78 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



night during May and June will be highly beneficial in 

 promoting a vigorous growth. 



The following comprise some of the most dis- 

 tinct and beautiful of the plants popularly known as 

 bamboos. 



ARUNDINARIAS. A comparatively large group, com- 

 prising species ranging from two to fifteen feet high, 

 and including some of the most beautiful of the bamboos. 

 Arundinaria auricoma, a handsome species rising to a 

 height of seven or more feet with short bright green 

 leaves marked with yellow. A. Fortunei variegata, a dense 

 growing form, ranging from two to three feet high, 

 and having long leaves marked with longitudinal white 

 stripes. A. Hindsi, an elegant species, attaining a height 

 of seven feet, with long glaucous green leaves. A. 

 Hindsi gramlnea is a charming variety of the last-named ; 

 it is not quite so tall as the type, the growths are 

 smaller and more elegant, and the leaves are of a 

 brighter green. A. japonlca (syn. A. Metake), a strong- 

 growing species, attaining a height of fourteen or fifteen 

 feet, and having leaves twelve inches or so in length. 

 This is one of the best-known species, and well deserves 

 the popularity it enjoys. It forms handsome specimens, 

 and will grow in drier soils than the majority of the 

 bamboos. A. nitida, a remarkably elegant species, rising 

 to a height of eight or ten feet, with light feathery 

 growths ; it is quite hardy, and can be strongly recom- 

 mended. A. pumila is a charming little species, less 

 than eighteen inches in height, well suited for the 

 margin of a group or a sheltered position in the rock 

 garden. A. Simoni is one of the tallest and most robust 

 of the Arundinarias, and very quickly forms a remark- 

 ably handsome specimen. 



BAMBUSAS. The bambusas are with few exceptions 

 too tender in constitution to bear the cold of English 

 winters, and the tender kinds should be planted very 



