AGEosTis GBASS OBDEB aira 957 



clustered at the base of the stems, and often distichously imbricated, the 

 upper ones alternate, distant, sometimes spirally arranged, sheath split and 

 usually furnished with a small scarious scale (or ligule), or tuft of hairs at 

 its junction with the blade. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, in spikes, 

 racemes, or panicles. Flowering glumes boat-shaped, enclosing the flower 

 and a flat, often 2-nerved, scale called a ' palea.' Stamens 3, or fewer, rarely 

 4 or 6, very rarely more, with versatile drooping anthers. Styles 2, or rarely 

 3, with feathery stigmas. 



This vast order has been estimated to contain about 4500 species, but 

 probably not more than 8500 are really distinct. Apart from the garden 

 plants which belong to it, the order is of great importance from an economic 

 point of view, containing as it does Wheat, Oats, Barley, Eye, Maize, Eice, 

 Millet, and many other kinds of grain less well known, and also the Sugar 

 Cane, which is grown extensively in the West Indies. 



From a flower garden point of view the hardy Bamboos are undoubtedly 

 the finest and most ornamental plants belonging to the Grass Family, 

 although the Pampas Grass {Gynermm argenteum) as a highly ornamental 

 plant must also be placed in the front rank. As the plants commonly known 

 as Bamboos belong to two or three different but closely related genera, they 

 will be kept together here for the sake of convenience, and all the other 

 Grasses will be arranged in alphabetical order according to their genera, as 

 they are all of a more or less tufted habit. 



AGROSTIS (Bent Geass). — A genus Culture and Propagation. — The plants 



of annual or perennial Grasses with com- may be raised from seeds sown in spring 



pressed flower-spikelets in loose panicles, or autumn in the open border where 



which are very ornamental when dried. wanted. 



All the species are of easy culture in A. cxspitosa. (DeachampsiaccEspitosa) 



ordinary garden soil, and may be raised is a pretty tufted Grass 2-4 ft. high, 



from seeds sown in sprmg, or perhaps native of our wet meadows and woods, 



better stm m September, and very slightly having leathery leaves and linear oblong 



covered. panicles of shining brownish or purpHsh 



A. aebTilosa. {A. capiUaris).— Cloud spikelets in June and July. The variety 



Grass.— A charming annual native of alpina or vivipara has graceful panicles 



Spam, formmg elegant tufts about 15 in. resembling a miniature Pampas Grass. 



high, and light and graceful panicles of Culture dc. as above, 



flowers which have been likened to a ^ g^^^^g^ {Deschampsia flexuosa) is 



cloud restmg over the ground, hence the j^^^^ ^^ ^^^ . ^^^^^ ^4 (j;J^3^_, j^ .^ 



popuar name. ^ native plant found on heaths and in 



Culture Sc. as above. ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ j^^^ ^^.^^t ^^^^^^^ ^^^-^^^ 



A. pulchella is a native of Eussia, but stems 6-24 in. high, and panicles of 



likewise an annual, 6-12 in. high, some- purplish or tawny yellow spikelets from 



what stiffer in habit than A. nebulosa, June to August. It is a pretty and 



but valuable for cutting for bouquets and elegant perennial, and may be increased 



winter decorations. A. Spicaventi is a by seeds or division. 

 British aimual with large silky panicles. Culture Sc. as above. 



Culture d>c. as above. A. pulchella.— A graceful and orna- 



AIRA (Haie Grass). — This genus mental S. European Grass 6-8 in. high, 



contains a few ornamental Grasses with with tufts of slender hair-hke stems and 



loose panicles of compressed spikelets, delicate ' clouds ' of elegant panicles, 



each of which has generally 2 perfect shimmering with the slightest breath of 



flowers, and sometimes a neutral one. air. When dried the flowers prays last 



