72 PRACTICAL NOTES ON GRASSES AND GRASS GROWING. 
leaf. When wanted by plasterers for foundations for walls ard 
ceilings, it is not harvested until December, by which time the 
winds and rain have taken off the leaves, and only the clean 
stalks remain, ornamented by their grey flowered spikes. 
For decorative purposes in ladies’ boudoirs, halls, or rooms, 
they are gathered during the first week in October, and are set 
in water for a few days in order to develop their heads of light 
cotton wool-like bloom, which they will retain for months if 
not exposed to the wind. For this purpose also the stately 
bulrush (Zypha latifolia), both lesser and greater, is in good 
demand, as are many more of our beautiful water grasses, 
which are dried and dyed with a variety of colours. ' 
The roots of many of these water plants are edible; they 
contain much nutriment and chemical compounds, but we 
have not heard of their being used for food in this part of the 
country, although we read they are much esteemed in Iceland 
and elsewhcre. 
