13 



difficulty might perhaps in a measure be overcome, 

 were it not that when seed is kept in store it is 

 rapidly destroyed by insects. Moreover, even if a 

 sufficient supply of seed is available at the required 

 time, it is almost impossible to be sure that different 

 varieties have not been mixed ; for the natives, on 

 whom we must entirely depend for the collections of 

 the seeds, are not sufficiently scrupulous and careful 

 to guarantee a preservation of species. For these 

 reasons it will not always be convenient or profitable 

 to cultivate bamboo from seed, and I have therefore 

 proposed when practicable to propagate the plant 

 by division of its roots. 



12. Assuming then that we have to plant one acre 

 rttmat? exaSS. subdivided in the manner suggested by 

 Mr. Routledge, the actual area left available for 

 planting is 29,652 square feet. This stocked at 

 intervals of 6' x 6' gives about 831 plants. Now the 

 habit of the bamboo forbids an absolute annual 

 clearance, and the maximum number of succulent 

 shoots that each clump ought to be deprived of 

 should not, according to my experience, exceed five. 

 We have thus an annual yield of 4,155 green stems, 

 or about 22J tons (allowing that each stem weighs 

 121bs.) or a little over 5J tons of dried stems, 

 allowing 75 per cent, for dissipation of moisture. 

 This reduces Mr. Routledge' s estimate nearly 50 per 

 cent. ; and the cost of producing this quantity 

 would, at the current rate of labour in Burma, be 

 Rs. 26, or 2 7s. 8d. taking the rupee at Is. lOd. 



13. On the same page (8), Mr. Routledge 



