BAMBOOS : THEIR CULTUEE AND USES 35 
call the bamboo '* the palm of the poor." It often hides the most dilapidated 
shack with a verdure and grace that are simply wonderful. A large clump 
of bamboo is always very conspicuous, very impressive. It creates a tropical 
effect even more striking than a palm. A large clump of bamboo you can see 
at quite a distance. This is not the case with most palms, if we except groups 
of coconut and royal palms. 
No formal rules can be set down for the culture of these plants 
for ornamental purposes. The soil should be rich, deep, and Avell 
drained, not overw^et or easily dried out. Due allov^^ance, of course, 
must be made for the future development of each species and type. 
The large ones must have room and the smaller ones need to be 
planted and handled so as to get their full quota of air, moisture, 
and sunlight. Formal beds are not desirable. The plants will do 
best in informal groups or clumps. One need not be prevented 
from having a bamboo garden for lack of room. (PL XIV, figs. 1 
and 2.) If half an acre is available all the better, but if there are 
only a few square rods off somewhere in a corner the plants may be 
placed there. For the lower half of Florida, southern Louisiana, 
and southern Texas the noncreeping or clump bamboos lend them- 
selves best to garden culture and for ornamental planting generally. 
Following are some of the more desirable forms suitable for re- 
gions where winter temperatures rarely go below 25° F. 
BamUos vulgaris (more fully described on page 13). — A beautiful clump 
bamboo, growing to a height of 60 to 70 feet. Many of the culms attain a 
diameter of 3i/^ to 4 inches. The shoots put up in midsummer, and many 
of them remain bare of leaves during the winter. The straight culms are 
rather stiff, giving the clumps a somewhat rigid effect. A form sometimes 
called B. thouarsil is very desirable for clump planting. It seems to be more 
hardy than the vulgaris type, produces more and better foliage, and is not 
so stiff and formal. It has a stately and beautiful effect when planted near 
tall buildings and when mixed with evergreen trees. 
Baml)os tulda (see page 12). — A quick-gi'owing, beautiful, and graceful bam- 
boo, forming dense clumps easily kept within bounds. The plant is tender, 
but even if cut down by frost it quickly recovers. It should by all means have 
a place in every bamboo garden. Reproduces either by division or seeds. 
Seed must be imported. Under favorable conditions B. tulda will grow to 
a height of 70 or 80 feet. Planted along watercourses or near lakes, it gives 
the landscape a striking tropical appearance. 
Bambos halcooa. — An Indian species recently introduced (S. P. I. No. 
51361) by the United States Department of Agriculture. This bamboo is ten- 
der. It has more of a drooping habit than B. tulda and is also more spiny. 
The leaves are large, and the culms attain a height of 60 to 70 feet. At 
Brooksville, Fla., when the temperature fell to 25° F. the plant lost most of 
its leaves but quickly recovered. It is a handsome, graceful bamboo, giving 
a decided tropical effect to the landscape. It may be grown from seeds or 
by division of the clumps. In the warmer sections of Florida this bamboo 
may be planted for avenue effect and for roadway adornment. 
Bambos arundhiacea. — A tropical species, but will likely stand light frosts. 
Suitable for the southern portions of Florida. The plant grows to a height 
of a hundred feet, the culms being 6 to 7 inches in diameter. It is very thorny 
and is sometimes used in the growing state for fences and hedges. The United 
States Department of Agriculture has introduced this bamboo under four 
separate numbers (S. P. I. Nos. 21317, 21837, 22487, and 27490), but it has 
done little yet in the way of proving its usefulness as an ornamental. 
Dendrocalamus strictus. — A beautiful giant cane bamboo with drooping 
feathery foliage. Somewhat generally introduced especially in southern 
Florida. The United States Department of Agriculture has imported it under 
10 or 12 different numbers, the last being S. P. I. No. 56532. This species will 
stand considerable frost, is readily propagated by division, and in good soil 
makes a rapid growth. As an ornamental form for clump plants in dooryards 
and on villa sites this and the next species can hardly be excelled. 
