BAMBOOS AND ORNAMENTAL GRASSES FOR CALIFORNIA. 31 



BAMBOOS AND ORNAMENTAL GRASSES FOR CALIFORNIA. 



BY C. F. FRANCESCHI. 



Is it only for the sake of variety, or to give a restful change to the 

 eye accustomed to the more rigid forms of trees and shrubs, that we like 

 to see bamboos and other ornamental grasses in our gardens? Or is 

 it not rather because there is a peculiar charm about them, as they 

 gently wave in the slightest breeze? Motion is life, and we naturally 

 sympathize more with what has life in it. There is no plant that can 

 not find appropriate place in gardening. Bamboos and other grasses 

 can be used to advantage in so many different cases, from screening 

 fences and unsightly buildings, up to being the most prominent orna- 

 ment on a lawn. Still, they are not employed as much as they deserve, 

 probably because people do not know enough of them. For this reason 

 I accepted with pleasure your kind invitation to prepare a paper on 

 this subject that has always been dear to me. 



Quite a large number of bamboos and other ornamental grasses can 

 be grown all over California; a. limited number will be suitable only 

 for frostless or almost frostless localities. Of the latter I will make 

 separate mention. 



In the enumeration that follows, the first place belongs by right 

 to the common south European reed, Arundo Donax, and to its form 

 with variegated leaves. It is sure to have been the first ornamental 

 grass introduced in California, and it possesses so many points to mako 

 it hold still a prominent place in our gardens. It is worth remark- 

 ing that Arundo Donax generally attains in California much larger 

 size than in its native country, and that the variegated one, commonly 

 called "ribbon grass," maintains here its variegation much better than 

 in the south of Europe. 



Under the name of bamboos are comprised different genera and a 

 large number of species, much varying in size, but all agreeing in hav- 

 ing woody canes, more or less hollow (only a few being known to be 

 solid), and persistent leaves, that will vary a good deal in size. 



The genus Arundinaria is represented in California gardens by 

 eight species at least, all of them hardy, and all introduced from Asia, 

 with the exception of A. Macrosperma, a native of our southern Atlantic 

 states. 



The above named, together with A. Hindsii, A. Japonica, and A. 

 Simoni, and the dwarf, charmingly variegated A. Fortunei, all Japa- 

 nese, are provided with underground stolons or runners, so that they 

 will cover a large surface of ground in a short time, a circumstance 

 not to be overlooked when making use of them. A. Falcata, A. Fal- 



