BAMBOOS 77 
lake it will be an advantage as bamboos require a 
liberal degree of moisture at the roots, and nowhere do 
they present a more attractive appearance than when on 
the margin of or near toa sheet of water. The chief 
advantages of assigning the bamboos a secluded position 
are, they create a more distinct effect than when asso- 
ciated with other things, and as they will not be con- 
stantly under the eye a little browning of the foliage 
by frost or wind will not be a matter of so much 
consequence. 
Bamboos luxuriate in a rich moist soil that contains 
a liberal proportion of decayed vegetable matter, and 
there is no great difficulty in complying with their 
requirements, except it may be in the matter of moisture. 
Unless they are planted in a position where the whole 
of the soil is manured and trenched, or deeply dug, the 
stations should be from thirty to thirty-six inches in 
diameter, and be broken up to a depth of at least two 
feet. About one-third of the soil should be taken away 
and replaced with well-rotted stable manure and leaf- 
mould in about equal quantities. Well-decayed vegetable 
refuse may be utilised where there is a difficulty in 
obtaining manure or leaf-mould or both. May is the 
best month in which to plant bamboos as they are then 
commencing to make new growth and quickly become 
established in their new quarters. The more robust 
kinds spread with great rapidity after they have been 
planted two or three years, and repressive measures 
have to be adopted from time to time to prevent their 
spreading beyond the space allotted them, and crowding- 
out their less vigorous neighbours. The most effectual 
way of keeping them within bounds is to cut off, as 
they push through the ground, all suckers that make 
their appearance beyond a certain distance from the 
plant. Where the soil is naturally dry three or four 
thorough waterings at intervals of ten days or a fort- 
