Mr. R. Scott on the Growth of Bambusa arundinacea. 121 
On the 19th of August, 1846, I observed the crown of a cane 
just showing itself above the surface of the ground. From its 
appearance J was led to infer that ultimately it would attain to 
a large size, and I resolved to watch its progress. The cane was 
situated at the circumference of a group, and this circumstance 
rendered the observation of its growth more convenient than it 
would have been had the cane been situated in the centre. 
On referring to notes then made, I find that on September Ist 
the cane had reached a height of 8 feet from the ground. On 
the 6th September it had attained the height of 19 feet; and 
on September 13th it was 25 feet high: during the latter 
seventeen days of September the growth was uniformly 1 foot 
per day. Thus in forty-two days the cane had reached 42 feet 
from the ground, making an average growth of 3 inch per hour. 
The subjoined table may serve to place this matter in a clearer 
hight. 
1846. Average daily growth. 
Aug. 19. Cane just appearing above ground. 
Sept. 1. », 8 feet high. nearly 73 inches. 
fe ” 19 ” 1 foot 10 inches. 
43 lids 2D ge 1 foot. 
3 a0. rp ep 1 foot. 
Having attained the height of 4.2 feet, the top of the cane was 
in immediate contact with the roof of the house. This cireum- 
stance rendered an arrest of its progress necessary ; had it been 
otherwise, in all probability the cane would have extended 8 or 
10 feet more. 
In December 1847, the subject of the preceding remarks, 
along with the other canes forming the group previously alluded 
to, was cut down. The following observations were then made : 
Number of internodes, 32; circumference of the base of cane, 
8 inches ; circumference of top, 14 inch. The greatest circumfe- 
rence, 9 inches, occurred 8 ft. 3 in. from the base, and extended 
over four internodes. The two longest internodes measured each 
1 foot 6 inches. They occurred at 19 ft. 8 in. from the base, and 
were each 8 inches in circumference. The shortest internode was 
11 inches, and was the lowermost on the cane. 
During the growth of the cane the temperature of the house 
was,—maximum 87°, minimum 60°, Fahrenheit. (Average 732°.) 
In Paxton’s ‘ Magazine of Gar dening and Botany’ for 1849, 
p- 62, there are a few remarks on the subject of this notice ; but 
some mistakes have been made in the figures there given. 
The cane is now in the British Museum. 
I may add, that the Bambusa arundinacea very seldom com- 
mences to form its canes here until August and sometimes Sep- 
tember, while the Bambusa nigra invariably makes its growth in 
May. The latter species has this year produced canes 16 ft. high. 
