268 



FLORA AND SYLVA, 



Naval Timber and Arboriculture, p. 54; Mathieu, Flore 

 Forestiere, p. 297, 4th edition ; Selby, History of British 

 Forest Trees, p. 104 ; Lecoq, Geographie Botanique de 

 L'Europe, vol. 8, p. 325. 



It is Ulmus campcstris, Linnaeus ; sativa, Miller ; hol- 

 landica, Miller; suberosa, Moench ; tetranda, Schkuhr; 

 germanica, Hartig ; alba, Waldstein and Kitaibel ; rugosa, 

 Loddiges; vulgaris, Dumortier; carpinifolia, Lindley. 



THE EULALIAS (Miscanthas). 

 Their very name — meaning " highly 

 spoken of"- — expresses the merit of this 

 elegant group of grasses, hardy as garden 

 plants over the greater part of Britain 

 even if their spreading plumes are only 

 seen in good years. From August far 

 into the autumn their fine foliage is a 

 striking feature in gardens of light soil, 

 and when, during seasons such as the 

 present, their curving feathers are free- 

 ly produced, the effect is beautiful and 

 different from that of any other plant. 

 Their height and character vary much 

 according to conditions, from as much 

 as 8 or 9 feet to about a yard high, but 

 similar differences of development are 

 seen all over their wide area, from low 

 tufts of a few feet on the hill sides of Japan 

 and China, to tall reed-like growths in 

 India and the islands of the southern 

 seas, one form found at Hong Kong 

 bearing plumy heads measuring 18 

 inches by 12. Their usual height with 

 us is from 4 to 6 feet of long erect stem, 

 bearing broad arching leaves of 2 to 3 

 feet, which are pale green, or blotched 

 and striped with white and yellowin the 

 variegated forms. Being far hardier than 

 the Pampas Qx&^(Gyneriiitri) they may 

 be grown either in the open or in pots 

 and tubs under glass for conservatory 

 and house decoration, and in cold dis- 

 tricts it is well to have a few plants inside 

 during winter in case of loss. In most 



gardens, however, they will (with a little 

 protection) pass an ordinary winter un- 

 harmed, but in cold or low parts a place 

 upon sunny slopes and light soil is best 

 for them, not only during winter but as 

 more likely to induce flower and (with 

 the striped kinds) fine foliage. If grown 

 in rich soil, whether as border or pot 

 plants, the variegated sorts often become 

 green or only develop their colour late 

 in the season ; they are also less hardy 

 than the green kind. This last is easily 

 raised from seed and seedlings are the 

 best for grace and vigour in the garden; 

 the varieties, not coming true from seed, 

 are increased by division and spread so 

 fast that a stock is soon formed. Young 

 plants are best forindooruse and should 

 be grown cool, becoming drawn and 

 bare at the base in heat. But where con- 

 ditions are favourable the Eulalias are far 

 more satisfactory in the border than un- 

 der glass, and rapidly grow into spread- 

 ing tufts measuring many feet. In fine 

 seasons the flower-spikes appear from 

 the end of August as purplish plumes of 

 8 to 1 2 inches, spreading fan-wise and 

 spangled prettily with golden anthers ; 

 on maturing, the plumes expand to a 

 mass of silvery grey fluff upon arching 

 sprays suggestive of the Prince of Wales' 

 feathers, forming a pretty ornament 

 when dried. If for this use the plumes 

 are best cut before fully open and dried 

 slowly in shade or shaken out before a 

 brisk fire. Though sometimes flowering 

 well even in the north their plumes are 

 rarely seen in many gardens from the 

 fact that in our country the stems often 

 only flower in their second season while 

 in general the plants are cut to the 



