VI BAMBUSA QUADRANGULARIS 91 
about an inch from the fine point, and tapering to a short 
petiole. 
I have already alluded to the travelling power of the 
creeping rootstock. 
It was supposed at one time that the square shape of the 
culms was due to their having been subjected to some artificial 
process of cramping, like the feet of Chinese ladies; but the 
young stems, even in their present very imperfect development, 
have sufficient character to disprove this. 
It would be a great pity if this very interesting member 
of the Bamboo family, as ornamental as it is peculiar, should 
lack the vigour necessary to enable it to thrive with us. If 
any one should be tempted to import plants I should urge in 
their case, more even than in that of some of the other 
Bamboos, the importance of giving them the benefit of a 
winter indoors. In plant life much depends upon a good 
start; and I cannot help thinking that if I had taken this 
precaution, instead of planting my specimens out as soon as 
they were received in the month of November, they would 
have told a very different tale. 
