124 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 16, 18C1. 



been planted it is deserving of more extensive cultivation. 

 It is said to form excellent cover for game ; the finely-ser- 

 rated edges of the sword-like leaves, however, cut cloth very 

 readily, and unless dogs, "beaters, and sportsmen are well 

 protected they will he sure to suffer. 



Eeianthus Ravenn^e. — If anything rather less noble, but 

 more graceful, than the Pampas Grass. It grows 6 feet high, 

 and in habit and general appearance seems to be related 

 to the preceding. The plumes are composed of silvery in- 

 florescence, having a light elegant appearance. On a lawn 

 amid masses of bedding plants it will form an object which 

 will be justly admired for its gracefulness and beauty. 



Aeundo donax. — As a noble ornamental-foliaged plant 

 this is unrivalled in its way. It attains a height of from 

 8 to 10 feet, and has long graceful leaves, which render it 

 especially suitable for lawns, herbaceous borders, and arbore- 

 tums. It is also specially adapted for planting on the mar- 

 gins of lakes, pools, and on islands, as it delights in moist 

 soil. It should therefore be well supplied with water in 

 summer when planted in light soils. 



Aeundo donax vaeiegata. — Similar to the above, but 

 with long, broad, elegantly decurved leaves, 2 or 3 inches 

 broad, and from 2 to 3 feet in length, marked with broad 

 silvery stripes their whole length. As a specimen on a lawn, 

 amid bedding plants, or masses of green foliage, it forms a 

 stately and picturesque object. In borders it stands out in 

 bold relief among plants of more humble growth ; and 

 planted near lakes it forms a highly ornamental feature, 

 whether examined close at hand or seen at a distance. As 

 a centre bed or neuter it is unique, beautiful, and tropical 

 in appearance. It is unrivalled as a decorative plant when 

 treated as an exotic in the conservatory. It delights in 

 rich deep moist soils, and not being so hardy as the species, 

 it requires slight protection in winter in cold, low, and very 

 elevated situations. Height from 6 to 10 feet. 



Phalaris phragmites (Striped Ribbon Grass, Ladies' 

 Traces, Gardeners' Garters, &c). — This is a very common 

 and a very fine Grass. A clump of it growing from 3 to 5 feet 

 high on lawns is no despicable object, and in patches in 

 borders it has a fine effect. It also forms a splendid back 

 row to a wide ribbon-border, and is charming as an edging 

 to large beds, such as those containing Dahlias and Holly- 

 hocks. A deep rich soil is necessary, in order that it may 

 attain its full growth when planted in groups ; but it will 

 grow almost anywhere, and for this reason does not receive 

 that attention it so justly merits. 



Bambusa metake (Evergreen Bamboo). — An elegant tree- 

 like evergreen, and grass-like withal. For ornamental pur- 

 poses this will be much sought after ; and if it prove hardy, 

 as it has done as far north as York, where it has made 

 shoots nearly 10 feet high, it will soon be found in every 

 garden where a tropical appearance is appreciated. 



Bambcsa gracilis. — A slender and most graceful tree- 

 like Grass. The stalks are erect, their extremities arching 

 gracefully ; and the bright grass-green leaves drooping and 

 lashing the breeze, it is a charming object on a lawn, in 

 arboretums, and wherever grace and elegance are desired. 

 Though hardy in many situations, with me in Yorkshire it 

 was cut down to the ground with 20° of frost, and com- 

 pletely destroyed by the severe frost of December 25th, 

 I860, when the thermometer was at 3° below zero. In warm 

 sheltered situations it resists frost well, and though occa- 

 sionally cut down to the ground in winter, new shoots rise 

 from the stool, and attain a height of from 4 to 6° feet. It 

 is very handsome and distinct. 



Bameusa nigra (Black-stemmed Bamboo). — Of rather 

 stronger and more erect growth than the last; and having 

 black or brown stalks. This also, like the preceding, is of 

 doubtful hardiness, and is generally cut off to the ground in 

 winter. It rises from the stool in spring, and attains a height 

 of several feet (occasionally 8 feet), and has a stately and 

 tropical appearance. 



Bambusa Portuni vaeiegata. — A tree-like Grass with 

 exquisite markings like Ribbon Grass. This, if hardy, as it 

 is expected to be in dry soils and sheltered situations, will 

 be a great acquisition. It is one of the most beautiful plants 

 in cultivation. 



