File:American homes and gardens (1909) (17967206329).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar61909newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Arundinaria falcatia spreads its fan-shaped clumps, suckering freely from the roots nearly every article in daily use. It is the basket in which the coolie weighs his rice, the stick with which he carries it home over his shoulder, the chop stick with which he eats it, the material of which the chair in which he rides forth on busi- ness or pleasure is constructed. It furnishes the material for the parasol, with which he denotes his rank or protects himself from the heat of the sun. The fan owns its parentage; nor is the pipe with which he solaces his leisure hour strange to its manner of growth. It is used for making lamps, and its oil is employed for burning; it furnishes the paper and the pen with which to write upon it. The bamboo grows in immense quantities upon the mountain sides and along the water- ways; hence it is the cheapest, most con- venient material for all these different ar- ticles. Its durability and workability are astonishing. It is hollow, with joints from a few inches to two feet apart, giv- ing the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight. It splits perfectly straight and as thin as desired. It com- bines flexibility with hardness, utility with beauty, strength with grace. It is not particu- lar as to soil, cling- ing to the rocky hill- side where the soil is dry and poor and flourishing in the rich alluvial lands equally well. It is probable that most varieties would prove entirely hardy south of the Ohio River and along the Gulf Coast, should prove easily acclimated and a source of revenue in a very few years after planting, as the growth is rapid, and as nearly all varieties spread from the roots and "suckers," the single plant of to-day is the thrifty clump of to-morrow, or next year. Why not, then, plant the bamboo plentifully and at least give it a trial? Success with it has been ample enough in many quarters to make it well worth the experiment. If the plant has not yet been admitted as a permanent addition to the American garden be assured this arises more from a natural hesitancy to introduce it than from any inherent faults of the bamboo itself. It has shown its hardiness in many places, and often under conditions of great severity.
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