good representation of the plant we are speak. 

 ing of. Unlike all other variegated grasses, this 

 one has its striping or marking across the leaf, 



instead of longitudinally. It grows five or more 

 feet in height, forming a most striking and 

 graceful plant, resembling nothing else that we 

 know of in cultivation. The expanded flower 

 spikes resemble the ostrich plumes, and when 

 dried, last for years. 



This variegated Grass we find useful in many 

 ways. In the mixed border amongst herbaceous 

 plants it is a pleasing and striking object, and 

 in a cut state for the decoration of large vases 

 it is most valuable, as its graceful arching leaves 

 gives a degree of brightness to floral arrange 

 ments not otherwise obtainable. The variega- 

 tion, too, is clear and well defined, a circum- 

 stance which adds to its beauty. It is a great 

 gain to be able to cut spikes of it four feet high 

 for indoor decoration. 



When first introduced from Japan it was be- 

 lieved that this plant would not prove hardy. 

 Years of cultivation with it as far north as Buf- 

 falo proves it to be entirely so, and we are able 

 to cut from it in the open borders up to the 

 end of November. 



Any soil not too rich suits it ; in rather dry 

 poor material we find that the variegation is 

 more clear and defined. We have grown it in 

 pots the year around, and find that it makes a 

 capital plant for mixing with Ferns and other 

 fine foliaged plants in the conservatory. 



This very desirable plant may now be had of 

 all dealers in hardy plants. It can also be 

 raised from seed, packets of which can be 

 bought for about twenty cents each. — Popular 

 Gardening. 



