October 17, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
101 
should be esteemed wanting in merit. Very probably 
the best medium would be found in tubers from 6 ozs. 
to 8 ozs., and if selections were made by exhibitors 
within those limits, we should see everywhere much 
more even average weight and quality than is now 
found, even at the most pretentious of Potato exhibi¬ 
tions. 
-->e£<—- 
THE PAMPAS GRASS. 
There are few more attractive objects in the pleasure 
grounds at this season than the noble Pampas Grass, 
Gynerium argenteum, now that its tall and elegant 
silvery-white, plume-like panicles of flowers are fully 
developed. For a single specimen on a lawn, for plant¬ 
ing in front of shrubberies, for the American garden, 
or better still as an isolated specimen on the banks of 
a lake, there are few more ornamental subjects, and 
given a good deep soil, in not too damp a place, it soon 
establishes itself, and, except in very bleak places or 
very severe winters, requires no protection. 
GOLD AND SILVER FERNS. 
Gymnogrammas. —Although the genus Gymno- 
graroma does not contain all the gold and silver Ferns, 
commonly so-called, yet, it includes by far the majority 
of them, and when speaking of gold and silver Ferns, 
the appellation is generally understood to mean Gym- 
nogrammas. They form one of the most attractive and 
beautiful set of Ferns grown, as with the exception of 
G. chserophylla, G. rufa, and G. tomentosa, they all 
have their fronds more or less covered with golden, 
sulphur, or white farinose powder of various degrees of 
brilliancy. One often hears complaints about their 
being “miffy ” and uncertain, but I cannot agree to this, 
although I am fully aware that the belief is rather deep- 
seated in many instances. Anyone possessing a stove, 
if they will give them a corner at the warmest end, or, 
indeed, any situation in the house (though a light one 
is preferable) where they can be kept from the syringe, 
so that no water goes over the foliage, will, I am 
certain, get satisfactory results where failures have been 
previously experienced. Besides, it adds much to the 
beauty of the plants by never allowing the fronds to be 
wetted, which mars the beauty of the Ferns if the 
farinose powder becomes washed off. I do not know any 
class of plants that present a more woe-begone appear¬ 
ance if heavily sponged to get rid of scale, which 
fortunately is not very troublesome, but which will 
occasionally obtain a footing. 
Nurserymen, doubtless, collect the spores and sow 
them, and where required in quantities, this would, I 
imagine, be the better plan ; but for private gardens it 
will not be necessary, as they freely reproduce themselves 
over the house in which they are grown, so much so, 
that one has frequently to throw them away as weeds. 
The only exception, however, in propagating itself 
with me, is G. chrysophylla grandiceps, which, although 
the plant has been grown here for three years, has 
never yet done so, but I do not despair of it yet. The 
following sorts will one and all be found worth growing, 
where space permits of their beinggiown, and seedlings 
from them, although not distinct enough to deserve 
being called new varieties, will be, however, very 
variable. 
G. chrysophylla. —This is doubtless the commonest 
of all ; the fronds are light green on the surface, and 
the underside is densely covered with beautiful golden 
powder, which changes with age to a darker colour, 
especially when the sori appears. This species grows 
from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, but the varieties of G. chryso¬ 
phylla Massoni, Stelzneriana, &c., are more robust, often 
attaining fully 3 ft. in height. G. chrysophylla Lau- 
clieana is more dense in habit than the type, and makes 
an excellent plant for exhibiting, quickly growing into 
a good specimen if conveniences are at hand for so 
doing. A variety of G. chrysophylla called grandiceps, is 
a beautiful massive crested form, making nice shaped 
specimens under good cultivation. It grows to the 
height of 2 ft. or 2h ft., and at the same time is of a dense 
compact habit. G. chrysophylla Parsonsi is another of 
the crested forms in tire golden section, which is well 
worthy ot cultivation, being somewhat dwarfer in 
growth than the preceding variety, and of a dense 
compact habit, and cannot be otherwise than useful in 
a collection, in fact, as a crested form it is still in 
favour with some cultivators, but when the variety of 
G. chrysophylla grandiceps gets better known I think 
the latter will carry off the palm. 
