CULTURE OF BAMBOOS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

CULTURE OF BAMBOOS

ornamental and useful. Bamboos constitute an impow.nt genus of ornamental and useful plants. They are true grasses characterised by hollow stems which are closed at 'lie joints. A curious feature of some of the species is that they die after flowering. This occurs with the extremely j graceful feathery variety known as gracilis. Much confusion exists as to the correct nomenclature of the different species and varieties.- They are classed under the separate headings known as arundinaria, bambusa, arundo, phyllostachys. etc. The uses of bamboo are too numerous to describe. In the thickly populated parts of China, Japan, India, Ceylon and Java it is intimately associated with the lives of the. natives. It lends indescribable charm to the landscape. It is too early to foresee the future of the bamboo in this country for ornamental purposes, besides it. usefulness in furnishing an endless supply of suitable stakes of various sizes, as well as providing windbreaks, hedges and screens for sheltering orchards and live stock on farms and supplying fencing rails and timber for outbuildings, roofing. etc., for which the most suitable varieties are invaluable. The Japanese species should -thrive and make rapid growth locally, but up to the present the great value of the genus has not been sufficiently investigated to merit their extensive cultivation. When their value for the many purposes to which bamboos are adapted becomes known they will be extensively grown. Varied Uses in Japan. Everv conceivable article is manufactured in Japan from the shavings, threads and other parts of the bamboo canes. These articles include foot rules, bird cages, baskets, fans, spears, matting. rafts and poles to propel them, wicker w r ork, walking sticks, hats, musical instruments, chairs, tables and other furniture. The leaves sewn together are also utilised for coverings. Ladders, fruit poles, blinds, bean and pea stakes, water pipes and other miscellaneous articles are also produced. The young shoots form an important article of diet. Quantities of the shoots are canned and exported chiefly fox’ the use of Orientals in other countries. The l giant timber bamboo is much prized for fencing purposes and should prove a boon to farmers where other materials are scarce and not grown upon the farm. In Japan and China bamboo fences arc seen everywhere. In parks clumps of bamboos arc very beautiful. Along lakes and streams they have, no equal. In the foreground of noble evergreens i they are unique. The esthetic and economical possibilities of the bamboo cultivation in our mild climate, where so many of the kinds can be success- , fully grown, is most promising and of future potential value. Varieties For Local Use. The following varieties of bamboo may be successfully grown locally: Arundinaria Japonica (the arrow bamboo of Japan), is very hardy as an ornamental and useful breakwind hedge. It forms an impenetrable breakwind and has proved its value as a farm hedge and shelter for stock. Planted along the banks of the ditches with a fence on the land side it is invaluable in the ake akc swamp area. It suckers freely. The long canes are most useful for garden stakes. Bambusa Nana Aurea is a very ornamental species forming large, dense clumps. It docs not sucker and on that account is one of the best garden hedges. Plant the clumps 18in. apart. They soon join and form a dense breaK- ’ wind. Bombusa Vulgaris, a beautiful clump ■ bamboo growing to a height of 60ft. Has a stately effect as a single specimen and as shelter for orchards is invaluable. Phyllostachys Nigra (the black bamboo), the best ornamental species. ’ Grows to 30ft. in height. It is used for ' stakes, umbrella handles, canes, etc. Phyllostachys Quilioi attains a considerable height and is extremely ornamental, but it does not agree with P.! • Bambusoides. with which it should be, L according to description, synonymous. ’ The common giant timber bamboo has! \ a height of from 20ft. to 70ft. The ; ( stem is straight and smooth, being 2in. ; to sin. in diameter. Arundinaria Simoni, a very distinct j ‘ hardy species. Useful as a breakwind : for light stakes and similar purposes. The foliage is very dense. It suckers ’ freely. 1 , Arundinaria Hindsii and .Hindsii Graminea are ornamental, hardy kinds. H Time For Planting Bamboos. , Lhe best time to divide and trans- ( plant the different varieties and species } of the genus bamboo i s in the early : spring when the soil and the atmos- . phore become warmer and the new . growths commence. Those that sucker ■ are easy to propagate. The vulgaris > and others grow from clumps, divisions of dumps or by cutting off and planting the underground rhizomes or stems.