704 



GTNERIUM 



The growing of Pampas plumes for profit in Califor- 

 nia has heen carried on for over 25 years. Pampas 

 Grass was introduced into the United States about 1848. 

 In the northern states it is frequently planted on the 

 lawn in summer, and upon the approach of cold weather 

 transferred in a tub to a cellar for winter protection. 

 In California, a hill will sometimes attain a height of 

 20 ft., a diameter as great, 

 Such plants would be quit( 

 ern friends to handle in tli 



Plants are ca^il . pr.-inr 



and variety aiv 



by dividing th. ; 

 much more biam n ni iii:Mi 

 ing of Pampas (ir:iss oji a 

 1874, when the dillerence i 



.■L'llar. 



i In. 11. seed, but as t 

 :, stock is usually inc 

 , iljL- plumes of wbi 

 P.s.-..tthemale. The 

 •uiiiiiiercial scale date 

 sex was discovered. 



In 1872 the writer sowed seed which in two years gave 

 several hundred plume-bearing plants. Even then the 



variations in on 



In 1874, it w:. 



plumes from tin 



; hot 



while the femah- plum.., «..iil.l i liir lliiHy, and light 



and airy. In November, 1874, samples of the female 

 plumes were sent to Peter Henderson & Co., New York. 

 Three hundred were ordered at once, and the following 

 day instructions wc-re recei\-ed to double the order and 

 send l.\ . ..[.r. -. Tiii \,i- ih.. first lot of good plumes 



ever - :. ■ ''''"' ia, and was the beginning 



ofth. I ' I i I iiv. The writer's planta- 



tion w I MM... ..1 ...11 .. .1 u'ltil 1889, when it com- 

 prised al^oui ...nuu bill.,, rii.re were a number of other 

 extensive plantations in the neighborhood of Santa 

 Barbara. The crop of 1889 was estimated at 1,000,000 

 plumes. The demand has been good, but the prices have 

 never been as high as at the beginning of the industry. 

 The first prices were $200 per 1,000 plumes. The de- 

 crease in price was gradual until 1886, when sales were 

 slow at $30 per 1,000 plumes. Some of the growers did 

 not harvest their crops that year, and destroyed their 

 plants. In the fall of 1887 plumes were in demand at $40 

 per 1,000, and in 1888 they were scarce at $50 and $60 

 per 1,000. The following spring there was an increase 

 in acreage. Since then the industry has had its ups and 

 downs, and the price has ruled low for several ye 



and $8 to $9 for second size. 



Pampas Grass should be put on the best valley land, 

 and set 10 by 16 feet apart. Before planting, the ground 

 should be deeply plowed -vnd put in first-class condition. 

 In selecting stock, divide only female plants that pro- 

 duce the finest white plumes. Young hills produce the 

 best plants. From old hills the best plants are obtained 

 around the outside, those m the center of the stool being 

 mostly worthless unless planted in large clumps. Some 

 plumes will be produced the first year after planting. 

 They will not be first-class, but are worth saving. The 

 second year, if well grown, they should produce 80 to 

 150 plumes to the hill. Not all plantations will yield 

 this much. The third and fourth years there will not be 

 much change in the vield. As a plant gets older the 

 plumes are larger but tli- vi,.',l is l.-ss. After 8 or 10 

 years aquantity of dia.l i.i .-i. r . ill 1 ave accumulated, 

 and the hills should b.- i . . . i i .mid. 



