138 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 



by the usual method of boxes or barrels with the ends knocked out, 

 placed over the plants and filled with leaves or straw. Propagation 

 from seed is the usual method, but division of the old plants will be 

 found more satisfactory. Dig up a large clump in the Fall; chop it up 

 into pieces small enough to go easily into 6-inch pots. Use stiff loam 

 and pot firmly, standing the plants under benches; water occasionally 

 until the beginning of February, when the plants should be removed 

 from the pots and divided up into the smallest pieces, saving the new 

 roots as much an possible. Shorten the leaves back to half their length 

 and put in the sand bed for a couple of weeks to start fresh roots; then 

 place in 3 or 4-iiich pots, and they will form well-furnished plants in a 

 short time. 



PANICUM VARIEGATUM A useful little warm house plant, having 

 leaves striped with white and pink. It will grow in shade or sun, and 

 is used chiefly for hanging over the sides of baskets, vases and boxes. 

 Propagated from cuttings in March. The correct name is Oplismenus 

 Burmanni variegatus. 



PAPYRUS ANTIQUORUM The Papyrus, after being lifted from its 

 Summer quarters, where the growths made are usually very strong, fre- 

 quently gets into a half sickly state during the Winter months, from 

 which it takes it some time to recuperate after being replanted outside. 

 In Winter the growths are grassy and spindling. By the way, I doubt 

 very much if the true Cy penis Papyrus is in common cultivation, the 

 one generally grown under that name being an entirely different species. 

 However, that is a small matter, as the one commonly grown under 

 the name of Cyperus Papyrus answers the purpose for which it is used, 

 quite as well, if not better, than the true species. If the old platfts are 

 taken in hand some time in January, and split up into the smallest 

 pieces and put in the sand bed of a warm house, they will in a few days 

 push out fine, healthy roots, and when potted in a mixture of equal 

 parts of moss, sand and manure, will grow very vigorously and will be 

 in splendid trim for the planting out season. If it is desired to increase 

 the stock the young plants, after being in the pots for a few weeks, can 

 be re-divided and the operation of rooting gone through as at first. In 

 the absence of a propagating bench a box of sand placed on the hot 

 water pipes answers the same purpose. 



PENNISETUM LONGISTYLUM Perhaps the finest of our dwarf 

 grasses, which are grown principally on account of the very ornamental 

 character of the flowers. It is usually treated as a half-hardy annual, 

 owing to its liability to get Winter-killed. It sometimes survives the 

 Winters in the District of Columbia, but should always be treated as a 

 tender subject. Plants raised annually from seeds are satisfactory, if 

 sown early; but old plants, divided up will give larger pieces, start into 

 bloom earlier and do not take so much attention as seedlings. The old 

 plants are wintered anywhere out of the reach of frost. About the 

 beginning of February cut off the old leaves to within 6 inches of the 

 crowns; divide into small pieces, trim the roots so that they will ulti- 

 mately go into 3 or 4-inch pots; place the pieces thickly together in 



