BAMBOOS 77 



lake it will be an advantage as bamboos require a 

 liberal degree of moisture at the roots, and nowhere do 

 they present a more attractive appearance than when on 

 the margin of or near to a sheet of water. The chief 

 advantages of assigning the bamboos a secluded position 

 are, they create a more distinct effect than when asso- 

 ciated with other things, and as they will not be con- 

 stantly under the eye a little browning of the foliage 

 by frost or wind will not be a matter of so much 

 consequence. 



Bamboos luxuriate in a rich moist soil that contains 

 a liberal proportion of decayed vegetable matter, and 

 there is no great difficulty in complying with their 

 requirements, except it may be in the matter of moisture. 

 Unless they are planted in a position where the whole 

 of the soil is manured and trenched, or deeply dug, the 

 stations should be from thirty to thirty-six inches in 

 diameter, and be broken up to a depth of at least two 

 feet. About one-third of the soil should be taken away 

 and replaced with well-rotted stable manure and leaf- 

 mould in about equal quantities. Well-decayed vegetable 

 refuse may be utilised where there is a difficulty in 

 obtaining manure or leaf-mould or both. May is the 

 best month in which to plant bamboos as they are then 

 commencing to make new growth and quickly become 

 established in their new quarters. The more robust 

 kinds spread with great rapidity after they have been 

 planted two or three years, and repressive measures 

 have to be adopted from time to time to prevent their 

 spreading beyond the space allotted them, and crowding- 

 out their less vigorous neighbours. The most effectual 

 way of keeping them within bounds is to cut off, as 

 they push through the ground, all suckers that make 

 their appearance beyond a certain distance from the 

 plant. Where the soil is naturally dry three or four 

 thorough waterings at intervals of ten days or a fort- 



