422 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908. 



Bamboos are propagated from divisions of the plants and cuttings of 

 tlie rhizomes, i.e., creeping root-like stems growing beneath the surface- 

 Cuttings of the canes, or small branchlet-Uke shoots will also produce 

 plants. Early spring is the best time to divide bamboos where the summer 

 conditions are very dry and hot ; the divisions root readily in fairly warm 

 soil and become in a measure established before the weather is severe. 

 Late spring in cooler districts will supply approximate conditions. The 

 plants should be fairly supplied with moisture during dry weather and will 

 benefit bv the application of a mulch where water is scarce. The treatment 

 necessary for the cultivation of the Aruudo donax is practically identical, 

 except that less care is necessary generally as the plants are hardy and will 

 grow in soils and situations unsuitable for the more delicate bamboos. 

 The whole of the class are suitable for i^lanting l^eside water-courses, &c., 

 if the aspect is at all sheltered from hot winds. 



A number of kinds is procurable from the various nurseries in the 

 State. The original name, Bambusa, has been retained by nurserymen, in 

 most cases, although the latest classification refers most of ^e kinds to 

 different genera. A few of the best of the kinds available are : — Nigra 

 (black-stemmed bamboo) grown to a height of 10 or 15 feet; Metake, also 

 known as Japonica, a vigorous kind of moderate growth ; Gracilis {Arun- 

 dinaria falcata) a beautiful drooping kind that grows to a height of about 

 TO feet ; Simonii, a tall erect grower ; and Fortunei, variegated, a dwarf 

 and neat form. 



Flower Garden. 



Manuring and digging beds and borders, preparing ground for the 

 reception of subjects that require special treatment, planting, and pruning, 

 are seasonable operations. Horse manure in a half-rotted condition is 

 probablv the best general manure for plants usiially grown for production 

 of flowers or foliage effect, always excepting such plants as heaths, 

 boronias, and others, to which manure in any form is destructive. The 

 manure should be evenly spread and well mixed through the staple, 

 at .some little distance from the stems of the plants, thus avoiding in a 

 great measure the cutting of the important roots of the plants. 



Planting of roses should be done without delay. The soil should Ije well 

 and deeplv worked and manured, but no manure should be allowed to 

 come into contact with the roots. Bruised and damaged roots should 

 be cut back to a sound portion and the remaining roots so disposed and 

 regulated that they will be likely to push their resultant extensions into 

 the soil in all directions. Such root extension progresses rapidly when 

 the soil is warmed in spring and supplies abundant plant food material 

 for the development of the plant if the soil is sweet and in good con- 

 dition ; but it may be safely asserted that the presence of manure in 

 quantity at the roots when planted has an opposite effect, and that such a 

 condition is responsible for the failure of more roses and other plants 

 than an absolute absence of manure of any kind could possibly produce. 



Pruning deciduous plants of many kinds is an operation often 

 neglected, with the result that the specimens become so crowded with 

 small and ill-placed shoots that the flowering is poor and unsatisfactory. 

 Weigelias, lilacs, spireas, and many other deciduous shrubs will benefit 

 bv being thinned during winter. The flowers may be slightly less in 

 quantity but of much finer quality and the growth of the 

 plants generally more satisfactory. Thinning and spacing the 



shoots of roses and other plants is undoul)tedly one of the 

 most important features in their cuUivation. If the plants become 



