CH. VII 



REGENERATION BY COPPICE 199 



maturer culms have to be left in every clump to keep 

 up its vitality. In blocks which are not subjected to 

 the same intensity of working, the same rules apply, 

 but they are thrown open to working every other year. 

 The question as to how near to the ground the culms 

 should be cut has not yet been solved to the satisfaction 

 of all experts. If they are cut close to the ground, the 



Fig. 73. Oxytenanthera abyssinica bamboo, showing young culms in centre 



of the clump. 



working in after years, no doubt, becomes easier, and 

 the culms are not crowded at the outset. On the other 

 hand, it is maintained that as the cut culms die down, 

 from the place where they are cut downwards, at the 

 rate of one internode per annum, their rhizomes remain 

 alive until death has reached the lowest internode, and 

 that thus the general vitality of the clump is contributed 

 to by the stools of culms which have been cut down, 



