bamboos: their cultuee and uses 31 
With regard to the propagation and general handling of the 
clump bamboos, it has already been pointed out that these plants 
are not provided with rhizomes. The clumps are readily capable of 
division, however, by simply cutting up the thick crowns. (PL 
XIII.) The large-growing clumj^ bamboo is never small except in 
the seedling stage, and that is very rare. For this reason the divided 
parts are coarse, heavy, and hard to handle. Care must be exercised 
to see that the crown is provided with several good eyes or buds, 
some roots, and a portion of the old stem. The clump bamboos are 
strong growers and rank feeders; therefore they require rich soil. 
They should do Avell when planted around barnyards and in places 
where the drainage from the stock pens will reach them. Their 
tendern-ess limits their range, but wherever the temperature does not 
fall below 25° to 30° F. more than a few times during the winter 
they are safe. This does not apply to Bavibos tulda^ which is more 
tender. In planting the clump bamboo a good-sized hole should be 
dug, and the entire crown and a portion of the stem should be 
buried. The soil should be well firmed and the plants watered in 
case of dry weather. 
The great hollow stems of Baonhos vulgaris will be found very 
useful for many purposes around the farm. The clumps, too, offer 
shade and protection to stock and may be the means of hiding un- 
sightly buildings and trash yards, more or less necessary evils on 
almost every farm. In Algeria and adjacent countries on the North 
African coast, where frost seldom occurs, the clump bamboos are 
planted extensively for many purposes. In some sections they are 
grown for firewood; also for many kinds of simple house construc- 
tion, for fence posts, and in the drying up of mosquito breeding 
grounds. 
The production of Bambos tulda from seeds is a comparatively 
simple matter. The seeds look like ordinary oats and germinate 
readily when sown in a warm moist soil. If desired, flats or shallow 
wooden boxes may be used for starting the plants. The flats may be 
made of cut-up soap boxes or any box 24 to 30 inches long and 18 
or 20 inches wide. Cut the boxes so the flats will be 4 inches deep, 
and provide each flat with a strong bottom. Fill with good rich 
sandy loam to a depth of 2i/^ inches. Tamp the soil firmly with a 
brick or a piece of 2 by 4 inch lumber. Sow the seeds thickly, cover 
with an inch of good soil, tamp again, and water. The flats con- 
taining the seeds will need to be kept in a sash-covered frame or 
greenhouse until the seedlings are 3 or 4 inches high. The tempera- 
ture should not go lower than 60° F. at night. When the young 
plants are 6 to 8 inches high they may be transplanted to the 
garden in nursery rows 2 or 3 feet aj^art and about a foot apart in 
the row. 
The simplest method of growing the bamboo is to sow the seeds 
in a frame. This may be an ordinary coldframe 6 feet wide and as 
long as desired. See that the gi'ound is rich, loose, and friable. Sow 
the seeds in drills 2 inches deep and 1 foot apart. Space the seeds 
so that the seedlings will be about 1 inch apart in the row. Cover 
carefully, firm the soil, and Avater. Glass sash will be necessary 
at first to protect the young plants from beating rains and winds. 
It will be best not to sow the seeds until settled warm weather has 
