48 The Pampas Grass, 



THE PAMPAS GRASS. 



By Alexander Graham, Nulls, near Dobbs' Ferry, N. Y. 



This grass ( Gynerluni argenteu?)i) is, to my eye, the most magnifi- 

 cent of all plants for summer decoration, though it is very seldom you 

 see its feathery tassels waving on the many fine lawns throughout our 

 country. I have visited a great many country seats of the merchant 

 princes along the noble Hudson, and in very few places have I seen 

 this beautiful grass. When looking thi'ough some of those well-kept 

 countiy seats my eye falls upon a miniature lake, I can imagine how 

 clumps of pampas grass would look dotted here and there ; but nature 

 has not favored us with one of those ponds, so I plant them in front 

 of some finely-shaped Norway or hemlock spruce, and it has the desired 

 effect. When the wind is blowing, those light, graceful plumes waving, 

 with the dark foliage of the Norway for a background, produce a most 

 charming effect. 



I have imder my care some plants that bore this season from two to 

 four tassels, and the stalks were from ten to twelve feet high. My treat- 

 ment of them is this : I lift them about the middle of November, and 

 put them in small tubs, and place them in a cold graper}^ I never let 

 them get too diy, nor yet too wet. On cold nights I lift them into the 

 green-house. In the month of March I expose them fully to the sun, 

 and give plenty of water. They then begin to grow freely, and by the 

 time you plant them out they are in a good growing state. By so doing, 

 you give them a long season to grow. Along in August you will see 

 their beautiful tassels appear, which will last until frost ; then you can 

 cut them off", and decorate your parlors with them. 



I use good sod and cow manure, and water freely at the roots in dry 

 weather. I find a northern exposure is best adapted for the growth of 

 this plant, as I think it does better a little shaded from the hot rays of 

 the noonday sun. It can be presen'ed in the winter by tying up and 

 covering with a barrel packed with leaves to prevent the roots from 

 freezing, but not with such good results as by the other mode. 



