42 
Rustic Adornments. 
for winter wreaths. They must be started early to make sure of a good 
bloom. Xeranthemum annuum , X. album , and X. purpurea are fine hardy 
annuals, all of which may be sown in the open ground in April. They 
are not the most desirable, as their colours are apt to fade when dried; but 
this may be in some part prevented by drying them quickly in the dark , 
and in a very dry warm atmosphere. Try them in an oven when the fire is 
nearly out. As for Aphelexis , Phcenocomas , and Statices , all the varieties 
known are good. 
The following is a list of flowering grasses suitable to grow in the garden, 
and the inflorescence of which may be used in a fresh or dried state. All of 
them require to be treated as annuals, />., sown in patches in ordinary 
soil in a sunny position early in April, where required to grow. Only just 
cover the seed with soil. Gather the inflorescence directly it is fully expanded, 
and dry it by spreading it out thinly on sheets of paper in a cool, dry place. 
Agrostis dulcis , A. elegans ^ A. nebulosa (Cloud grass); Anthoxanthum gracile 
(Vernal grass); Avena sterilis (Animated 'oat); Briza major (Quaking grass); 
B. gracilis , Brizopyrum siculum (Spike grass) ; Bromus brizoeformis (Brome 
grass); Ceratachloa pendula (Horn grass); Chlora barbata (Windmill grass); 
Chrysurus aureus (Golden-spiked grass); Coix lachryma (Job’s Tears); 
Eleusine coracana (Wire grass); Elymus Caput-medusce (Lyme grass); 
Eragrostis elegans (Love grass); Hordeum jubatum (Squirrel-tail grass); 
Lagurus ovatus (^Hare's-tail grass); Lasiagrostis splendens , Leptochloa gracilis , 
Panicum capillare (Old Witch grass); Paspalium elegans (Millet grass) ; 
Pennisetum longistylum , Piptatherum Thomasii, Stipa pennata (Feather grass); 
Tricholoena rosea , Uniola latifolia (Sea Oats). 
Of strictly hardy perennial grasses the following are exceedingly 
useful:— Andropogon giganteus (Giant Beard grass); Arundo conspicua 
(Silvery Reed grass); Chloropsis Blanchardiana , Eriantha Ravennce 
(Woolly Beard grass); Gymnothrix latifolia , Gynerium argenteum 
(Pampas grass); Tripsacum dactyloides . Plant strong tufts of these 
in April. 
Subjoined is a list of wild grasses, with situation where they are most likely 
to be found and time for gathering:— Apera Spica-venti (Bent grass), sandy . 
fields, July and August; Aira ceespitosa (Tufted Hair grass), pastures, 
August; Arrhenatherum avenaceum (False Oat grass), waysides, June ; Avena 
davescens (Yellow Oat grass), chalky pastures, June; Bromus sterilis (Barren 
Brome grass), fields, August; Btiza media and B. minor (Quaking grass), 
