ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 
These gems of the flower garden have been over¬ 
looked to a great extent in the past by the professional 
florist as well as the amateur. They have been passed 
by as comparatively worthless until within a few 
years, and even now there are many who do not con¬ 
sider them of sufficient value to give them a place in 
their gardens. It is for the benefit of such persons 
that I give a few general hints in regard to them from 
personal experience. 
Then- cultivation is very simple. Soil that is good 
for flowers and plants in general is good for grasses. 
The seeds of annual grasses 
should be sown early in 
the spring in order that a 
profusion of bloom may be 
produced during the sum¬ 
mer to be used in making- 
bouquets, and to dry for 
winter use. Ornamental 
grasses add very much to 
the beauty of bouquets, 
wreaths; crosses, &c., and 
are very desirable for that 
purpose all through the 
summer. Every lover of 
flowers would be amply 
rewarded in cultivating 
them for that and for their 
graceful appearance as 
plants in the garden. But 
their use does not stop 
here. An abundance 
should be cut, dried in a 
proper manner, and re¬ 
served for fall and winter 
use to mix with everlast¬ 
ing flowers and autumn 
leaves in making bouquets, 
baskets, picture frames, 
and many other beautiful 
ornaments for the sitting- 
room and parlor. By those 
who have used them for 
that purpose they are con¬ 
sidered indispensable. 
I will now allude to the 
time of cutting and man¬ 
ner of drying for winter 
use, as this is very im¬ 
portant. My method has 
been as follows; When 
the flowers or spikes have 
attained about one-half 
or two-thirds their full size, I cut them, arrange 
in small bundles, tie paper loosely around them, 
and hang them up in a dark room to dry, with 
the heads downward. In this way I have suc¬ 
ceeded admirably in preserving the original color. 
Many of our common wild grasses and sedges cut and 
cured in this manner are very desirable. Grasses, 
when thoroughly dry, may be dyed various colors or 
crystalized, and their appearance be very much im¬ 
proved, especially Stipa pennata. Beautiful bouquets 
can be made from this grass alone by using small 
clusters that have been colored red, blue, green, crim¬ 
son, orange, &c., the grass is so fine, and feathery it 
produces a charming effect. My favorites, and those 
which I think are best adapted for general cultivation 
among amateurs, are the following: Agrostis nebulosa, 
Briza maxima, Bromus brizseformus, Erianthus 
Eavennm, Hordeum Jubatem, and Stipa pennata. 
This fist may be found in any prominent florist’s 
catalogue. 
To lovers of flowers who have paid but little atten¬ 
tion to their cultivation in the past, I -would say, give 
them a place in your garden, enjoy their fresh green 
appearance in summer, and prepare them to assist in 
decorating your parlors in winter. 
Wm. N. Rowe. 
EUCHARIS AMAZONICA. 
I have read all the questions and answers in regard 
Design foe Rustic Summer House. 
to Eucharis Amazonica, and my information thus far 
relates only to temperature. First—Does it require 
shade or sunshine ? Second—Soil rich or sandy ? 
Third—Much or little water ? Fourth—When is its 
blooming season ? 
I solicited answers to the above questions from the 
florist of whom I purchased my bulb, but failed to 
receive any instruction. It came to me through the 
post office one cold, dismal morning in early spring. 
It had two small leaves, something like a little Calla, 
but darker green. Knowing nothing of its habits, I 
expected to do something wrong. I am ashamed to 
say the twenty-five rose' bushes, Fuchsias, Gerani¬ 
ums, &c., which arrived that morning, found me 
totally unprepared to receive them. The dirt that 
should have been warmed and dried did not appear, so 
I took my trowel and basket and gathered here and 
there the cold, wet clay from the garden, scooped 
round from the walks, to mix with it when it should 
become mixable, and paraded my earth clods around 
the kitchen stove. Meanwhile the Doctor went down 
town, as he said, to engage me a coffin. He knew I 
should need one even if the plants lived. By the time 
I had collected a sufficient quantity of old tin pans, 
boxes, and paint kegs, with charcoal and broken 
bricks for drainage, I began potting plants. The soil 
was in very unfavorable condition, but I didn’t like 
to wait. Never had better success with plants than 
with these. Put the Eucharis in a paint keg without 
any hole in the bottom ; set it in a bucket of hot water 
two or three times a w T eek. 
After taking a little time 
to make root growth, it sent 
up a new leaf. When the 
weather grew warm in 
May, I planted it in the 
open border, and it has 
grown finely ever since, 
each succeeding leaf being 
larger than its predecessor. 
When I transplanted it I 
found three or four red 
spots on the white bulb. 
Suppose, if I had kept it 
in that mass of mud a few 
weeks longer, I might have 
succeeded in killing it. I 
would like to provide a 
soil to meet its wants when 
I re-pot it in the fall. 
Who will prescribe ? 
L. M. McFarland. 
Centralia, Ill. 
To H. B. L. —I can 
scarcely think what is the 
trouble with your Lan- 
tanas unless the soil is too 
stiff and rich, which I am 
inclined to think is the 
case. Mine grow in a 
very light sand enriched 
with wood-pile and a little 
cow-pen manure. With 
regard to my wants, H. B. 
L., they are numerous. 
Some of your Crocuses 
would be highly acceptable 
—Dracaenas, Bouvardias, 
Hydrangeas, Begonias, 
Hyacinths;—in short, so 
many are my wants you 
can scarcely fail to please in the exchange. Please 
send a letter to my address. Why is not the Ice 
Plant—Mesembryanthemum crystallinum—used more 
frequently for hanging baskets? Nothing can be 
more beautiful than its glittering leaves and stems. I 
have about thirty fine young Gladioli growing from 
seeds bought of Mr. Tick. I am watching them with 
much interest, and hoping for something different from 
any in my possession, though they are beautiful, many 
now being in full bloom. I have also from seeds of 
my own planting a most beautiful double Petunia, far 
surpassing any single one I ever saw. 
Mrs. J. T. Norris. 
Brenham, Washington Co., Texas. 
He floral ifeplkiiEi cwiil fictorral 
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