PLANTS IN CONGENIAL POSITIONS. 



545 



hardiest of all. At least, this is my experience, now extending over 

 several years. Our largest specimen of it has been ten years in its 

 present position, and it measures 10 feet in height and 15 feet in diameter. 

 It is nearly deciduous, casting the greater proportion of its leaves in 

 March and April ; hence the young foliage and growth come away 

 somewhat earlier and quite freely. The first season the canes are erect, 

 j the second rather inclined to droop at the extremities, and the third 

 I quite pendulous. The increased amount of foliage explains this. The 

 specimen in question faces towards the north and inclines over the 

 water. Near to it and in the water is the Canadian rice plant [Zizania 

 dquatica), whilst on one side is Rheum yalmatum and in the foreground 

 appears NymyUaea Gladstoniana. I find that most of our Bamboos 

 thrive best near the water. One specimen of Phyllostachys Castillonis 

 partially overhanging the water is most robust, now some 12 feet in 

 height, with a spread of 10 feet. This Bamboo will be more planted as 

 its merits become better known. It is, with us, one of the hardiest, 

 i Bainbusa japonica also does well near the waterside. Our speci- 

 I men has weathered all the frosts and storms of more than thirty years. 



Another species, similarly situated, Phyllostachys nigra, throve sur- 

 I prisingly well ; but, alas ! it flowered at last and has now disappeared. 

 1 In the treatment of Bamboos I consider that we have to aim at a firm 

 ! and sturdy growth — a growth that has a better chance of withstanding 

 the rigours of our winters. The Bamboo belongs to the natural family 

 Graminaceae , and to this family also belong the wheat, the oat, &c. 

 The best straw from both wheat and oats comes from land where lime 

 is present building up and solidifying the straw. So it acts, in my 

 opinion, in the case of the Bamboo. Hence, the harder the growth, 

 j even though not quite so large, the better the prospect of with- 

 ' standing winter frosts. The moral is — Do not manure too freely 

 ! with nitrogenous manures, but depend rather upon bone-meal or its 

 equivalent in another form. This is the plan I adopt, and I find it 

 succeeds admirably. We usually apply a dressing in the spring, and 

 if moving any, we mulch with farmyard or stable manure. Bamboos, 

 too, require much more water than most cultivators imagine, and it 

 is my opinion also that they will suffer more in cold, frosty weather 

 and when keen winds prevail if they are at all on the dry side. 



Dimorphanthus mandschuricus albo-variegatus. — Quite a different 

 treatment, in one respect, should be accorded this plant from that given 

 to D. m. aureo-variegatus. The former delights in shade, and the latter 

 in full sunshine. This is the case with nearly all variegated plants. 

 Enough emphasis is not placed upon this fact, hence failures occur — 

 I e.g. the ' Golden Privet ' and the ' Golden Yew ' are failures in the 

 ! shade, as we all know. Again, Bamhusa Fortunei variegata develops 

 j its silver-marked foliage much better in the shade, whilst Arundinaria 

 j: auricoma in such a position always has a sickly appearance. I planted 

 i the Dimorphanthus on the northern side of some tall trees which 

 I screen 'it from the sun, and it thrives there remarkably well, producing 

 f 3arge leaves with well-developed leaflets. Put the same plant in the 

 VOL. xxxvi. o o 



