ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 319 



losa, A. scabra, Panicum capillare, P. virgatum, Penmsetum 

 longistylum, Asprella hystrix, Erianthus ravenna, Coix lacliryma, 

 Gynerium argenteum, Arundo conspicua, Chloris radiata, Stipa 

 pennata, Hordeum jubatum. 



There is scarcely a genus of grasses of any size which does not 

 possess one or more species of special value for ornamental pur- 

 poses. To the botanist, the artist or the florist it is hardly nec- 

 essary to mention the following genera, viz : Panicum, Setaria, 

 Spartina, Andropogon, Phalaris, Alopecurus, Phleum, Milium, 

 MuJilenbergia, Holcus, Avena, Cynodon, Bouteloua, Eleusine, 

 Eatonia, GHraphepltorum, Eragrostis, Melica, Poa, Glyceria, Fes- 

 tucay Bromus, Elymus, Triticum, Lolium, and many others. 

 We hardly know where to stop giving names for this purpose. 



With reference to collecting and the use of grasses, A. Hassard 

 in The Garden for 1875 has the following: "Not even the most 

 delicate fern will give the same airy look to a vase of flowers that 

 a few spikes of wild grasses will impart. In cutting grasses for 

 use they must be selected before they are old enough to fall to 

 pieces when dried. Each variety should be tied in separate 

 bunches, and care should be taken that they are not bruised to- 

 gether, for, if this is the case, when the bunch is opened each 

 spike will be found to have dried in its crushed position, and its 

 form will be thus quite spoilt. All grasses should be dried in 

 an upright position, particularly those of a drooping character. 

 Oats, while still green, are also very pretty in large arrangements. 

 A free use of grasses and sedges enables you to dispense with 

 many flowers. The bloom of ribbon grass is very useful for this 

 purpose, as it has a silver- like lustre, or a rose-pink tint, which 

 is very pretty." 



