1886.] EDITORIAL NOTES. 603 



It appears, however, that the floor-space allowed for the entire 

 Imperial Court amounts only to 42-iO sq^nare feet, with a wall- 

 space of 5910 square feet. For the Forest Department, 3500 

 square feet of this total space has been asked, but it has been 

 found impossible to grant more than 400 square feet. In these 

 circumstances, so complete and varied a collection of timbers as 

 might have been exhibited had space been more ample cannot be 

 made, but it is considered a fairly good collection may be accom- 

 modated in the allotted floor-area. As now arranged, it appears 

 the space named will be exclusively devoted to specimens of timber, 

 and that other forest products, such as gums, dyes, tans, fibres, etc., 

 will be grouped in other departments of the Imperial Court. 



It is proposed that a special trophy be devoted to " Bamboo and 

 its uses." The form will probably be that of a bridge thrown over 

 one of the transverse paths of the Imperial Court, and connecting 

 two of the sub-courts. The bridge would be constructed after the 

 manner of a rustic bridge, and designed so as to illustrate the 

 numerous forms of bamboo itself, and the multitude of objects made 

 of bamboo, such as fishing-baskets, knives, spoons, and musical 

 instruments. On the pillars of the bridge, convenient recesses 

 would be constructed to receive glass jars containing edible portions 

 of the Ijamboo, such as bamboo-grain and bamboo-shoots ; the latter 

 boiled as asparagus or preserved as Choiv-cJwiu, and Tcibasliir, or the 

 crystalline substance obtained from the interior of the bamboo culms. 

 Bamboo paper fibre and bamboo paper might also be exhibited in 

 the same connection. 



Fibres will be exhibited in two sections — first, fibres suitable for 

 the textile industries, that is, ropes and fabrics ; and, secondly, 

 fibres suitable for paper-making. Under each of these sections 

 may be presented new substances for the purposes named. 



Gums, resins, extracts, and gutta-percha and caoutchouc will be 

 largely represented, and considering their immense importance in 

 the arts, science, and commerce, cannot fail to attract much interest. 

 In this connection it is recommended that dried samples of the 

 plants from which both gums, etc., and fibres are obtained, should 

 be exhibited along with the raw or prepared products. This would 

 obviously greatly increase the value of the exhibits, especially as 

 regards their accurate identification. 



Under the heading " Extra Forest Products," it is proposed to 

 include all wild fruits, leaves, roots, or other matters eaten regularly, 

 or in time of famine only, by the poorer people ; also all fodder 

 grasses, bushes, or trees. Bees, hives, honey, wax, and ants wiU 

 also be brought under the category of extra forest products, all of 

 which we learn from the ]\Iemorandum are receiving much attention 



