Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-16
A BOOM IN PlUME,
The Feathers of the Pampas
in Politics.
Both Parties Will Use Them as
Their Emblems.
The Design Adopted by the Democrats
Some Interesting Facts About
the Culture OF tho King
Of Grasses.

|
fornia will form a feature of the political
campaign this year in both parties.
The Democrats have adopted as ali en-
blem three white plumes mounted on q
red standard, with blue ribbon de-
pending. An order has been given to
Mrs. Strong Of Whittier for 10000 Of
them for use at the Chicago convention.
The Republicans have adopted fan
shaped design Of red. white and blue
plumes on fan shape. The following
article from the New York Evening
Post. is of interest in this connection:
"In the early days Of last September,
during visit to Southern California, 1
CHANGED, while walking down Spring
street, Los Angeles, to see in show
window, where artistic furniture and
naantels were displayed, standing
before q plate glass mirror a
vase holding what seemed to
be three beautiful white feathers,
tall and fairy-like. A closer inspection
showed depth no ostrich plume can
boast, for in its heart of hearts was
soft salmon tone of great richness. /
could not help exclaiming "Grandf l
must know something of the new
beauty"
Upon inquiring learned that the OBJ.
jects which attracted my attention were
pampas plumes, the product of the
King Of Grasses" which is cultivated
quite extensively for the European mar
ket. 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 culti-
waited article now grown and cured in
great perfection in California. producing
the artistic effect referred to that is as
surprising as it is beautiful.
Feeling greatly interested in an in
dustry so little known, visited one of
the largest plantations in Los Angeles
county, Ranchito de Fuerte, fortunately
during the harvest season, thus witness
ing the entire process.
"The plants or clusters, bush-like in
form, are from ten to twelve feet high,
about the same in diameter and stand
care is given the plants (they are
evergreen9 until the irrigation season,
which lasts from early in May until the
middle of Auguet. Water is used every
fourteen days. The harvest begins
about August 26th,, and continues seven.
teen days. Before the husks open, the
long spikes are cut by laborers, their
faces protected by masks and their
handn- by gloves with gauntlets,
as the edge of the grass is sharp
as 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 practiced for
q few years can Bhuck from three to four
thousand day. AS this work is paid
for by the Thousand, long days are
made.
"Nezt come boys who lay the fresh
silky plumes-soft green In eolor-upon
the smooth earth, prepared by rolling to
About three hours are re-
quired at this stage to mako them white
and fluffy. They are gathered up and
carried by armfuls into the curing
houses, here expegt manipulation
develops tone and silk-hoes
finish that gives them their chief
beauty In the process they are handled
sixteen times. No laboy-saving ma
chimes can be used. A certain nicety in
handling, q quick eye and ready hand,
makes it an industry where women ands
girls can be-. empleyedr About sixty
hands were required in the harvest of
which Iwrite. Plumes LETT upon tha
plants to,open natuSally 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 o
beautiful plume, bat very brittle. The
best grades measure 80 to 36 inches in
lengsh. and are shipped to Europe.
Germany, Russia and Italy are the
largest consumers. England is latest
to appreciate theip beauty, and no doubt
the eastern cities will, ere long, follow
in their uee.
The plumes that sometimes are saen
for sale on the streets here are used by
florists to ''fill in'' with, but the finest
60 to Europe, where there is an appre-
ciat;ve market.
''The regulation three plumes' in a
single vase were no doubt suggested by
the prince of Wales's coat-of arms, as
there are large quantities sent to. Lon
don, where they are quite the fad.
About half million plumes were sent
to- England for the recent holiday
season. The question, What can, Europe
do with a million and half plumes
yVth oAtOA yVpo SoA OAAAy 10 s>AAc " CASu
by the appreciation of thing of beauty
that is a Joy for ever.'
New uses for these plumes, or new
methods Of using, are developed every.
season. The ARTISTIC sense finds express
ion in endless designs that grace receipt
tions, balls, church weddings and priv
ate houses on every festive occasion.
As fabric for decorative purposes, none,
other produce their fairy-like. !.
appearance. 1t is essentially g.
wall decoration. FREEZES, dadoes, etc.,.
are made of wire, in art designs, and
covered by the pampas stripped from
the stem; while fringes for bordering
mantels and book-shelves, mats and
rugs, and also tapestry hangings for the
the walls, can all be produced by skilled
hands. They are used in connection
with draper:es and soft India silk. scarfs
in cOlors to suit the apartments TO be
decorated and the taste of the hostess.
They are also dyed, as silk or cotton can
be colored; a favorite use is to adorn
each room in different color.
"For ceilings, festoons are made as
we see greene fastened 10 wires or
ropes, or the Childean or other square
effect can be outlined by soft feathery
beading. A house 80 decorated becomes
a fairy palace, unique and artistic.
I'm California, the home Of floral
decorations, these plumes are used in
combination with bamboo, rods are em-