PROPAGATION. 17 



the growing season. In ./apan this period extends from April until 

 July, inclusive. If, however, the plants are desired for planting in 

 a foreign country, America, for example, they should be dug early in 

 April, set out in nursery rows, and allowed to grow until the middle 

 of July. Those which in July show a new growth from the rhizome 

 should then be transplanted again into the same kind of soil, and in 

 October fchey will be in condition for digging and shipment. Mr. 

 Tsuboi, of Kusafuka, cuts back the culms on his young plants to one or 

 two nodes when he first digs them in April, at which time they form 

 a rosette of leaves near the ground (PI. VI, tig. 1). When treated in 

 this way they produce small plants which would be very economical 

 for shipping, as they require little box space. 



Much depends upon the selection of the young plants whether or 

 not a vigorous clump results from its planting in a few years. The 

 mother plant should be inspected to see if it is in good health. If the 

 branches are affected by what is known as "witches' broom," which 

 makes gnarled, irregular tangles of the small branches, young plants 

 should not be taken from them. A species of smut (Ustilago) some- 

 times affects the young branches and produces an appearance similar 

 to that of the witches' broom, but this is less abundant than the former 

 disease. The larva of a species of beetle, whose habits are not yet fully 

 known so far as could be ascertained, sometimes causes considerable 

 damage by boring into the young shoots and penetrating through seg- 

 ment after segment of the young growth, stunting the culm and com- 

 pletely ruining it for timber purposes (PI. VII, tigs. 3 and -1). A young 

 plant in bloom is considered worthless for transplanting, as it seldom 

 gives rise to new shoots. 



The proper way is to select a young plant with branches near the 

 ground and cut down with a spade or other cutting tool on all sides of 

 the base at a distance of not less than 8 inches, severing the rhizomes 

 which connect the plant with-the mother clump. Dig out a good-sized 

 ball of earth with the roots inclosed in it, shake off the superfluous 

 earth, cut back the stem to two branch-bearing nodes, and transfer to 

 a nursery row (PI. VI, lig. 2)./' If no rhizome is dug up with the plant, 

 or if the rhizome, is dead, the plant may live on for several years, a 

 rosette of leaves forming at the top of the stem, without the formation 

 of any new shoots (PI. VI, tig. 2). Mr. Tsuboi is of the opinion that 

 plants with dead rhizomes will live for seven or eight years and appear 

 perfectly healthy. The plant is kept alive by the fibrous roots, but 

 has no power to form a new rhizome. In the purchasing of plants 

 from nursery companies the principal point to ascertain is whether 

 the rhizome is alive and in vigorous condition. The part above ground 

 may be to all appearances in good health, while the rhizome is dead, 

 making the plant worthless. 



If these properly dug plants which have been set in nursery rows 

 2 T038— No. 43—03 2 



