Chap. XXV.] IMPLEMENTS USED IN FRENCH GARDENS. 451 



tying-material. The dried grass of Lygeum Spartum is also used in 

 France to a great extent for garden-tying. It is a Spanish grass, 

 and will grow on any warm soil. It is suitable for very strong 

 and durable tying. Thus the two best materials for this purpose may 

 be grown in any garden without cost. Even if the bast matting 

 were as cheaply got as these, the fact that the Eush and Grass are 

 ready found in twine-like fashion, should make us prefer them. In 

 tying carefully it is necessary to twist the matting, and thus a good 

 deal of time is lost. In addition to the above hardy plants, the 



Bur-reed iSfarganium ramosmn). 



Reed-mace (Typha latifolia). 



" Grass " of which may be directly used for tying, the leaves of the 

 New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) are very largely employed for 

 that purpose about Paris. This plant is grown everywhere for 

 room-decoration. The long leaves being produced m great abun- 

 dance, the old leaves that are cut away should be preserved, thus 

 securing a strong and excellent material for tying. 



Mateeial fob TYma Gbafis and BuDS.-The dried stems of 

 SDarganium ramosum, the Bur-reed, have replaced woollen thread 

 for budding-purposes in France. In texture they are peculiarly 

 suited to this purpose, being soft, dense, elastic, and tough, so as 



