148 THE BAMBOO GARDEN CHAP, VI 
specimens have been anything but coddled. I have often 
found the rhizomes in this species running horizontally on 
the surface of the ground. When this is detected it is advis- 
ible to cover them with a little loose soil, and to keep them 
down with a light flat stone. This encourages the verticillate 
roots to strike downwards. Failing this precaution, I have 
known the rhizome to be killed back to the point where it 
left the earth, and the development of the plant to be to that 
extent retarded. . 