The appearance of tl,. . . signal for great 



activity among those II I ' 1 1 The gra 



should be so trimmed rl "> i 1 er before 

 the plumes appear that each hill w 11 be eas^ 

 of access Young plant ripen their plumes ' 

 or three weeks earl 



of 



earl( 



Til 



Q oth 

 I ck 



GYNURA 



varieties. By trying a few of each variety, the time of 

 ripening can soon be asci rtaim-il. Sunie varieties are 

 pulled from the Imi I, im i:.. ii. M; ..tlj.rs have to be 

 hauled to huskiii:,' ' .. i h.. hu-k or sheath is 



removed. Some i-l.. . . i : ' ''•• m lik.- c.rn : others 

 use a knife set in -n. I: :. 'n :.- i" s].lit tin- husk with- 

 out injuring the phiiuf-. Whin the husk has been split, 

 a quick jerk or strike on the table will extract the 

 plume. The plumes are then taken to the drying ground 

 and evenly spread in long rows. This ground should be 

 made smooth and free from any trash that is liable to 

 adhere to the plumes. Clean stubble ground is the best. 

 The plumes are left on the ground three days and two 

 nights to cure, and are turned and shaken once each 

 day . They are next packed away as broadly and smoothly 

 as possible on shelves in a dry building, where they 

 should lie ten days or two weeks, or until the stems are 

 thoroughly dried, at which time they are ready for 

 market. Tlit-v arc iiai'kccl in two grades: the first-class, 

 having |iliiiii.'- _'>; m.li. - I..ii:j an.! over, clear of stem 

 (sometiii.. . , is packed in cases that 



measuri-iii ,,. . .i . i i, :.:i.| .■..utain3,000plumes; 



second I'la- i..i i- |.:.. i I .asi.s of the same size, 



the plumi.s l)iuig 17 t.> Jn iiiciics long clear of stem, and 

 G,000 in each case. If shipping by express, the writer 

 uses bales of about 2,000 plumes, covered with canvas or 

 burlap and some light strips of wood at the corners. If 

 the pliinii-s an- packed smoothly and evenly tbey will 

 withstaiiil li.avy pressure. Careful all-round cultivation 

 is II, . . ssary til I'.rixluce good plumes. About tbree-quar- 

 t. I- ..1 a iiiilii .11 plumes are grown at Santa Barbara at 



The best market at present is London, the nexi Ham- 

 burg. Berlin, Denmark, New York and Philadelphia 

 take a few. Pampas plumes are colored in London. In 

 America the pure white plumes give the best satisfaction. 

 Joseph Sexton. 



GYNtiRA (name refers to the tailed stigmas). Com- 

 p6sil(p, Twentv or more herbs (rarely somewhat 

 slinilil.vi of tropical Asia. Africa and Australia. Lvs. 

 ail. II 1.1. . . Ill 11 . .1 I.I. .1. numerous; heads discoid, the 

 il . , . ' : liil.^, not very showy. The Gy- 



11. -Iiouse herbs, usually requiring 



I.. 111. I ill il 1. I.I].. lature. Genus allied to Senecio- 



and Cm. imi:: 



aurantiara. m . \i iaf.t Plant. Stout and branchy, 

 2-3 ft., will, iliiii.si si,,.,.„lent stems, densely clothed 

 with violit or purpl.- hairs: lvs. large and soft, ovate, 

 jagged-toothed, hairy, short petioled or the upper ones 

 clasping, overlaid with iridescent purple: heads in a 

 terminal cluster, yellow or orange. Java. I.H. 28:436.- 

 One of the handsomest of recent foliage plants. In 

 winter it may he prrown in the conservatory or warm- 

 house, but in till, sniiinicr it maybe bedded out in a 

 warm and j.n.t, . t. .1 |.l:i..e. It grows rapidly, and makes 

 a most satislait.irv ilisplay of colored leafage. It is 

 readily propagated' by cuttings in the house, as gerani- 

 ums are. 



Other species, but not kiiown to be in the Amer. trade, are: 

 G. auriculata, Cass. (Cr. ovalis, DC. Cacalia ovalis, Ker.). 



^.f.^ ^A*iJK:{£- 



proper 



are exposed fr 



a fluffy look 1 



and it they 



they are all r 



at the stem e 



If the plun e I 



when cure 1 it 



varieties especially those prod icing verv long 



plumes, should be allowed to remain somewhat 



longeron the plant than those of the short-plumed 



1011. Gypsophila murahs. 



