GYNERIUM. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. GYPSOPHILA. 489 



When they die down in autumn, the leaves 

 should be placed loosely over the crowns, 

 with their stems on top to prevent them 

 being blown away by the wind." These 

 plants had attraction, and I never planted 

 them, as they did not seem to be quite at 

 home in an English garden. 



GYNERIUM (Pampas Grass). This 

 noble grass, G. argenteum, 6 to 14 feet 

 high, according to soil or district, is 

 most precious for our gardens, but in 

 many districts suffers from our severe 

 winters, and we seldom now see the 

 fine plants of it that were not uncom- 

 mon soon after its introduction. Some 

 varieties are better in habit than others, 



stems, each bearing an immense loose 

 panicle of long filamentous silvery 

 flowers, of a rosy tint with silvery 

 sheen. It is a native of Ecuador, and 

 is earlier in bloom than G. argenteum. 

 The sexes are borne on separate plants 

 in all the species, and the plumes of 

 male flowers are neither so handsome 

 nor so durable as the plumes of female 

 flowers. Syn. Cortaderia. 



GYPSOPHILA. Plants of the 

 Stitchwort family, the larger kinds 

 usually very elegant, and bearing 

 myriads of tiny white blossoms on 

 slender spreading panicles. One of the 



A Gunnera in an English Garden. 



and flower earlier, and it would be 

 better to patiently divide such than to 

 trust to seedlings. There are various 

 interesting varieties ; Rendatleri, a 

 roseate form, is very free. No plant 

 better repays a thorough preparation, 

 and we rarely see such fine specimens 

 as in quiet nooks where it is sheltered 

 by the surrounding vegetation. It 

 should be planted about the beginning 

 of April in deep open soil mulched with 

 rotten manure, and watered copiously 

 in hot dry weather. G. jubatum is 

 very well spoken of, but as yet has not 

 been tried much except in favoured 

 spots. The leaves resemble those of 

 G. argenteum, but are of deeper green, 

 and droop elegantly at the extremities. 

 From the centre of the tuft, and exceed- 

 ing it by 2 or 3 feet, arise numerous 



best is G. paniculata, which forms a 

 dense compact bush, 3 feet or more 

 high, the numerous flowers small white, 

 on thread-like stalks on much-branched 

 stems, with the light, airy effect of 

 certain grasses, and very useful for 

 cutting. It thrives in any soil, and is 

 suitable for borders and for natural- 

 isation. There is a double variety. 

 G. acutifolia, altissima, fastigiata, 

 glauca, mangini, perfoliata, Rokejeka, 

 Steveni, transylvania are very similar. 

 G. pro strata is a pretty species for the 

 rock garden or the mixed border. It 

 grows in spreading masses, and from 

 midsummer to September has loose 

 graceful panicles of small white or 

 pink flowers on slender stems. Divi- 

 sion, seeds, or cuttings in spring. G. 

 repens rosea is a pretty dwarf rock plant, 