Stipa pennata (Feather Grass). — This is found naturally 

 in rocky places, and is a singular ornamental Grass, growing 

 2 feet high. Much of the beauty consists in its awns, which 



are feathery, and from 6 to 9 inches, and occasionally 1 foot, 

 in length. These gathered and dried form fine ornaments 

 for sitting-rooms, and are not unlike so many Birds of 

 Paradise. It is both beautiful and graceful even when 

 growing, and one of the curiosities of Nature. 



Festuca glauca. — Elegant, with a glaucous aspect. 1 to 

 H foot. 



Elymus giganteus. — Elegant and fine. 4 feet. 



Elymus hystrix. — A curious and fine Grass, with awns 

 like a porcupine. It is from the Crimea. 2 feet. 



Stipa gigantea (Giant Feather Grass). — Rather tall 

 (3 feet), very curious, and handsome. It is from Spain. 



Stipa jttncea. — Rush-like, curious, and fine. 3 feet. 

 France. 



Hiekochloe fragrans. — An elegant dwarf Grass, and 

 sweet-scented. 1 foot. North America. 



Briza media (Trembling Grass or Mediate Quaking 

 Grass). — Well known, pretty. It abounds in many pastures 

 and meadows. 1 .V foot. Britain. 



Melica altissima. — Highly ornamental. 4 feet. Siberia. 



Melica nutans. — Curious and fine, li foot. Britain. 

 (Mountains). 



Melica unieloea. — Pretty and of humble growth. 6 ins. 

 to 1 foot. Britain. 



Aiea aeundinacea. — An elegant reed-like Grass, attain- 

 ing a height of 3 feet. 



A. csspitosa vaeiegata. — A fine striped Grass. Makes a 

 splendid row in a ribbon-border, and is pretty in borders. 

 1 to 1-| foot. 



Aieopsis Candollei. — A curious small Grass, worthy of a 

 place in every garden. It is named in compliment to 

 De Candolle. 



Trichochloa foliosa. — Of dense growth though small. 

 Curious. 1 foot. North America. 



Trichochloa longiseta. — Elegant and curious on account 

 of its long awns. 1 foot. 



Ceresia elegans. — An evergreen and fine Grass. 2 feet. 

 Peru. It is only hardy in warm situations. 



Cenchrus spinipex. — A Grass producing thorns. Very 

 curious. 1 to li foot. 



Piptantheeum paeadoxuh. — Tall and curious. 3 feet. 

 France. 



Panicum prolifeeum. — Curious. 1 foot. North America. 



Aetjndinaeia mackospeema. — A large, fine, reed-like 

 Grass of noble proportions, often attaining a height of 6 or 

 8 feet. North America. 



Teipsacum dactyloides. — A very elegant and really orna- 

 mental Grass. 4 feet. , 



Milium multifloeum. — Fine. H foot. South of Europe. 



Andeopogon argenteum. — As its name implies, this has 

 a silvery glaucous aspect. It has a fine appearance. 2 feet. 



Dacttlis glomeeata vaeiegata. — A variegated form of 

 the species, growing about a foot high. 



D. glomeeata vaeiegata elegantissima. — Bather more 

 dwarf than the last, with broader and more evenly-striped 

 leaves. It is of dense growth, and furnished to the soil, to- 

 wards which its leaves droop gracefully. It withstands 

 drought well, and also wet, and is one of the finest variegated 

 plants for edgings, ribbons, and general decorative purposes. 



The above are some of the most ornamental of the Grasses, 

 but many others, the names of which do not occur to my 

 mind just now, are curious and pretty. 



I have omitted mentioning three varieties of the Pampas 

 Grass, because I wished to ask if any of your readers have 

 succeeded in obtaining new varieties of Grasses by adopting 

 other means than cultivation. Most of our improved varieties 

 of cereals are accidental sports. Cultivated plants are more 

 liable to sport, especially when several generations removed 

 from the original type, than those under indifferent cultiva- 

 tion, or in an almost wild state. The Pampas Grass was but 

 recently introduced, and we have three distinct types of the 

 species — viz., Gynerium argenteum floribundum, which has 

 larger and denser inflorescence than the parent; G. argen- 

 teum roseurn, the panicles of which are of a fine rosy hue ; 

 and G. argenteum elegans, which has snowy white plumes, 

 presenting a tufted appearance, yet having a sub-conical 

 outline, and drooping in character. Altogether this is the 

 finest form of the species, and presents a combination of 

 elegance and effect in its foliage and bloom found in few 

 plants. 



