AUGUST 203 



moisture near at hand. It is curious how long it was 

 before we discovered the hardiness of many bamboos in 

 our climate. Mr. Freeinan-Mitford's book, published 

 only two years ago, came as an apocalypse to most 

 gardeners, containing directions for the cultivation of 

 upwards of one hundred species, nearly all as hardy as 

 their relative, the common couchgrass. Of one condi- 

 tion all the bamboos are alike impatient they cannot 

 endure wind. Woodlovers by nature, they must have 

 the shelter of trees around, yet a clear space overhead. 

 When these are provided they take care of themselves ; 

 but there is one precaution insisted on by Mr. Mitford 

 in receiving young plants from the nursery, don't plant 

 them out in the open at once. The roots are very 

 sensitive and brittle ; they are sure to have been bruised 

 and broken in removal. Plant your purchase in large 

 pots of good loam, and keep them for six months in a 

 cool greenhouse. At the end of that time the pots 

 will be found full of new roots ; the plants should be 

 planted out in May in the positions they are to occupy 

 permanently, and will grow ahead without a check ; 

 whereas, if they had been planted out on arriving from 

 the nursery, they would certainly have hung fire for a 

 year or so, and perhaps never have recovered at all. 

 The same consideration extended to many other exotics, 

 notably the hybrid water-lilies, would save an immense 

 amount of loss and disappointment. Thousands of 

 costly plants are cruelly sacrificed every year for want 

 of judicious treatment before they are committed to the 

 open ground. 



