GIGANTEUS, THE " GIANT BAMBOO. 129 



substitutes for tiles, tarred in this latter case. Of course, they 

 could be employed for a variety of structural pusposes, and 

 at Peradeniya they are largely used as flower pots. It may 

 be interesting to state that sections of the stems, well 

 seasoned, and the outside siliceous covering well cleaned and 

 polished, are favourite substitutes for canvas with lady artists. 

 We prize very much a section on which a lady visitor to 

 Abbotsford painoed two of the most prominent of our flowers 

 — strong contrasts in form and colour — the snow-white " lily 

 of the Nile " arum and the orange and scarlet " hot poker." 

 A large stem was cut down during our recent visit to meet 

 requisitions from lady amateurs. The clump which has 

 blossomed is one of two which flank a pretty bridge, and up 

 through the centre of one a blue gum tree grows and 

 flourishes. Specimens growing in a ravine and around a 

 lakelet are magnificent in growth and size of stems, while 

 tlie curving downwards of the feathery foliage at the tall 

 summit branches of the groups has an exquisitely beautiful 

 effect. In Java, where the prevalence of earthquakes renders 

 bamboo houses a necessity, the life of such a building is 

 calculated at twelve years.' This is surely an encouragement 

 to use Giant or other bamboos for estate lines, cattle sheds, 

 and outhouses. Indeed, we see nothing impossible in a factor}- 

 and drying house of Giant bamboo. 



7(6)08 (17) 



