RECREATIVK NAT I 'HAL II : 



159 



all tell their tale of wine and thoughtful provision. A glance at 



ni.i-ili will 'h.i.v Hi the fur-dad Esquimaux, Hpear in 



waging war againxt the fat and oil-bearing unimuU with 

 wiiii'L rogion* abound, in ordur to obtain aubatanoe* 



rich in carbon to furnixh him food or fuel, with which to aid in 

 maintaining animal boat ; whilst tho ruindei<r, whole fur servo* 

 aa a warm covering for -, and aota a* a powerful mm- 



.II I'.n'tor of heat, draws iU sustenance from the atunted li.-li.'in 

 and hardy plants which maintain tln-ir vitality even beneath a 

 deep deposit of frozen snow. Turn we to the tropics, and we 

 liml tho vegetable kingdom fulfilling tho office performed by the 



:ui>i fur-yielding creatures of tho far north; whilst in tho 

 temperate regions, a* on tho prairieit and forests of America, we 

 find vast herds of bison, deer, and other animals, whilst the 

 marshes produce wild rice and tho rivor-bankH tho Indian turnip 

 .it.*! other roots. In Africa, too, with its varied climate, wo find 

 mi fimally varied fauna and flora. The Hindoo, dwelling in 

 a html of hoat and intense sunshine, needs but little raiment, 

 and we find that a diet mainly consisting of rioe and other grain 

 possesses all the nutritive properties he stands in need uf, and 

 that what tho pine-tree, the oak, and the elm are to the inhabi- 



t tin- northern and western nations, the bamboo is to him, 

 'minimi lightness, toughness, and elasticity, it can 



ned to an almost endless number of useful and important 

 purposes. Its growth is incredibly rapid, four inches being no 

 uncommon increase to the length of a cane-shoot in a single 

 day; and, in situations well adapted for its cultivation, it has 

 been frequently known to attain a height of twenty feet and a 

 circumference of ten inches in less than two months. A notion 

 prevails amongst the cane-growers that the maximum altitude 

 of every bamboo is attained during tho first year of its growth. 

 Our experience in the matter, however, leads us to a different 

 conclusion, as, on examining the huge masses or topes of bam- 

 boos found growing in Bengal and other parts of India, we 

 have found a great diversity of length to prevail amongst canes 

 of the same season's growth, light, air, and moisture having much 

 to do with the matter ; and although a rich soft spongy soil 

 is that in which the bamboo grows most luxuriantly, continued 

 or excessive moisture proves fatal to it, and it is on this account 

 that the regular cano cultivator is so careful in tho construction 

 of his deep drains and water channels, which are so arranged 

 that the roots of the canes are never for any length of time 

 exposed to the direct action of water. The end of the autumn is 

 chosen for forming plantations of young cane plants. These are 

 made by selecting young sprouts and planting them at equal 

 distances in pits of about two feet deep, and as the young cane 

 top shoots up it is cut off close to tho ground in order that it 

 may take firm root below the surface. We were for a long time 

 much puzzled as to the origin of the gigantic and mast-like 

 bamboos made use of as flag-posts by the keepers of the heathen 

 temples, and at last, failing to find them either in tho forest or 

 in cultivation, began to think that they must be a distinct and rare 

 variety. After much investigation, we however discovered that 

 the following plan was had recourse to for their production. A 

 careful search is instituted by a number of natives, who examine 

 the cane-roots throughout a whole plantation with a view to the 

 discovery of the most vigorous and healthy root or stool. After 

 discovery and due deliberation, the selected subject for treatment 

 is carefully dug up, and, with its surrounding mould, replanted in 

 the best locality to be found in the neighbourhood. Here it is 

 suffered to take root, and all sprouts but one are carefully cut 

 away ; the single shoot, on reaching a fair altitude and circum- 

 ference, is now cut down to within about seven or eight inches of 

 the ground, when the hollow, tube-like stump is left protruding. 

 A mixture of sulphur and stable manure is now prepared, and 

 the upright tube formed by the cut-off shoot rammed full of it, 

 much as one would load a rocket-case with composition. After 

 the performance of this curious operation a careful watch is 

 kept on the plant, and for a period of three years each young 

 ihoot, as it appears above the earth, is cut away with the knife. 

 On the sprouts of the fourth season appearing, a careful selection 

 is made, and the most promising only allowed to remain uncut. 

 This, from some power exerted by the pent-up energies of the 

 root, shoots up with marvellous vigour and rapidity, and in due 

 time becomes one of the giants which had perplexed us so much. 

 The canes intended for special purposes are trained in either 

 curved or straight forms by fastening them with strips or lash- 

 ings to frames or formers. Water-pipes, buckets, cups, boxae, 



barrel*, measure*, quiver* for arrow*, etc. ate., are made from 

 the large hollow joint*, a* *hown in the illustration at Fig*. 

