. Cyclopedia of American horticulture, comprising suggestions for cultivation of horticultural plants, descriptions of the species of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants sold in the United States and Canada, together with geographical and biographical sketches. Gardening. 70i GYNERIUM QYNUEA The growing of Pampas plumes for profit in Califor- nia has been carried on for over 25 years. Pampas Urass was introduced into the United States about 1848. In the northern states it is frequently planted on the lawn in summer, and upon the approacli of cold weather transferred in a tub to
. Cyclopedia of American horticulture, comprising suggestions for cultivation of horticultural plants, descriptions of the species of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants sold in the United States and Canada, together with geographical and biographical sketches. Gardening. 70i GYNERIUM QYNUEA The growing of Pampas plumes for profit in Califor- nia has been carried on for over 25 years. Pampas Urass was introduced into the United States about 1848. In the northern states it is frequently planted on the lawn in summer, and upon the approacli of cold weather transferred in a tub to a cellar for winter protection. In California, a hill will sometimes attain a height of 20 ft., a diameter as great, and a weight of 2,000 pounds. .Such plants would be quite inconvenient for our north- ern friends to handle in the cellar. Plants are easily produced froKi seed, but as the sex and variety are very uncertain, stock is usually increased by dividing the female plants, the plumes of which are much more beautiful than those of the male. The grow- ing of Pampas Grass on a connuercial scale dates from 1874, when the diit'erence in sex was discovered. In 1872 the writer sowed seed which in two years gave several hundred plume-bearing plants. Even then the \-ariations in color and fineness were very marked. In 1874, it was found that by pulling the innnature plumes from the sheaths and e-xposing them to the hot sun the naale plumes would hang heavily like oats, while the female plumes would become fiuffy. and light and airy. In November, 1874, samples of the female plumes were sent to Peter Henderson & Co., New York. Three hundred were ordered at once, and the following day instructions were receive<l to double the order and send by express. This was the first lot of good plumes ever sent east from California, ami was the beginning of the present Pampas industry. The writer's planta- tion was increased each year until 1889, when it com- prised about 5,000 hills. T
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