128 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 15, 1872. 



shoots from oux late spring frosts, artificial means ought to be 

 adopted, either by sticking a few evergreen bonghs in the bed, 

 or something of the kind. A similar shading had better 

 screen the ripening bulbs in September from the drying sun 

 we often have at that time. Perhaps Mignonette would serve 

 this purpose, and I do not think a better substitute could be 

 found ; at all events, my advice to all having a good stock of 

 the Liiiuni is to plant out as many as they can. — J. Roeson. 

 «*I>.S. — Since I wrote the foregoing the wind has broken off 

 the fine head of bloom I described, and although much bruised 

 and injured before it starts, I think you might like to see it, 

 and have this morning sent it to you. You will only be able 

 to guess at what the cluster of flowers was like. 



[A grander head of Lilies we never saw ; it was a dense 

 cluster of flowers nearly 2 feet in length, and 15 inches in 

 diameter, in form that of the housemaid's Turk's-head broom. 

 The unique occurrence of such a cluster is explained by the 

 fact that the flowering part of the stem was fasciated. — Eds.] 



ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 

 Theke are very few families of the vegetable kingdom to 

 vrhich the terms ornamental and useful may be more justly 



challenge attention ; yet although most of them are of lowly 

 growth, they possess such elegance and diversity of form that 

 they are worthy of attention, and are, besides, extremely useful 

 for a variety of purposes, notably for mixing with cut flowers, 

 to which the pretty spikes impart an air of singular grace and 

 lightness. One of the best Grasses for such a pur-pose is that 

 prize of our childhood, Briza media or minima, the Quaking 

 Grass ; Briza maxima with large pendant spikelets is also a fine, 

 useful, hardy kind, very striking and effective. So are Chry- 

 surus cynosuroides, Stipa pennata, and Setaria macrochaeta. 



It is unnecessary, however, to enumerate a list of kinds 

 suitable for such a purpose, the sorts being as numerous as 

 their forms are varied ; nor need much be added as to the best 

 method of arranging Grasses when gathered, for it may be 

 seen at a glance which kind is most suitable for a given pur- 

 pose. Very frequently vases may be seen containing nothing 

 but feathery spikes of Grass, and they almost invariably pro- 

 duce a pleasing effect. To avoid monotony, however, it is 

 desirable to introduce a few well-selected flowers with the 

 Grasses. I know it is more usual to introduce the spikes of 

 Grasses among cut flowers to afford relief and lightness, than 

 to use them so largely as to make Grasses the principal feature of 

 an arrangement, yet those who have not so used them will find 



Briza maxima. 



applied than to the numerous species and varieties of Grasses. 

 This assertion may at first appear too sweeping, for there are 

 not many kinds of Grasses sufficiently bold in character to 



Clirysurus cynosuroides. 



the plan worthy of adoption. One of the most beautiful vase 

 bouquets I have seen was composed of a few sprays of crimson 

 Celosia, a bold spike of variegated Japanese Maize, and a 

 number of spikes of common Grass gathered from a bank. 

 These simple materials were blended together so skilfully, that 

 one felt no desire to " desect " the bouquet, but rather to con- 

 template it as an object of rare grace and beauty, and to ad- 

 mire the skill that could effect so much by such simple means. 

 Many kinds of Grasses are suitable for pot culture, such as 



