244 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOETED. 



cultivated ground. It is pronounced hardy in England by Mitford, and a valuable 

 acquisition. In habit it is cespitose, and its clumps are tall and closely set with the 

 culms. Its broad leaves give it a very decorative appearance, individual leaves being 

 as much as 11 inches long by If inches broad. It is sometimes used as a hedge 

 plant in Japan, and its wood finds uses in the manufacture of tea sieves, baskets, etc. 

 In general appearance it is quite unlike the ordinary bamboos, most of the leaves 

 being borne only on the upper portion of the culms. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) 



9045. Phyllostachys mitis. Bamboo. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 987, July 29, 1902), November, 1902. 



Moso-chiku oi Mouso-chiku. "Plants of the edible bamboo of Japan. This vari- 

 ety, which Japanese historians say was introduced into Japan from China a century 

 and a half ago, is not the species best suited for timber purposes, although the largest 

 in size of any of the hardy sorts in Japan. Its culms are sold, it is true, and used in 

 the manufacture of dippers, pots, vases, water troughs, etc., but the wood is 

 softer and more brittle than that of the Madake, No. 9046. As a vegetable it is cul- 

 tiVated in small forests near the principal cities, and is given great care. Its young, 

 tender shoots, like giant asparagus shoots, form one of the favorite spring vegetables 

 of all classes in Japan. European and American residents in Japan are, many of 

 them, fond of this vegetable, some even being passionately so. Its cultivation for 

 the purpose of shoot production, therefore, is alone worth}' the consideration of 

 truck growers in the extreme South. A market can probably be created for the 

 shoots as soon as a large enough supply can be insured to make the effort worth 

 while. On the other hand, the value of the culms for use in fence making, basket 

 making, and the production of a host of farm and garden conveniences, makes it 

 worth a place in the back yard of every farmer in those regions suited to its growth. 

 It is one of the hardy sorts, and so far as beauty is concerned it is, according to Mit- 

 ford, ' the noblest of all the bamboos generally cultivated in England. ' The severe 

 winter of 1895 in England cut the culms down to the ground, but during that season 

 the thermometer dropped below zero Fahrenheit. Even after this severe freeze the 

 roots remained alive. It is not to be expected that this form will attain so large 

 dimensions in the colder, drier climate of America, but the size of the culms of bam- 

 boos depends so much upon the richness of the soil and the methods of culture that, 

 with proper nourishment, there is no reason why large-sized culms, over 2 inches in 

 diameter, should not be produced in America. I have measured a shoot in Japan 

 which was 1 foot 7f inches in circumference, and there are records of culms nearly 

 3 feet in circumference. These large culms were over 40 feet in height, A forest of 

 these large bamboos forms one of the most beautiful sights in the world. In plant- 

 ing for its edible shoots about 120 plants are set out to the acre, but if for forest pur- 

 poses at least 200 plants should be used. The balls of earth and roots should be 

 more carefully set than those of deciduous trees, as the rhizomes, if injured, stop 

 growing, and' the spreading of the plant is checked. The fibrous roots are very 

 brittle after planting and a heavy mulch of straw and loose earth should be kept 

 on the field, so that the surface soil will not dry out, A sheltered situation is 

 essential to the growth of this species, and rich, alluvial soil is what it likes best. 

 Standing water beneath the soil kills it, and much gravel prevents its rapidly spread- 

 ing. A sufficient number should be planted in a clump to enable the young plants, 

 after a few years, to effectually shade the ground, otherwise, no tall, straight culms 

 will be produced. Judicious thinning out of the small shoots, while still young, 

 tends to make the plant produce larger culms." (Fairchild.) 



9046. Phyllostachys quilioi. Bamboo. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 988, July 29, 1902), November, 1902. 



Madake. "This is the great timber-producing bamboo of Japan. It is grown in 

 large plantations or forests near the large cities of Japan, and its culture is said tobe 

 among the most profitable of any plant culture in the country. There are extensive 

 wild forests south of Kobe, but" the finest culms come from the cultivated forests; 

 these culms are more regular in size and of better shape. The wood of this species 

 is said to be superior in elasticity and durability to either that of the Moso, No. 9045, 

 or Hachiku, No. 9047. Its extensive uses are too numerous to mention, for they 

 would form a list as long as that of an enumeration of the uses of the white pine in 

 America, The cultivation of this bamboo is not a difficult one, and forests of it 

 should be started in all regions having a suitable climate. The species is one of the 



