THE GIANT RBEDS 
125 
Grasses, and is perhaps for this reason 
more fastidious as to soil, but it is worth 
trying in all the warmer gardens of our 
land, and in tubs for house and con- 
servatory decoration where the winters 
are too severe in the open. 
The Giant Reed {Arundo Doriax). — A 
noble grass upon warm, good soils, seen at its 
best in the west and south-west of England in 
rich ground beside water, and protected from 
wind. Even then it suffers from time to time 
in severe seasons, and should have a covering 
of dry ashes during winter, while its own stems 
form a natural protection. For the sake of 
neatness they are sometimes cut down in 
autumn, but this is a mistake as they should 
remain till the young shoots have started freely 
in spring, and may then make way for the new 
canes. In the south of Europe where the plant 
often covers much ground, the plan is to cut 
the old canes in spring and set fire to the 
stumps, thus clearing and manuring the ground 
at the same time. It is useless to leave them 
longer than one season, for in their second year 
the old canesthrowonly side-shoots which may 
be taken off and rooted by way of increase, 
but are far less handsome in effect than the 
new canes v/ith their broad, grey-green leaves 
and swaying stems of 10 to 12 feet. They 
should be grouped together to produce the best 
effect, and large tufts of this height may be 
grown in three or four years, while in parts of 
Devon and Cornwall canes of 15 to 20 feet 
are grown rivalling those of the Mediter- 
ranean. Though less tall near London, fine 
tufts may be seen at Syon House, and else- 
where upon the lighter soils of Surrey, Kent, 
and Sussex, those at Arundel being especially 
good. On cold and heavy soils the plant is 
tender and does not thrive. Even in its own 
cownti-y Arundo Donax is uncertain as to flower- 
ing, and in this country its purplish plumes 
are rarely seen save in a hot season such as 
produced 40 spikes of flower upon a fine plant 
near Frome some years ago. Though from 
time to time they flower with unusual freedom 
in the south of Europe, fertile seed is not often 
produced, and this abundance is taken by the 
peasants to mean a severe winter to follow. 
I The canes are more glossy than the Bamboo, 
with persistent leaf-sheaths, and while so flinty 
as to turn the blade of even a good knife, they 
are less strong, splitting easily and sometimes 
doubling up between the joints. In addition 
to two forms which we shall describe more 
fully, there is one known as macrophylla or 
glauca, in which the leaves are larger, prettily 
drooping towards the tips, and conspicuous at 
a distance for their distinct shade of bluish- 
green. Increased by division, by layers, or 
cuttings of the tender side-shoots. 
Variegated Giant Reed {A. Donax versi- 
color). — A handsome plant in which the leaves 
are so boldly striped with white or yellow that 
little remains of the original green colour. It 
is less hardy than the parent, and while effective 
in colour is far less stately, often not exceed- 
ing 2 to 3 feet in height. Even in the south 
of Europe this kind does not flower, but is 
used in tufts for the centre of flower-beds, or 
apart upon grass. It only thrives in gardens 
south of the Thames and in warm sandy soils, 
with root-protection in winter. A dry, well- 
drained place is best, giving abundance of 
water during summer; when established avoid 
moving, as dangerous to the plant if followed 
by a sharp winter. Easily increased from old 
stems placed in the tank of a warm house ; 
young shoots start from every joint and may 
be rooted in gentle heat. 
Flowering Reed of New Zealand (A. 
conspkud) . — A noble flowering Grass, the effect 
of which is well shown in our engraving. 
When established it blooms very freely, throw- 
ing low broad tufts of fountain-like effect, with 
flower-stems of 8 to 12 feet high while large 
plants often measure nearly as much across. 
Balanced upon tall and slender stems the plumes 
dip and sway in the breeze most gracefully, 
and when in masses of 60 or 70 are seen 
for a distance. Open early in July in a warm 
season, this Arundo may be enjoyed in full 
beauty for weeks before the other Cortaderias 
come into flower, and its looser plumes hold 
so much less moisture that they are less easily 
broken and often outlast the Pampas plumes, 
which only expand as the autumn storms are 
upon them. Even with careful planting, several 
years elapse before plants that have been moved 
will flower, so it is important that the place 