 1 4 ; the natural internode* or knot* forming bottom* to nab 

 Teasel* a* may need them. A very mural and exoellei 

 of plank i* made by catting a *lit in tho *ido of a large bamboo 

 joint, forcing it open, and then placing tho curred board tun* 

 formed under heavy praMore until it U quite dry and flat, when 

 it oan be worked with the plane and *aw in the tunal way. Largo 

 and powerful water-wheel* are made entirely from bamboo, a* 

 are atrong and convenient bridge* spanning river* and deep 

 ravines. Very comfortable hou*e* are built entirely from bamboo, 

 whilst the garden fence*, gate*, trainer* for the tree*, and 

 irrigation pipes are all formed from the *ame material, and are 

 adjusted by fitting one cane into the end of another, a* ahown at 

 Fig. 5. 



The growing cane not unfrequently contain* a very welcome 

 aupply of delicioualy cool, clear, and wholesome water, which 

 can be detected by placing the ear againit the aide of the 

 cane, and then sharply shaking it, when the presence of the 

 liquid will be disclosed by the rippling sound it give* forth a* it 

 leaps up in its natural bottle. To obtain the cane-fluid, a mall 

 hole should bo cut nearly through the wall of the tnbe, and then 

 a short length of a smaller cane, to act aa a aort of tap or con- 

 duit, should be forced through the lining membrane, a* at Fig. 6. 

 This liquid is much esteemed by the native* on account of it* 

 supposed medicinal virtue*. 



Most of our readers will have observed that reed growth* of 

 nearly all kinds have stalks or shaft*, covered with a dense, 

 brittle, varnish-like coat or crust. This i* composed of 

 nearly pure silica or flint, which, in the case of the bamboo, 

 is held in solution by the fluid before described, which, if 

 allowed to remain undisturbed in the cane-joint, become* alto- 

 gether absorbed and taken up by the pores of the wood, or con- 

 verted into a dense, concrete mass, earth-like in character, and 

 mineral in its capability of remaining unacted on by common 

 acids. It is not destroyed by tho action of intense heat, and, like 

 true flint from the chalk deposits, forms a hard and perfectly 

 transparent glass on being fused with alkaline substance*. Tho 

 cane flint as taken from the plant is the far-famed Tobofchter 

 of the Oriental doctors, who believe it to possess a hoat of cura- 

 tive and medicinal properties. Very beautiful specimen* of tho 

 flint-sheaths, or coverings of wheat straws, may be very easily 

 prepared by placing small bundles of common wheaten reed in 

 the retort of a common gas generator. As the coal therein 

 contained gives off its gaseous elements, so the straw parts with 

 its woody constituents, leaving the pure flint behind in the reed 

 form, glass-like and brittle. Our young readers will do well to 

 make interest with some obliging gas-man, and prepare some 

 reed flint for themselves. 



The seeds or grain of the bamboo, like those of most other 

 grasses, contain a groat deal of nutritive and food-yielding 

 matter. The Chinese use bamboo-seed extensively as a sub- 

 stitute for corn, and in seasons of scarcity the inhabitant* of 

 very largo districts are mainly supported by the meal and flour 

 made from it. The young and tender shoots of the bamboo, 

 when blanched by the action of little hills of fine earth, which 

 are piled daily round them, are equal if not superior to the finest 

 asparagus. Preserved in syrup, an excellent preserve is made 

 from them, and with vinegar, spices, and salt, a good and whole- 

 some pickle. A very delicious sweetmeat is by the Indian - 

 manufactured from bamboo sprouts as follows : The young 

 shoots, after being cut into small pieces, are mixed with an equal 

 bulk of wild honey (gathered from the bee-trees), in a joint of a 

 large-sized bamboo, well stirred together, pressed firmly down, 

 luted securely with a stopper and coating of tough, tenacious 

 clay, which is first allowed to dry slowly, and is then thoroughly 

 roasted over a strong fire made from dry wood. When the clay 

 breaks into wide fissures, and exposes the well-browned cano 

 vessel, the cooking process is supposed to be ended. The dainty 

 thus prepared is either eaten at once from a freshly-gathered 

 plantain-leaf spread on the ground, or stored away in its cane- 

 joint bottle for future use. The leaves of the bamboo, when 

 treated with hot water and allowed to stand for some time, form 

 a decoction much used by native doctors in catarrhal disease; 

 various ointments and salves are made from the root. Freshly 

 gathered buds steeped in water make a cooling and febrifuge 

 drink, and the outside layer of wood, with its natural varnish on 

 it, is scraped up and boiled as a remedy for fevers. Very power- 



