400 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1957 



natural surface of most bamboos is clean, hard, and smooth, with an 

 attractive color when the culms are properly matured and seasoned. 

 Bamboos have little waste and no bark to remove. 



The construction of bamboo walls is subject to infinite variation, de- 

 pending on the strength required for resistance to natural forces, such 

 as earthquakes and hurricanes, and protection from rain and ordinary 

 winds. Either whole culms or longitudinal halves may be used. 

 They are arranged either horizontally or vertically. In the vertical 

 position they function more effectively and are more durable because 

 they dry more quickly after a rain. 



For practical reasons window and outside door openings are kept to 

 a minimum, though they must be sufficient to supply the needed light 

 and ventilation. They may be framed with wood or bamboo. The 

 doors themselves may be wood, or they may be woven bamboo matting 

 stretched on a bamboo frame. A panel of bamboo boards is some- 

 times set in a hardwood frame. A sturdy gatelike barrier may be 

 constructed of whole bamboo culms. Bamboo window bars often take 

 the place of iron or steel ones, and bamboo window shades are 

 common. 



Serviceable and attractive floors may be made entirely of bamboo. 

 The principal features are the supporting beams, which are part of 

 the basic frame of the house, and a floor covering. The floor covering 

 may be of small whole culms, strips, or bamboo boards made by open- 

 ing and flattening out whole culms. In this last case the floor is gen- 

 erally fastened down by thin strips of bamboo laid transversely and 

 secured to the supporting members by thongs, wire lashings, or small 

 nails, according to local preference and the materials available. 

 Bamboos are utilized to excellent advantage in roof construction be- 

 cause of their high strength- weight ratio. 



It is common practice in the Orient to complete scaffolding to its 

 full ultimate height before a building is started. In the more tropical 

 regions this is topped off by a thatched roof as a protection against 

 sun and rain during building operations. 



Bamboo scaffolding is very often erected against apartments and 

 private dwellings to support bamboo matting for shedding sun and 

 rain during summer. Bamboo screens give privacy in crowded 

 communities. 



BAMBOO SHELTERS AND OTHER MORE OR LESS TEMPORARY 

 STRUCTURES 



One of the simplest examples of a temporary bamboo structure is 

 the roadside shelter erected by the impecunious dispenser of cheap 

 refreshments who expects to carry on his business at a particular spot 

 only during the course of a local fair or the run of an itinerant the- 



