CHAPTER XI 

 BAMBOOS 



THE giant grasses, that are more familiar to us 

 in fish poles than in any other of the uses they 

 serve, grow from sea level to an altitude of 15,000 

 feet. If we think of the clump of bamboo that 

 makes an attractive feature in a neighbor's garden, 

 it is a surprise to learn that some tropical species 

 reach a height of over one hundred feet, and a 

 diameter of a foot at base. Even these jointed 

 canes that almost touch the sky are slim and 

 graceful. In all, there are over two hundred 

 different species of bamboo, growing chiefly in 

 tropical countries, all around the globe. The 

 Temperate Zone has a few species that are small 

 and unimportant in comparison. 



In Chinese restaurants a savory stew contains 

 the tender shoots of bamboo. These blanched 

 tips of oriental species are also served like as- 

 paragus, or boiled with rice, or pickled, or 

 candied. The seeds of some species are like 

 wheat, and these are mixed with honey, or 



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