120 THE BAMBOO GARDEN CHAP. 
the rootstock is so checked back, that one might almost 
believe the plant to be czspitous did one not know that 
it is not so,—in PHYLLOSTACHYS MITIS the rhizomatous 
character, though stunted, is well maintained in appearance 
as well as in fact. 
In China and Japan the young shoots of this Bamboo are 
eaten, some gastronomers professing to detect in them the 
flavour of asparagus. This, I confess, demands some faith. 
The consistency is crisp and pleasant, like that of celery, but 
the flavour depends upon the sauce—at least that is my 
experience. To its culinary merits, such as they are, the 
plant owes the synonym EDULIS, which is at any rate a less 
foolish name than Mirtis. The Japanese name is M6s6-CHIKU, 
the Noble Bamboo, from two Chinese words signifying a 
“superior clan” or “ kindred.” 
One word of caution in regard to PHYLLOSTACHYS MITIS 
I feel bound to add. It is certainly not so hardy as many 
of its congeners. I have made inquiries in many quarters 
as to its behaviour during last winter,’ and all the answers 
that I have received bear out my own experience. Most of 
the tallest culms were cut down to the ground, and although 
the roots and even some stems remained alive, yet the 
plants received a severe shock, and the growth of the 
summer of 1895 was distinctly less than that of preced- 
ing seasons. Plants that had been established for some 
years suffered apparently as much as younger specimens, 
and it will probably take two or three propitious seasons 
to restore them to their former beauty. We may hope 
that such a winter—a record of disasters to plant life— 
1 The winter of 1895, when the thermometer in many places fell below zero. 
