not o2ih^ be much stronger, but there will be several smaller plants 
and a number of rhizomes with buds or undeveloped shoots upon 
them. The next spring, preferably between the middle of ^Jarcli 
and the middle of April, the clump may be lifted and divided. The 
strongest plants may now be set where the grove is to be established, 
and the weak ones, together with such rhizomes as have become avail- 
able, may again be planted in the nursery in the manner already 
described. 
For the permanent grove it is essential that fairly good, well- 
drained soil be selected. Bamboos are quite particular in this re- 
spect. It is a mistake to suppose that they can be gTown successfully 
on poor, rockj^, gravelh% or badly drained soils. Fertile cotton, 
corn, or sweet-potato land should grow good bamiboos. They need 
much water, but they do not want to get it from an overwet soil. 
In putting out the plants for the grove they should be set about 8 
by 8 feet or 10 by 10 feet apart. This will require 680 plants per 
acre if set 8 by 8 feet and 435 plants if set 10 by 10 feet. Before 
planting, the ground should be plowed and harrowed about the 
same as for cotton or corn. Set the plants 4 to 6 inches deep, cover 
carefully, and firm the soil well around each plant. If clry, the 
plants should be watered. All through the first season water should 
be given in the event of protracted dry weather. 
The first two or three years are critical ones for the grove, and 
much patience and perseverance will be required. It must be largely 
a matter of hand Aveecling and cultivation. The 5^oung rhizomes 
will be extending in all directions, and to put a cultivator and mule 
or horse into such a place would result in w^holesale destruction ol 
the very things it is vital to save. For the Orient this type of hand 
labor means little, for it is everywhere abundant and cheap. Once 
the bamboos are large enough and strong enough to take possession 
of the ground they can fight their own battles, so that weeds and 
esDecially crabgrass will have little chance. 
To return now to the nursery work. If one desires to continue 
producing young plants, either for home planting or for sale, the 
best plan-, is to lift all the plants every second year and start a new 
nursery. This will give strong plants for sale or for permanent 
plantings and m^any small ones, together with quantities of good 
rhizomes, to go on with the propagating Avork. By this procedure 
one always has quantities of young rhizomes for propagation, and 
this is very important. If rhizomes from old plantings must be 
depended on, one never Imows their age, with the result that many 
fail to grow. They look all right, have good eyes, but are sterile. 
Rhizomes, therefore, should not be more than 2 years old. This is 
highly important. 
There are many more rhizomes than plants produced, and for this 
reason the fact that tliey may be cheaply and easily transported long 
distances and are as a rule free from dangerous enemies makes them 
liighly desirable as propagating material. (PI. XII, figs. 1 and 2.) 
While a small clump containing only two or three plants may 
Aveigh 5 to 8 pounds, a hundred properly selected rhizomes Aveigh 
less than half as much. As already pointed out, the rliizomes are 
clean or may be easily made so, which is a A^ery important point in 
their favor. A hundred good rhizomes, if properly handled, should 
give at least 50 good plants. 
