93 



THE CENTURY ROOK 



OF GARDENING. 



oonspicua) are the most important. The Pampas Grass 

 will thrive almost anywhere, though to obtain the 

 best results, that is, plants 10ft. or 12ft. high, the soil 

 should be stiff yet well-drained loam, and the position 

 fairly sheltered. It is the female plants that produce the 

 most beautiful plumes. G. jubatum is pretty, though less 

 vigorous than the more familiar kind, and its plumes are 

 pure silvery white in colour. The Arundo is in beauty 

 about two months before the Pampas, and is a noble 

 silvery-plumed Grass, requiring a moist soil and shelter, 

 but not shade. A. Phragmites is our pretty native Reed, 

 whilst A. Donax is tender, though it should be always 

 tried, especially in the Southern Counties, where it is 

 usually far happier 1 ban in more northerly districts. A 

 cover of ashes should be laid over the crown of the plant as 

 protection from severe frosts. The variegated variety is 

 very pretty, the graceful leaves being striped with white. 

 The Arundo conspicua and Pampas Grass should be 

 grouped on the lawn outskirts, or some position in 

 which their fine growth is seen. It is a mistake to crowd 

 them up too much with other things. Eulalia japonica 

 is very graceful and hardy, reaching fully 8ft. in height 

 and 5ft. or 6ft. through. There are three very pretty 

 varieties, one named variegata, in which the leaves are 

 striped with white, another gracillima, well named, as it is 

 the most graceful perhaps of all, and zebrina, which is 

 readily known by the yellow transverse bands across the 

 grassy leaves. The beautiful blue-green coloured Sea 

 Lyme Grass (Elymus arenarius) should also be included. 

 This is worth planting on loose banks, as its roots are of 

 extreme vigour and hold the soil together. The Apera 

 arundinacea and Feather Grass (Stipa pennata) must not 

 be forgotten, and are worth gathering for winter 

 decorations. Annual Grasses are considered in the 

 chapter on "Annual Flowers." 

 Gunnera. — The Gunneras are noble plants for the water- 

 side, and are amongst the largest leaved of all perennials. 

 It is only by the lake or pond side that this group is 

 happy, and when well placed is remarkably imposing. 

 G. Scabra and G. manicata are the chief kinds, and 

 of the two the former is the more handsome, in both 

 species the leaves measuring sometimes over 6ft. across. 

 The pleasure ground is not the best place tor them, and 

 if there be no water in the garden, and this group is 

 desired, choose some sunny spot, open, yet sheltered as 



when exposed to rough winds the leaves get much torn. 

 Except in the South of England it is wise to protect 

 the roots from frosts by covering over the crowns with 

 dry leaves, removing this covering in the spring. It is 

 not much they require, but this light covering means, in 

 a hard winter, preserving the life of the plant. The 

 fruit spikes are an interesting feature, but it is for their 

 bold ample foliage that one cherishes the Gunneras. G. 

 manicata will develop to an immense size in certain 

 positions, and it loves no place better than by the water- side, 

 where, in time, if the soil be rich and deep, it will spread 

 into a large colony. It is well to give a mulching of 

 manure in the spring, and even applications of liquid 

 manure, as the roots require plenty of rich food. 

 Gunneras are called "Prickly Rhubarbs," and the big 

 leaves are not unlike those of a large Rhubarb. There 

 are other Gunneras, but G. Scabra and G. manicata are 

 the only kinds generally grown. It is rare to find any 

 other species. Of course, to put the Gunneras by the 

 margin of a small pond would be a mistake. They are 

 big plants, require ample space to develop, and if in any 

 way cramped their picturesqueness is lost ; associate with 

 them things of like vigour, the stately Polygonum 

 Sachalinense. Bamboos, and similar things. The 

 way to propagate is by seed, or division of roots, which 

 is as easily managed as in the case of the homely 

 Rhubarb. It is wise not to allow many fruit spikes to 

 mature, as naturally these distress the plants considerably. 

 Frequently several are produced by a single clump. 



Gypsophila. — The best of the Gypsophilas is G. paniculata, 

 which is valued for its veil of tiny white flowers in 

 summer, a network of stems as fine almost as thread. 

 When the plants are well grown this mass of white is 

 over 2ft. across, and is delightful to mix with cut flow ers 

 in decorations. The plant is quite hardy and very 

 vigorous, caring little what the position or soil may be. 

 G. cerastioides is a pretty kind for the rock garden, 

 with larger flowers than G. paniculata, and not carried on 

 such a maze of stems. Very little grown is the annual 

 Gypsophila (G. elegans), which is as valuable in its way 

 for bouquets and similar floral arrangements as Paniculata. 

 The flowers are white and like spray, so fine are the stems. 

 Seed should be sown about March in the open ground. 



Heaths. — This charming race will be described fully in 

 he chapter upon "Trees and Shrubs." 



mm mg-ti 



GUNNHRA. 



