THE PALM HOUSE 19 
blue bamboo, and the native bamboo that forms dense canebrakes in 
our southern states. In the Conservatory the giant bamboo grows at 
the rate of 18 inches a day. In its own home it reaches a height of 120 
feet in a month. All the species here make their chief growth in 
September, and are at their loveliest during the fall. Bamboos are 
decorative plants, and are particularly attractive when planted by 
fountains as they are planted here, or by streams, as they are in the 
Fern House. The bamboo has many economic uses. The young 
shoots are eaten as asparagus is eaten, or are canned, or are pickled in 
vinegar. The stems are used for water pipes, for bridge building, for 
house building, and for other construction purposes. Split stems are 
used for weaving nets and hats, for making umbrellas, and for making 
fishing poles. Small stems are used for walking sticks and for making 
wickerware. The stems of some species are used in paper making. 
The leaves of the larger species are used in thatching. The sap may 
be dried to make a sort of sugar that the ancient Greeks knew as Indian 
honey. The seeds of some species are eaten instead of rice, and the 
seeds of other species are used in making beer. 
Bougainvillea, a showy and beautiful vine from tropical America, 
belongs to the Nyctaginaceae, the family to which the four-o'clock of 
our gardens belongs. The Conservatory has a number of species of 
this vine planted to climb over the roof supports in various houses. 
The largest vines are in this room, and bloom during April and May. 
Calamus. This is a genus of palms with slender stems, furnished with 
stiff-hooked prickles that aid the palms to scramble up over other 
plants. The stems of these palms are used in making hats, mats, ropes, 
bridges, etc. They are imported into this country under the name of 
Rattans, and are used for making wickerwork and chair bottoms. 
One species is the source of Malacca canes. The collection here in- 
cludes representatives of a number of species. 
Carludovica palmata, or PANAMA Hart Pam, belongs to the 
Cyclanthaceae, a palm-like family of tropical America. This plant has 
great decorative value; but its chief interest lies in the fact that its 
leaves are used in making the genuine Panama hats of commerce. The 
best hats are said to be made from a single leaf, without any joinings. 
The leaf is cut when young, the stiff veins are removed, and the rest 
of the leaf is shredded, but is not separated at the stalk end. The 
shreds are then plaited to form a hat. The collection here includes 
representatives of 6 other species from whose leaves the cheaper grades 
of hats are made. 
Caryota urens, or FisH-Tait PALM, or WINE-PALM, is a most graceful 
palm that is a native of India and the Malay region. It bears a purple 
fruit about the size of a cherry. A full-grown tree will yield about 
a pint of wine per hour for a great length of time The wine in its 
fresh state is a wholesome beverage, and an important article of com- 
merce. When fermented it yields an alcoholic drink. The trunk of 
the tree yields a sort of sago. 
Ceroxylon andicolum, or WAX PALM, is a native of the Andes. Its 
