ROCK GARDENS

Ornamental Grasses for Marsh or Rock Gardens 4

Among the annual grasses for rock gardens we have eight or ten varieties of the Holcus saccharatus, or Sugar-cane, whose elegant leaves, stately stems, and variously-coloured heads of corn are highly ornamental. These are half-hardy annuals, and should be, sown in gentle heat, being pushed rapidly forward so as to secure strong plants for planting out in May. The variegated, white-striped, and beautifully marbled tea, or maize, requires similar treatment, and has a most pleasing effect when planted among other subjects. The pretty Millet Grass, Milim effusum, charming Love Grasses (Eragrostis multiflora syn. megastachya, E. papposa, and E. . gyptiaca), and the several varieties of Briza, or Quaking Grass, especially Briza geniculata and B. minor var. gracilis, should be sown either in pots or in a rather sheltered site out of doors. Other beautiful annual grasses are Agrostis capillaris, A. elegans, A. laxiftora,A. pulchella, Desmazeriasicula (syn. Brizopyrum siculuin), whose branches rival in beauty the deciduous cypress, Brornus briziformis, B. lanuginosus, and Lagurus ovatus, the Hare's Tail Grass. Stipa arundinacea and Panicum Teneriffte (syn. Tricholcena rosea) are also useful, and, like all other annual grasses, should be raised from seed sown in spring before introduction to rock gardens. As a general rule far too little use is made of the delightful annual species.


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