k 
bamboos: their cultuke and uses 27 
outer edges of the clump. In digging down, these young phmts are 
found to be attached to rhizomes, or underground stems, which go 
back to older mother plants. Besides the plant there will be 
found on the rhizoxue numerous eyes or dormant shoots. If the 
stems, or culms, together with a piece of the supporting rhizome 
are lifted carefully with a ball of soil the whole will make a good 
young clump for propagating purposes. (PI. XI, figs. 1 and 2.) 
If it were only a matter of moving this clump a short distance, the 
whole thing could be lifted with the soil attached and set in a place 
properly prepared for it. But in order to ship the plant any dis- 
tance, it must be further divided; that is, the connecting rhizomes 
must be cut, leaving a stem attached to a piece of rhizome, one or 
more good eyes or buds, and a supply of roots. 
A divided plant, such as described, if properly cared for will 
make a fair growth the first year and will usually send out new 
rhizomes from which several plants will develop. This is the most 
satisfactory type of plant to use for propagating purposes, for if 
the rhizomes are strong, the eyes sound and full of life, and the 
stems and roots satisfactory, growth will start promptly and be 
maintained steadily if soil and other conditions are right. If 
one has a nursery and is propagating for himself this is the method 
to follow, for the question of transportation does not enter into 
the problem. Of course, there are many other points to be observed ; 
these will be mentioned later. It should be stated that in divisional 
propagation which involves old stems and often leaves, serious dis- 
eases and insects may be carried over, especially the Japanese mite, 
several scale insects, and the brown or powdery rust. 
The other method of increasing the plants, which may be called 
rhizome propagation, is, as the name indicates, the utilization of the 
rhizomes only, with one or more good eyes and a few roots attached. 
These parts are wholly under ground, and their removal and han- 
dling do not involve balls of soil. In Plate XI, Figure 1, are 
shown three such rhizomes, each about 1 foot long. 
Finally ma}^ be mentioned the method of propagation by seeds. 
Bamhos tulda is the only one included in our list of which seeds 
may be obtained. The securing of seeds and the methods to be 
followed in growing them will be discussed later. 
In order that the matter of propagation may be discussed intelli- 
gently, an endeavor will be made to trace, step by step, the procedure 
to be folloAved in the development of farm-home groves and groves 
and plantings for other than commercial uses. Where it is practica- 
ble to get good, clean, healthy divided plants, it will be best to do so 
in making a start. These should be obtained in early spring, either 
March or April. For the first A^ar the plants should be set in a 
nui^ery, where they can be given better care and attention than in 
the open field. Good, well-selected garden soil furnishes the best 
conditions for the nursery work. By garden soil is meant a rich 
loam that will produce good crops of potatoes, string beans, or sugar 
corn. Set the plants in rows 5 or 6 feet apart and about 2 feet apart 
in the row. It is very important the first year if dry weather comes 
that the plants be regularly watered. They must be kept o^rowing 
steadily and continuously. If well cared for, new shoots Avill soon 
appear and new rhizomes develop. By fall the mother plant will 