G. sulphurea is a dwarfer growing variety than 
any of the previous kinds, seldom reaching more than 
a foot in height. It is a beautiful but delicate species, 
and has golden powder on the surface, as well as on the 
underside of the fronds, but not so much. 
G. trifoliata sometimes covered with golden and 
sometimes silver powder, is of a semi-scandent habit, 
and very different in appearance to any other member 
of the genus that I ever saw ; the variation does not 
occur on the same plant, but appears to be a seedling 
probably of garden origin ; which is the original I am 
not certain, but believe the golden form to be. 
G. decomposita.- —I must not forget to mention G. 
decomposita, a very distinct type of the genus, and 
which is also a plant of garden origin. It is of a more 
erect and better decorative habit than any of the forms 
already mentioned, the fronds, which grow from 2 ft. to 
4 ft. in length, are slightly covered when in a young state 
with a nearly white farinose powder, but changes into 
a sulphur colour as they get older, the stipes being 
covered right down to the pot; the pinn® are deeply 
cut into minute segments, thus giving the plant a very 
light and attractive appearance. As a plant for dinner- 
table decorations it is deserving of a high place where 
this genus is at all appreciated for the purpose ; the 
farinose powder, however, does not show up so well by 
gaslight as in the case of G. chrysophylla Lauclieana, &c., 
but still, its lighter appearance more than counter¬ 
balances this defect, if it be one. 
Before leaving the golden section, I must mention 
their use for dinner table decoration, as I find them for 
that purpose better suited than the silver section, more 
especially at night, the lighter farinose powder not 
showing up so well as the darker tone of the golden 
forms, especially G. Laucheana grandiceps, whose 
crested fronds are thus shown at their best, and when 
once used for the purpose is not likely to be quickly 
discarded, where the decoration of the table is of 
primary importance and variety required for the 
purpose. Those belonging to the silver group are not, 
as a rule, quite so strong in growth, but are nevertheless 
very attractive, more particularly is this the ease with 
the excellent and free growing G. Peruviana argyro- 
phylla, which is a very handsome plant indeed. If 
confined to only one variety I should give this the 
preference, more particularly if I wanted it for exhibiting. 
Its beautiful fronds attain the height of fully 3 ft., and 
are covered on both sides of the fronds with a heavy 
coating of white powder, about the shade of white hoar 
frost when seen on the grass before the sun shines 
on it. 
G. WetteNHALI.iana, a handsome crested form, 
is very variable in the colour of its powder, which is 
not so white as the preceding species at its whitest, 
and sometimes it is sulphur coloured, but is, in any case, 
a variety that ought to be in every collection, and one 
that will also make, under good cultivation, an excellent 
variety for the exhibition table, growing as it does 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, and of a handsome, dense, 
and compact habit. 
G. tartarea.— A rather straggling long fronded 
variety, the surface of the fronds being dark green, 
whilst the under side is entirely covered with a very 
white powder, forming a striking contrast to the stipes, 
which are very black indeed. It is a dwarf habited 
spreading variety. 
G. spectabilis or elegantissima, as it is sometimes 
called, is of an erect habit of growth and vigorous. 
G. pulchella, is a very handsome species also, 
bright green on the surface of the fronds, and the 
underside of silvery whiteness ; the fronds grow about 
18 ins. or 2 ft. high, the pinn® being very minutely 
cut in segments. 
G. pulchella ramosa is a branched variety of the 
preceding, and is, I believe, of garden origin. Anyone 
may obtain a new variety that grow these Ferns 
without any trouble as regards fertilization. One 
other variety only will I mention, viz., 
G. schizophyllUM, which is a comparatively new 
species, and for basket culture a very effective, distinct, 
and elegant Fern. I think this would do better in a 
lower temperature than the majority of this genus. I 
once had a plant of it, but lost it through, as I think, 
no other reason than keeping it too hot. I have seen 
it growing cooler than what I tried it in with good 
results, which I shall imitate when I get another 
plant. 
The Pampas Grass, Gynerium argenteum. 
