The Penn's Grove record., 1894-08-17
KING O%FGRASSES.
PAMpAs PLuMEs
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
They are Hardy and Quite Easy to
Grow-Work on a Pampas
Plantation-An Impor-
tant Industry.

" the plumes of waving pampai
v sold in the streets know wher,
they are obtained. In our owl
country they are grown most extensively
in southern California where they form
an important source Of industry, though
the pampss was originally q native o
the plains Of South America.
It is mainly used for decorative pur.
poses now, but it is thought that som
DAY, il it becomes cheaper, 1t will b.
used for making fine grades Of paper, as
i. has great durability.
There are o number of varieties of the
pampas grass, but the orange and tn,
lemon. colored plumes are the two kind
most valued. These, growing beneath
the trees of the orange aud the lemon
show a most beautiful effect of color.
When the industry was being de.
veloped great caution was displayed and
an air of mystery surrounded it. An at,
tempt was made to keep the new enter
prise in the hands of a few, who would
realize enormous profits, but in the
course of time the question was discussed
in the newspapers, and the monopolists
had to give in TO the many, who were
not slow in setting out extensive plan
tat!ons.
The plant has thin bayonet. shaped
leaves, often not an inch in width, and
in length from ten to twenty feet.
They grow upward and then curve ovel
until their shsrp.pointed tip rests on the
ground or on the leaves below. Tn,
plant IN itself is very ornamental, and
varieties Of it are occasionally seen in oui
gardens In the East.
When growers wish to set a new plan
tation they take the full grown plant!
from the ground and divide the root.
after cutting oil the tops. Then theJ
plant the roots in rows from ten to six
teen feet apart. The plant is hardy and
quite easily grown. Sometimes they are
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 pampas
grass has to. be removed. 1t is generally
the grass, but sometimes q tree will have
to 60 to make way for a particularly fna
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
spikes, which are the plumss in embryo.
It is time to clt them IS sJJi as a small
bit Of white bc3ius to show on the tip.
They are counted as they arc cut, and
strewn on the ground In piles Of twenty.
The cutters are paid by the thousand,
and experts are sometimes able to cut
1000 a day. Each hundred cut by the
laborcrs is registered for them on a card
by the overseer.
The men who work IN the plantations
are mostly Mexicans, aud though these
sons Of the Southland have the name OF
possessing an indoleat aud rather care.
less nature, they show most marvellous
skill and care in their work. The visi-
tor Is always charmed with their courtesy
and pleasing manner.
If the plnmes open on the plants they
have no commercial value whatever, a
they would fall to pieces in the course
of q short time. With each year in the
life Of the plant the plumes grow larger
aud fuller, and at the end OF i've years
the plants produce u few less In number
perhaps, but much larger ones than be
fore. The length of a plumb Is IRON
eighteen to thirty-three inches.
After being out, the plumes are taken
to the huskers, who sit leisurely under
the trees in the shade and peel OIL tn
outer covering of the plumes. This tasl
is not at all difficult. The huskers arr
also paid by the thousand, and q goo
deal Of rivalry exists anoag them. SOME
time ago 4 championship belt and
medal was given to a man for huskin
SO, 900, and there is no disputing a
his industry deserved a cha nplon belt
II not something more substantial.
After the husking the plu'nes ar
spread, ard this requires delft handiin!
and q great deal Of skill. Fog and eve
light rains do not injure them, but the
are left exposed to the u an'
wind. After 80, 900 or 40, 600 are read.
to be taken In, many hands have to b.
employed to gather them that they ma
not be spoiled by too much sun. Count
| less women aud children, as well as
| great number If mea, ara bcolSat Tut
| service at these times. They pack tn
plumes on broad shelves In the curin:
houses, where they are made 70 acquit
the silken inish which adds SO much q
their beauty.
When the plumes are taken out OF tn
casing they look very fiat indeed, oTinS
to the heavy pressure to which they nav.
been rubjected, but moderate heat vi,
cause them to fluff out again ana 100
las beautiful as ever.
The pampas is rightly called the kim
of grass. Il finds q ready Market !
Europe, where 1t issold to tn~anutactorie
CT ornamental articles. Some OF thel
use at least half a millions plumes pe
year, which makes a fine profit for tn
california growers. They have plannet
it is said; q wonderful display for Il
Columbian Exposition, and 1t seems I
if their exhibit should DO OF gre'
beauty, for they do not lack the materia
and means to make it so. :,
England has been the latest, VII
Italy, to recognize and appreciate u
beauty OF the pampas. In German
they find great favor. When used l
England as wall decorations, the. az
usually arranged in groups of thre'
which in a way represents the o!d d:
nemian coats Of arms adopted BY th
Prince Of Wales, with tho motto, lc
Diem Il SerVe.l--American Farmer.