76 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



They were in no way mistaken as to their hardiness, 

 but they failed to recognise the fact that while the 

 health of the bamboos is not impaired by exposure to 

 severe frosts, the foliage is much disfigured during 

 the winter months when the plants occupy positions 

 exposed to easterly winds. When the plants have 

 their leaves browned by exposure to cold winds, 

 they present an unattractive appearance until the new 

 growths are produced in the course of the summer. 

 This being so, shelter is an important factor in the 

 cultivation of bamboos, and when cultivators become 

 fully acquainted with this fact a great improvement will 

 be effected, with the result that they will contribute 

 more liberally to the attractions of the garden than has 

 yet been the case. To emphasize the importance of 

 shelter from easterly winds, it may be well to state that 

 except in the western counties they are quite unfitted 

 for planting in exposed positions. Nothing could indeed 

 be done more likely to bring them into disrepute than 

 to plant them in open wind-swept positions where 

 they will be immediately under the eye of visitors 

 to the gardens in which such positions are assigned 

 them. 



The proper course in the cultivation of bamboos is to 

 select a sheltered and somewhat secluded position, and 

 within it so arrange the species and varieties selected as 

 to form a distinct feature. There is no occasion to 

 attempt the formation of a bamboo garden, although 

 there is no objection to this being done if space will 

 permit, as a few of the more distinct forms judiciously 

 grouped on the lawn will produce a delightful effect. 

 They should be planted from four to six feet apart and 

 judicious grouping consists in so arranging the several 

 forms that those of low stature will not be overgrown 

 or hidden from view by those attaining a much greater 

 height. If the position is contiguous to a pond or 



