OF SHRUBS, MOSTLY EVERGREEN 47 
But nigra—tall, exquisitely frail and graceful—is surely 
one of the loveliest things in the garden, growing into a 
gradually increasing central mass, whence all the fairy- 
like culms arch outwards, but never sending invading 
shoots to conquer the territory far and wide. Henonis 
is another gracious beauty, too, but my Henonis flowered 
and died. Sono more of him. Bambusa Maximowiczii 
is a compact, medium-sized plant at present, very plumy, 
but stiff, in which I am inclined to have a certain amount 
of confidence, though in charm he cannot hope to rival 
the grassy elfin grace of nigra. recta has been my 
latest surprise. It seemed a neat, mild grower, whose 
habit was a tuft, and whose height was about three or 
four feet of stiff culms. What, then, was my amazement 
when, last season, my Erectas, one and all, made 
new growths three inches round or more, that went 
sailing stiffly heavenward to eight or ten feet, with 
promise of corresponding increase again next season. As 
this seems a perfectly safe and hardy Bamboo, it will 
probably prove of very high value in the garden, more 
especially as it forms a clump and does not run. As for 
Metake, dear and gracious old friend, first of its race to 
prove to us how ridiculous it was of us to be timid and 
nervous about trying Bamboos in our climate—well, 
Metake itself is a little too vigorous, despite its wonder- 
ful beauty, to be admitted to the rock-garden. And 
senanensis is too much of a new-comer to be prophesied 
about yet, although already I think I can proclaim that 
he is hardy and very graceful. 
With regard to the culture of Bamboos, and recording 
again my warning that for the rock-garden only rusci- 
folia can be trusted on the rock-work, and only nigra 
and erecta in bigger places, with only nigra, erecta and 
Maximowiczii in the bog, I can go on to say that the 
sole requirement of the hardy Bamboos is a rich, cool, 
