Pampas Grass

Plant Characteristics

Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

Read about Pampas Grass in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

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. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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