Mr. R. Scott on the Growth of Bambusa arundinacea. 121 



On the 19tli of August, 1846, I observed the crown of a cane 

 just showing itself above the surface of the ground. From its 

 appearance I was led to infer that ultimately it would attain to 

 a large size, and I resolved to watch its progress. The cane was 

 situated at the circumference of a group, and this circumstance 

 rendered the observation of its growth more convenient than it 

 would have been had the cane been situated in the centre. 



On referring to notes then made, I find that on September 1st 

 the cane had reached a height of 8 feet from the ground. On 

 the 6th September it had attained the height of 19 feet; and 

 on September 13th it w^as 25 feet high : during the latter 

 seventeen days of September the growth was uniformly 1 foot 

 per day. Thus in forty-two days the cane had reached 42 feet 

 from the ground, making an average growth of ^ inch per hour. 

 The subjoined table may serve to place this matter in a clearer 

 light. 



Having attained the height of 42 feet, the top of the cane was 

 in immediate contact with the roof of the house. This circum- 

 stance rendered an arrest of its progress necessary ; had it been 

 otherwise, in all probability the cane would have extended 8 or 



10 feet more. 



In December 1847, the subject of the preceding remarks, 

 along with the other canes forming the group previously alluded 

 to, was cut down. The following observations wxre then made : 

 Number of internodes, 32 ; circumference of the base of cane, 

 8 inches ; circumference of top, \~ inch. The greatest circumfe- 

 rence, 9 inches, occurred 8 ft. 3 in. from the base, and extended 

 over four internodes. The two longest internodes measured each 

 1 foot 6 inches. They occurred at 19 ft. 8 in. from the base, and 

 were each 8 inches in circumference. The shortest internode was 



11 inches, and was the lowermost on the cane. 



During the growth of the cane the temperature of the house 

 was, — maximum 87°, minimum 60°, Fahrenheit. (iVverage 73^°.) 



In Paxton^s 'Magazine of Gardening and Botany^ for 1849, 

 p. 62, there are a few remarks on the subject of this notice ; but 

 some mistakes have been made in the figures there given. 



The cane is now in the British Museum. 



I may add, that the Bambusa arundinacea very seldom com- 

 mences to form its canes here until August and sometimes Sep- 

 tember, while the Bambusa nigra invariably makes its growth in 

 May. The latter species has this year produced canes 16 ft. high. 



