WikiWorks at 00:27, 7 August 2009

2009-08-07T00:27:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 7 August 2009
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	Careful all-round cultivation is necessary to produce good plumes.		Careful all-round cultivation is necessary to produce good plumes.
	{{SCH}}		{{SCH}}
			}}

			{{Inc\|
			Cortaderia argentea, Stapf (Gynerium argenteum, Nees). PamPas-grass. Culms numerous, in large thick tussocks, 3-6 ft. high, excluding the panicle: lvs. mostly basal, the upper sheaths gradually elongated; blades firm, long and slender, very scabrous on the margins, ⅛-¼ in. wide, tapering to a slender point: panicle large, compact, 1-3 ft., silvery white or in cult, varieties tinged with purple, dioecious; spikelets 2-3-fld., the pistillate silky with long hairs, the staminate naked; glumes white and papery, long and slender; lemmas bearing a long slender awn. A.G. 14:323. G. 1:412. G.C. III. 40:295; 43:195. Gn. 62, p. 346; 66. p. 375. G.W. 3:415. Gn.W. 5:85; 23:20. J.H. III. 35:483; 49:27. R.H. 1862, p. 150. V. 3:369, 391. S. Brazil and Argentina. C. Lambleyi foliis variegatis, Hort., G.C. III. 25:335, appears to be a form of C. argentea.
	}}		}}

WikiWorks at 21:26, 12 June 2009

2009-06-12T21:26:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 12 June 2009
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	__NOTOC__{{Plantbox		__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
	\| name = ''Cortaderia selloana''		\| name = ''Cortaderia selloana''
	\| common_names = ~~<!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->~~		\| common_names = Pampas Grass
	\| growth_habit = grass		\| growth_habit = evergreen grass
	\| high = ? ~~<!--- 1m~~ (3 ft) ~~-->~~		\| high = ?m (20 ft)
	\| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->		\| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
	\| origin = ~~? <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->~~		\| origin = Argentina
	\| poisonous = <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->		\| poisonous = <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
	\| lifespan = perennial		\| lifespan = perennial
	\| exposure = ~~? <!---~~ full sun~~, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->~~		\| exposure = full sun{{SSN}}
	\| water = ~~? <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->~~		\| water = any amount{{SSN}}
	\| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->		\| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
	\| hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->		\| hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
	\| bloom = <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->		\| bloom = <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
	\| usda_zones = ? <!--- eg. 8-11 -->		\| usda_zones = ? <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
	\| sunset_zones = <!-~~-- eg. 8, 9~~, ~~12-24, not available -->~~		\| sunset_zones = 4-31, 33
	\| color = IndianRed		\| color = IndianRed
	\| image = Upload.png <!--- Freesia.jpg -->		\| image = Upload.png <!--- Freesia.jpg -->

WikiWorks at 21:14, 12 June 2009

2009-06-12T21:14:27Z

Show changes

WikiWorks: Pampas- Grass moved to Pampas Grass

2009-06-12T21:04:29Z

Pampas- Grass moved to Pampas Grass

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:04, 12 June 2009
(No difference)

Kpdhage: New page: NOTOC{{Plantbox | name = ''LATINNAME'' | common_names = | growth_habi...

2009-06-12T16:49:12Z

New page: __NOTOC__{{Plantbox | name = ''LATINNAME''  | common_names =  | growth_habi...

New page

__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
| name = ''LATINNAME'' 
| common_names = 
| growth_habit = ? 
| high = ? 
| wide = 
| origin = ? 
| poisonous = 
| lifespan = 
| exposure = ? 
| water = ? 
| features = 
| hardiness = 
| bloom = 
| usda_zones = ? 
| sunset_zones = 
| color = IndianRed
| image = Upload.png 
| image_width = 240px 
| image_caption = 
| regnum = Plantae 
| divisio = 
| classis = 
| ordo = 
| familia = 
| genus =
| species =
| subspecies =
| cultivar =
}}
{{Inc|

Pampas-Grass (Cortaderia argentea. which see. Vol. II, p. 856.). A showy tall perennial

subtropical grass grown for its whitish fluffy plumes of inflorescence; native in Argentina and

southern Brazil.

The growing of pampas plumes for profit in California has been undertaken for over forty years.

Pampas- grass was introduced into the United States about 1848. In the northern states it is

frequently planted on the lawn in summer, and upon the approach of cold weather transferred in a

tub to a cellar for winter protection. In California, a hill will sometimes attain a height of

20 feet, a diameter as great, and a weight of 2,000 pounds. Such plants would be very

inconvenient for our northern friends to handle in the cellar.

