The Shasta courier., 1864-03-12
SHASTA COURIER.
The Bamboo Tree.

The great reed called the bamboo shoots
ma considerable number Of canes from the
same bottom, which are nearly the thickness
4 man'sthigh, and grow to the height OF
Yftv and ergiity feet The leaves are small,
arrow. and. pointed. springing from the
knots. The trees waving in the wind, pre-
senta very elegant and feathery appearance.
The pith Of the young shoots, which is of a
white color, makes an elegant pickle, of as
soft a consistence as beet root. Ii is indig-
cnous to China and India. The materials of
which the natives build their houses. is al
lsavs easy to be procured and the structure
is SO simple that a spacious, and by no means
uncomfortable dwelling, suited to the eli
mate, alay be erected in one day. Bamboo
grass for lhatching, and the ground rattan,
are all the materials required Not nail
is used in the whole edifce. Strong bamboo,
in row of from eight to ten feet high, are
fixed firm in the ground, which describes the
outlines and are the supporters Of the buiid-
ing. Smaller bamboos are then ned horl-
zontallv. bv strips of the groundl rattan, to
these upright posts The walls, composed
,~f hamhno mats. are fastened 10 the sides
with similar lgatures.
Bamboo rafters are quickly r1sed, ana a
r. fnrmed. over which thatch Is quickly
spread in regular layers, and bound TO the
r,sf with Hpaments of rattan. y floor q
bamboo grating is next laid on the inside,
elevated two or three feet above the ground.
This grating is supported on bamboo, and
covered with mats and carpets. Thus ends
the process. which is not more simple than
il is effective.
When the workmeH take pains, house of
this sort is proof against any inclement wea-
ther and if a tempest should blow down
house. the inhabitants would run no risk of
having their brains knocked out their
homes broken. The fall of the whole cabin
would not crush lady's lapdog.
The bamboo bears neither blossom nor
fruit, but is propagated by suckers. In win
DIV and dry weather their friction while way
ing often causes them to fake fire, occasion
ing the hills on which they grow to assume
beautiful appearance at night. In the hands
of the Chinese it may almost be denominated
a universal materials for they perform with
it operations the most varied and dissimilar.
This reed in its entire state Is formed into
stools, chairs, tables, bedsteads, and many
other articles of furniture. 1t supplies scat
folds for building, masts and yards for ship
ping. carts and wheelbarrows for husbandry.
wheels and tubes for irrigation split into
laths or beaten into fbres, it forms screens
for ornaments, and ropes, cords and twine
for all purposes, from the rigging of a ship
10 the wick Of a candle. Woven it becomes
a saiIcoth or sacking. Macerated into
pulp, it is made into paper, and mixed up
with lime it serves to caulk their ships. BY
simply tying together three or four Of these
reeds, swimming jackets are constructed,
capable of supporting one or more persons.
When young it affords nutritive article of
diet; when growing, it is a fence for their
gardens and fields. protection for their cot
tages, and an ornament for their palaces. 1t
is the weapon of justice and the instrument
of oppression-supp equally the au.
thority of the mandarin and the arrogance of
the petty officials.
The leaves are generally put round the tea
sent to Europe and America. The thick
Juice is a favorite medicine. There are
about fifty varieties, and it is of the most
rapid growth, rising fifty to eighty feet the
first year, and in the second periecting its
timber in hardness and durability.