CHAP. IV. OBNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 285 



to some kinds, causing them to rot at the collar of the stem 

 just previous to blossoming. With a little care this may be 

 easily prevented. If the border be perfectly level, as it ought 

 to be, water may be let in upon it just sufficient to crawl over the 

 ground till it wets the whole surface. This is best done in the 

 morning. If done in the afternoon, the frost, acting upon the 

 damp soil, will be far more likely to cause injury to the plants. 



ENDOGENS. 

 GRAMINACE^E. 



GRASSES. 



Though the list of Annual Grasses put forth by seedsmen is 

 rather considerable, there are few perhaps which, for their 

 ornamental character, are really worth cultivating in this 

 country. Possibly the ones here given may be as many as are 

 desirable, and even these, though succeeding well in the Upper 

 Provinces, I have found thrive very unsatisfactorily in the 

 vicinity of Calcutta. 



Briza. 



B. maxima and B. gracilis QUAKING GRASS. Very beautiful 

 when bearing their heads of blossom, resembling little heart- 

 shaped lockets suspended from delicate thread-like stems, and 

 moving constantly with the slighest breeze. A pot of either 

 species placed amongst other Annuals affords pleasing variety. 



Stipa. 



S. pennata FEATHER GRASS. A very beautiful Grass, its 

 group of stems bearing resemblance, after blossoming, to a deli- 

 cate tuft of whitish feathers, like the tail of the Bird of Paradise. 

 The dried stems, when cut, form a pretty permanent indoor 

 ornament. 



DICLINOUS EXOGENS. 

 EUPHORBIACE^E. 



Acalypha. 



A genus of plants of low growth, ornamental only for their 

 foliage, the leaves being of a neat form, with the under-surface 



