Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-18
The bamboo.


The Bamboo.
This plant may we'll be called useful, for
/, is applied by the Chinese to such vas.
variety OF purposes, (-ome Of them indeed
better accomplished elsewhere by dinercn,
ma,erials) that i, may justly be called their
national plant. 1. !. reared from shoots
and suckers. but after IL has once rooted is
not much attended TO. The common yellow
species extends over all the southern aud
eastern provinces, but the varieties men.
toned by Chincsc writers amoun, TO sixty,
Of which the black skinned sort, used in
making furniture. and the low. fine branehed
one, afording the slender wis employed in
the manufacture OF writing pencils. are tho
best known. The tender shoot. are culti-
waited for TODD, and are, wbcn four or ivc
inches high, boiled, riekled, and copi,ed
but not the +" tender bud. and flowers. cut
like asparagus" as represented by Murray.
The root, arc carved into fantastic image.
Of men. birds. monkeys. or monstrous per-
versions Of animated nature. cut into Lam
,ern.handlcs and canes. or turned into oval
sticks for worshippers, 10 divine whether
the gods will hear or refuse their petitions.
The tapcrins culms are used Tor all purposes
tia, poles can bO applied to in carrying.
supporting. propellins, and measuring. by
the porter, the carpenter. and the hot'nan
Tor tile iols,s Of houses and the rlh- Of sails,
the shafts OF spears and the wa,,les Of bur.
dles, the tubes Of aqueiuc,., and the han.
die. and rb. Of umbrella. and fans.
The leaves are -ewcd upon cords to make
rain cloaks, swep, into heaps to form ma
mure. and matted into ,hatches TO cover
houses. Gu, into splin,s and ,li'er' Oivar-
Gus sites. the wood i worked into baskets
and trays Of every form and fancy, twisted
into cables. plated into awning, aud wo-
ven into mats for scenery o, the theatre,
the roof. OF boats, and the casing Of goods.
The shavine., even. are picked into Oakum.
and mixed with those Of rattan, to 10 stuffed
into mattresses.
The bamboo furnishes the bed FOR sleep.
ing and the couch for reclining; the chop
sticks for eating, the pip, ior smoking, and
tie ai,e Tor entertaining; curtain to hang
before the door. anl broom to sweep
around 1t; together with screens. stools.
stands. and sofas for various uses Of con-
rcnience anl luxury IN the house.
The mattress TO Ia, upon, the chair 10 81,
upon. the table TO dine from, food to eat,
and fuel 10 cook it with. are alike derived
from IL, tho fcrulr To govern the scholar,
and tho book he studies. both originated
here.
The ,apering barrel. Of the sang, or or
gan. .ni the dreaded ins;rumen, OF the
lic,or. one ,n make harmony, and the other
TO strike dread, the .kever 10 pin the hair,
and the ha, 10 screen the head the paper
TO write on. the pencil handle TO write with.
and the cup TO holi the pen 'ls; the rule
to measure lengths, the cup to gauge quan.
,i,ie-. and the bucket 10 draw water tho
below. TO blow the FIRE. and the bottle to
retain the match; 'he bird.cagc and crab
net, the h,h.pole and 'ampiian, the water.
wheel aud eaveduet; wheel-birrOw ani
hand.cart, etc are one and all furnished or
completed by this magnificent grass. whose
graceful Beauty when growing is compara.
Die to il. varied usefulness when Gu, down.
Rrv. Il. 5. MActAr. Field Notes.
The Rev. Il. :. Maclay might have added
,ha, the ipseniou. mechanics OF China,
form chair. Of rattan aud bamboo, weighing
hut fourteen ounces, and still as strong in
sustaining weight as an American chair
weighing almost as many pounds. They
have built bridges with bamboo. The rattan
strap. placed around tea chests. which hold
them 80 firmly together, are tied with
knot which we believe has never been united
and tied again. outside OF China. This
docs no, arise from any mystery concerning
the construction OF the knot, but from tho
difficulty Of forming it while the chest is
within the rattan. Maine Farmer.