SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, ll»0;j. 248 



9041. PllVLLOSTACHYS CASTILI-ONIS. Bauiboo. 



Kruiii Yokoluuiia, Japan. Recoivt'd through Messrs. Ivatliropaml Kairchild ( No. 

 iKSM, July 28, 1902), November, 1902. 



Kimmei-chiku. "Plants of the 'golden' or 'striped' bamboo of Jajnxn. This spe- 

 cies has the most decorative culms of any of the Japanese l)amboos, being of a golden 

 yellow color striped with green. When young these stems are brilliant in their fresh- 

 ness an<l a clump of them is a most beautiful sight. This bandxio is said to have been 

 introduced into Japan from Korea. It is by no means a common sort, even in Ja])an. 

 Owing to the fact that the green stripes fade after the culms are cut, ita decorative 

 value is confined to the living stems, especially tho.se one year old. The plant grows 

 to a height of 15 to 16 feet, even occasionally to 39 feet, and the culms attain 10 inches 

 in cin-umference. If planted in a sheltered place on rich .»<oil which is kei>t well 

 mulched it will produce in a few years a handsome clumj) of the golden stems. The 

 leaves are slightly variegated. It is exceedingly variable in the variegations, both of 

 leaf and stem, the green stripes sometimes being scarcely visible. Sprouts appear in 

 June in Japan and are .said to be edible, though I have never heard of this variety 

 being grown for food. It is essentially an ornamental plant." {Fairchihl.) 



9042. Phyllostaciiys nigra. Bamboo. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrojiand Fairchild (No. 



984, July 28, 1902), November, 1902. 



Kuro-chiku, Kurodake, or (loniadake. "Plants of the Japanese black bamboo. 

 This species is characterized by its dark brown to purple-black culms, whii'h make 

 it one of the handsomest species in Jaj)an. It does not grow much over 20 feet in 

 height, even under the best conditions of soil and climate. The shoots do not turn 

 black until the second year, the first season being green with dark, freckle-like spots. 

 The black bamboo formed at one time a considerable source of revenue to Japan, 

 being largely exported to Euroi)e and America, but of recent years the demand for 

 it has fallen off. The growers say it is because the exporters have shipped immature 

 culms. Itisstill extensively useil for walking sticks, und)rella handles, etc. It grows 

 largest on rich alluvial .^^oil, needs plenty of phosijhoric acid and potash, and the ground 

 should be heavily mulched so that it will not dry out." {Fairchild.) 



9043. Phyllostachys henonis, var. mauakadake. Bamboo. 



From Yokohama, Jajjan. Received through Messrs. Lathropand Fairchild (N(j. 



985, July 28, 1902), November, 1902. 



Madaradake or Ummon-chiku. "Plants of the mottled l)amboo from Ilakone, 

 province of Omi, arranged for through the assistance of Professor Hirase, a well-known 

 Japanese botanist. This variety is characterized by having distinct blotches (possi- 

 bly of fungus origin) on its culms. These blotches are of a dark-l^rown color, some- 

 times with concentric rings of a darker hue. The mottled culms are especially ])rizeil 

 for fancy furniture making, as the mottling is permanent. The jjlant resembles 

 Flitjlloddcliiis lieiioitis in growth, and under favorable conditions attains a height of 

 over 15 feet. The blotches on this bamboo do not make their appearance until the 

 third or fourth year, and are more pronounced in the shady parts of the grove. If 

 exposed to Itright .sunshine it is .said the blotches fail to appear. Tliis variety should 

 ])e given e.special attention, not i)lanted in very small clumps, and grown on rich, 

 well-drained soil in locations well sheltered from the wind. It is probably not so 

 hardy as some other sorts and until well estal)lished should be protected/with a 

 heavy mulch of straw in the winter. The soil should not l)e allowed to dry out, but 

 should ])e kept moist by an inch of good mulch during the summer as well." 

 {Fairchild.) 



9044. Phyllostachys bambusoides. Bamboo. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 980, July 29, 1902), November, 1902. 



Yadake. " The arrow bamboo, from whose culms the Japanese archers of feudal 

 times had their shafts prepared. The culms are especially suited to this purjjose, 

 for they are straight, extremely hard, and of about the proper diameter. The arrows 

 of present-day archers in Japan are also made of this bamboo. The sort was first 

 introduced into England in 1894, Mitford says, and is consequently a comi^aratively 

 new kind. In Japan it is not so common as many other types, being seen rarely in 



