Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-22
KING OF GRASSES.
CULTIvATING PAMPAs PLUA1Es
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
They are Hardy and Quito Easy to
Grow-Work on . Pampas
Plantation-An Impor-
tant Industry.

voVERY few of rs who have seen
" the plumes of waving pampsi
" sold in the streets know wher(
they are obtained. Incur owl
country they are grown most extensively
in Southern California where they form
an important source of industry, though
the pampas was originally native o.
the plains of South America.
Nis mainly used for decorative pur-
poses now, but it is thought that soms
day, IL it becomes cheaper, 1t will bt
used for making fiae grades OF paper, as
it has great durability.
There are a number of varieties OF the
pampas grass, but the orange and ths
lemon -eolored plumes are the two kindi
most valued. These, growing beneath
the trees of the orange and the lemon,
show a most beautiful effect OF color.
When tbs industry was being de.
veloped great caution was displayed and
an air of mystery surrounded it. An at.
tempt was made to keep the now enter
pris. in the hands OF few, who would
realizs enormous profits, but In tbs
o,urse of time the question was discussed
in the newspapers. and the moaopolists
had to give in co the many, who were
not slow in setting out extensive plan.
tatious.
The plant has thin bayouet.shape1
leaves, often not an inch in width, aud
in length from ten to twenty feet.
They grow upward and then curve over
until their sharp. pointed tip rests on the
ground or on the leaves below. Th.
plant in itself is very ornaGental, and
varieties of it are occasionally seen in ouI
gardens in the East.
When growers wish to set new plan.
tation they take the full grown plant
from the ground aud divide the roots
after cutting of the tops. TEen they
plant the roots in rows from ten to six.
teen feet apart. The plant is hardy and
quite easily grown. Sometimes they ard
made to occupy the whole plantation,
and sometimes set In between rows oil
walnut or orange trees. When they grow
too large either the trees or the panpas
grass has to be removed. 1t is generally
the grass, but sometimes tree will have
to go to make way for particularly fine
pampas plant.
The right time to plant them is in
January, and they grow so rapidly that
in seven months they will show a few
plumes. From May to August they need
much irrigation aud careful cultivation,
and in August the plants send out long
IL III ioI, ho nj, IN
It is time to 1t them IS sJ,a as a small
bit Of white begins to show on the tip.
They are counted as they arc cut, and
strewn on the ground in piles OF twenty.
The custers are paid by the thousand,
aud experts are sometimes able to cut
1000 day. Each hundred cut by the
laborers is registered for them on a card
by the overseer.
The men who work on the plantations
are mostly Mexicans, and thoagh these
sons Of the Southland have the name OF
possessing an indo!ent aud rather care.
less nature, they show most marvellous
skull aud care In their work. The visi-
tor is always charmed with their courtesy
aud pleasing manner.
II the plumes open on the plants they
have no numerical value whsssver, as
they would fall to pieces in the course
of short time. With each year in the
life OF the plant the plunes grow larger
and fuller, and at the end OF five years
the plants produce lew less in numbsr,
perhaps, but mucl larger ones than be.
fore. The length of plume is from
eighteen to thirty-three inches.
After being cut, the plunes are taken
70 the husaers, VINO sit leisurely under
tee trees in the shade and peel off the
outer covering of the plunes. This task
IS no. at all difficult. Tne huskers arc
also paid by the Thousand, aud q goo1
deal of rivalry exists amoay shem. S ,me
time ago q championship belt ani
medal was given to a man for huskin;
81 900. and there is no disputing tha.
his industry deserved \ champion belt.
il not something more substantial.
After the hus&ing tue plu nes ara
spread, aud this requires deft handling
and 4 great deal Of skill. Fog and even
light rains do not injure them, but theJ
are never left exposed to the sun aud
wind. After 80, 600 or 40, 600 are ready
to be taken in, many hands have to b,
employed to gather them that they may
not be spoiled by too much sua. Count.
less women and children, ~ we'll a,
great nII5-r ,e men, a.; .. ,. .T luto
service at these times. Tney pack tao
pluues ON bread shelves In the curing
houses, where sssey arc n,de to acquire
the silksn finish which ads 80 much to
the,r beauty.
When the plumes are taken on. OF tho
casing they look very dat indeed, owing
to the heavy pressure to which they hav5
been subjected, but moderate heat will
Eesuss them to fluff out again aad looi
ias beautiful as ever.
Tho pampas Is rightly called the king
OF grass. It finds a ready market in
Europe, where it is sold to manufactures
cf ornamsatal articles. Some of then
use at least half a millions p,umes pc,
year, which makes a fine proit for ths
California growers. They have planned,
II is said, wonderful display for the
Columbian Exposition, and it seems al
if their exhibit should be of great
besuty, for they do no. lack the materi.i
and means to make it so.
England has been the latest, with
Italy, to recognize and appreciate the
beauty Of the panpas. In Gsrm,oy
they find great favcr. Wlsn used in
England as wall decorations, they arc
usually arranged in groups of three,
winch in way represents the old b..
nem,an coats of arms adopted By tas
Prince Of Wales, with tho motto, Ich