Plants are easily produced from 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 growing of pampas-grass in North America on a commercial scale dates

from 1874. when the difference in sex was discovered. In 1872 the writer sowed seed which in two

years gave several hundred plume-bearing plants. Even then the variations in color and fineness

were very marked. In 1874, it was found that by pulling the immature plumes from the sheaths and

exposing them to the hot sun, the male plumes would hang heavily like oats, while the female

plumes would become fluffy, 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 received to double the order and send by express. This was the

first lot of good plumes

ever sent east California, and was the beginning of the present pampas industry. The writer's

plantation was increased each year until 1889, when it comprised about 5,000 hills. There were a

number of other extensive plantations in the neighborhood of Santa Barbara. The crop of 1889 was

estimated at 1,000,000 plumes. The demand has been good, but the prices have never been so high

as at the beginning of the industry. The first prices were $200 for 1,000 plumes. The decrease

in price was gradual until 1886, when sales were slow at $30 for 1,000 plumes. Some of the

growers did not harvest their crops that year, and destroyed their plants. In the fall of 1887

plumes were in demand at $40 the 1,000, and in 1888 they were scarce at $50 and $60 the 1,000.

The following spring there was an increase in acreage. Since then the industry has had its ups

and downs, and the price has ruled low for several years, the present prices being $9 to $10 for

first- class, and $5 to $6 for second size.

Pampas-grass should be put on the best valley land, and set 10 by 16 feet apart. Before

planting, the ground should be deeply plowed and put in first-class condition. In selecting

stock, divide only female plants that produce the finest white plumes. Young hills produce the

best plants. From old hills the best plants are obtained around the outside, those in the center

of the stool being mostly worthless unless planted in large clumps.

Some plumes will be produced the first, year after planting. They will not be first-class, but

are worth saving. The second year, if well grown, they should produce 80 to 150 plumes to the

hill. Not all plantations will yield this much. The third and fourth years there will not be

much change in the yield. As a plant gets older the plumes are larger but the yield is less.

After 8 to 10 years a quantity of dead matter will have accumulated, and the hills should be

trimmed or burned.

The appearance of the plumes is a signal for great activity among those who have large fields.

The grass should be so trimmed early in September, before the plumes appear, that each hill will

be easy of access. Young plants ripen their plumes two or three weeks earlier than old ones, and

some varieties are earlier than others. It requires exercise of judgment to pick the plumes at

the proper time. They are generally ready when they are exposed from the husk a few inches and

have a fluffy look. It is well to try a few at this stage, and if they cure well at the stem end

when dry they are all right, but if they do not become fluffy at the stem end they have been

picked too young. If the plume looks dark and seedy at the top when cured, it was too old when

picked. Some varieties, especially those producing very long plumes, should be allowed to remain

somewhat longer on the plant than those of the short-plumed varieties. By trying a few of each

variety, the time of ripening can soon be ascertained. Some varieties are pulled from the husk

in the field; others have to be hauled to husking benches, where the husk or sheath is removed.

Some planters husk them like corn: others use a knife set in such a way as to split the husk

without injuring the plume. When the husk has been split, a quick jerk or strike on the table

will extract the plume. The plumes are then taken to the drying ground and evenly spread in long

rows. This ground should be made smooth and free from any trash that is liable to adhere to the

plumes. Clean stubble ground is the best. The plumes are left on the ground three days and two

nights to cure, and are turned and shaken once each day. They are next packed away as broadly

and smoothly as possible on shelves in a dry building, where they should lie ten days or two

weeks, or until the stems are thoroughly dried, at which time they are ready for market. They

are packed in two grades: the first class, having plumes 26 inches long and over, clear of stem

(sometimes as long as 45 inches), is packed in cases that hold three-quarters of a ton and

contain 3.000 plumes; second-class stock is packed in cases of the same size, the plumes being

17 to 26 inches long clear of stem, and 6,000 in each case. If shipping by express, the writer

uses bales of about 2,000 plumes, covered with canvas or burlap and some light strips of wood at

the corners. If the plumes are packed smoothly and evenly they will withstand heavy pressure.

Careful all-round cultivation is necessary to produce good plumes.

The best market at present is London, the next Hamburg. Berlin, Denmark, New York and

Philadelphia take a few. Pampas plumes are colored in London. In America the pure white plumes

give the best satisfaction.
Joseph Sexton.

{{SCH}}
}}

==Cultivation==
{{edit-cult}}

===Propagation===
{{edit-prop}}

===Pests and diseases===
{{edit-pests}}

==Species==


==Gallery==
{{photo-sources}}

<gallery>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963




==External links==
*{{wplink}}

{{stub}}
[[Category:Categorize]]

Pampas Grass - Revision history

WikiWorks at 00:27, 7 August 2009

WikiWorks at 21:26, 12 June 2009

WikiWorks at 21:14, 12 June 2009

WikiWorks: Pampas- Grass moved to Pampas Grass

Kpdhage: New page: __NOTOC__{{Plantbox | name = ''LATINNAME'' | common_names = | growth_habi...

Kpdhage: New page: NOTOC{{Plantbox | name = ''LATINNAME'' | common_names = | growth_habi...