LOVERs of ornamental grasses must not omit this season to find room in their flower garden or lawn borders for that gem of gigantic grasses, the Erianthus Ravennea, or Ravennas Woolly Beard Grass. When in full bloom it attains a height of from nine to twelve feet, after two or three seasons growth from seed. It resembles at a distance the well known Pampas grass, but is far more curious and ornamental. Its leaves beneath are narrow, its flower stalks are numerous, and rise grace-fully from its base, and at their top bear a very showy tufted plume. In a light breeze, the stalks sway easily to and fro, and the tufted bloom rustles and bows gracefully, making a very picturesque appearance. In the latitude of New York it has thus far proved perfectly hardy, although it is best to protect it during the winter. It has one great advantage of flowering freely, and produces seeds abun-dantly. If the seeds are started in a hot-bed in March, they will produce plants large enough to throw up the first season flower stems as high as four feet by October. When well established for two or three seasons, fine plants will send up as many as thirty flower stalks, and increase in height until they reach ten feet.

We know of no novelty of genuine merit better worth an introduction to the homes of our citizens than this beautiful plant for lawn or garden decorations.

Erianthus Ravennae #1

Mr. Henderson also says : "We have had two plants of this majestic, ornamental grass growing for the past four seasons, which have stood out during winter with only slight protection. The past season each plant sent up over thirty flower stems to a height of nine or ten feet, attracting more attention, perhaps, than any other plant in our grounds. It resembles, somewhat, the Pampas Grass, but blossoms far more freely, and being hardy, is far more valuable for that reason. It is easily grown from seed ; some sown in our green house, last March, threw up flower stems eight feet high by October.