St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-01-28
THE KING OF Ora SSES
CALIFORNIA PAMPAS PLUMES-THEIR
USES IN DECORATION.

Uses IN
In the early days of last September,
during a visit to Southern California,
I CHANGED, while walking down
Spring street, Los Angeles, to see in
a show window, where artistic furni-
ture and mantels were displayed,
standing before a plate-glass mirror,
a vase holding what seemed to be
three beautiful white feathers, tall and
fairy-like. A closer inspection show
ed a depth no ostrich plume can
boast, for in it's heart of hearts was
a soft salmon tone of great richness.
l could not help exclaiming Grand!
/ must know something of this new
beauty.l"
Upon inquiring, l learned that the
objects which attracted my atten-
ton were pampas plumes, the product
of the king of Grasses" which is
cultivated quite extensively for the
European market. This grass is a
native of South America, growing on
the famous pampas or plains, where
the cattle feed upon it, which pampas
give name to the cultivated article
now grown and cured in great perfec-
ton in California, producing the
artistic effect referred to that is
as surprising as it is beautiful.
Feeling greatly interested in an
industry so little known, 1 visited
one of the largest plantations in Los
fortunately during the harvest sea
son, thus witnessing the entire
process.
The plants of clusters, bush-like in
form, are from ten to twelve feet high,
about the same in diameter, and
stand in rows sixteen feet apart.
Very little care is given the plants
(they are evergreen until the irriga-
ton season, which lasts from early
in May until the middle of August.
Water is used every fourteen days.
The harvest begins about August 26,
and continues seventeen days. Be-
fore the husks open, the long spikes
are cut by laborers, their faces pro-
tected by masks and their hands by
gloves with gauntlets, as the edge of
the grass is sharp as a knife. From
the place of growth to the shade of
trees the plumes are taken in wagons.
Shuckers sit under the pepper and
orange-trees stripping off the casing
of green covering the plumes. Those
who have practised for a few years
can shuck from three to four thousand
a day. AS this work is paid for by
the thousand, long days are made.
Next come boys who lay the fresh
silky plumes-soft green in color
upon the smooth earth, prepared by
rolling to receive them. About three
hours are required at this stage to
make them white and fluffy. They
are gathered up and carried by arms
fuls into the curing-house; here
expert manipulation develops tone
and a silk-foss finish that gives them
their chief beauty. In the process
they are handled sixteen times. No
1~abor-saving machines can be used.
A certain nicely in handling, a quick
eve and ready hand, make it an
industry where woman and girls can
be employed. About sixty hands
were required in the harvest of which
/ write. Plumes left upon the plants
to open naturally are of no value,
except as ornaments to the grounds.
Great improvements have been
made in the curing process during
the past two years. The old method
produced a beautiful plume, but very
brittle. The best grades measure
thirty to thirty-six inches in length,
and are shipped to Europe. Germany,
Russia, and Italy are the largest
consumers. England is latest to APP
p~reciate their beauty, and no doubt
the Eastern cities will, ere long,
follow In their use.
The regulation three plumes" in
a single vase were no doubt suggest
ed by the Prince of Wales coat-of-
arms, as there are large quantities
sent to London, where they are quite
the fad About half a million plumes