18 BULLETIN 1329^ U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUSE 
considerable experience with bamboo cultivation at Broolcsville, 
Fla. Three bamboo poles 7 or 8 feet long are tied together at the 
top with binder twine. The free ends are then spread out to make 
a tripod. When set up, the poles at the base can be spread about a 
yard apart, and if necessary the ends can be pushed into the ground. 
Branches 6 to 8 inches long are left on the poles. The advantages 
of this kind of rack, according to Mr. Bisset, are: (1) The air space 
at the bottom permits quicker curing; (2) the hay can be easily 
placed on the rack as the short branches catch and hold it; and (3) 
the rack can be folded up and stored for future use. 
Tool handles^ clothes-drying poles^ and clothesline ])toj)s. — ^^Yell- 
ripened bamboo poles of the hardwood type, like Phyllostachys, 
make good handles for rakes and other tools where there is not much 
downward stress. They also make good clothes-drying poles v^dlen 
the joints are properly smoothed. For props they are excellent. 
W ater-carrying pipes. — It is frequently desirable on the farm to 
conduct water considerable distances from a Avell or spring for the 
purpose of watering plants or livestock. Some preliminary tests 
made at Brooksville indicate that bamboo poles may be used for 
this purpose. In many parts of the Orient pieces of split bamboos 
are used for carrying water, but there the culms are much lai'ger 
than those which can be grown in the United States. The depart- 
ment's tests were made with well-ripened poles of uniform size, 10 
feet long and approximately 2 inches in diameter. The cross walls 
which occur at each node, or joint, were easily punched out with 
an iron rod sharpened at one end. Some difficulty was experienced 
in making water-tight joints, but this difficulty was finally overcome 
in a very simple v>"ay by using pieces of rubber bicycle inner tubes 
about 3 inches long. The tubing was slipped over the end of one 
joint of bamboo, and the other joint was then forced into the free 
end of the tube. The ends of the two pieces of bamboo were thus 
brought close together and held there by the piece of rubber tube. 
Heavy tire tape was then wrapped around the joints, and finally the 
whole was painted with thick asphalt. This made a flexible water- 
proof connection. Such a water-carrying system if buried under- 
ground lasts two or three years. 
Miscellaneous uses on the farm. — Manj^ miscellaneous uses for 
bamboo will be found on the farm and in the farm home. Mention 
of a few of these will suggest methods and practices of utilization : 
Chicken coops, chicken yards, spray rods for orchard spraying, 
toolracks, bookracks, portiere rods, poles for rugs, carpet beaters, 
and reinforced cement posts. (PL IX, figs. 1 and 2.) 
At a place like the Brooksville garden, where the needs for handy 
appliances are much greater than on any farm, the bamboo groves 
have been a constant means of supplying many useful conveniences. 
In this connection it may be well to call attention to a small gi'ove 
planted by Mrs. C. J. Edwards at Abbeyville, La., about 15 years 
ago. Mrs. Edwards secured her plants {Phyllostachys edulis) from 
the United States Department of Agriculture and put them out in 
her back yard. The grove now covers a space about 100 by 100 feet 
and contains upAvards of 1,000 canes 40 to 50 feet in height and 3 to 
16 inches in circumference. A 3^ear or two ago the owner cut 170 
large canes, or poles, from the- grove and sold them for $1,000. 
