Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26
THE USES OF BAMBOO.
| Tho japanese Find In 1t q Provision
! for Almost Every Want.

Tho japanese Find I'm 1t a Provision
for Almost Every Want.
Nearly every variety Of the bamboo is
utilized in the country where 1t grows for
some purpose or another, but the largest
species known as the bambusa arundi-
nacea, which Is almost the most common,
can be applied to SO many useful purposes
that to refer In detail to a 1.-THE of them
would be wearisome.
The stem of this bamboo Is surmounted
by light, feathery leaves, which give most
Beautiful effect to the groves wherein 1t is
cultivated. It grows very rapidly. some
times at the rate OF a couple of feet day.
1t was this popularity, in conjunction with
its strength, that enabled the old Ceylon
chiefs to use 1t as the means of torturing
and executing their prisoners. Binding the
unfortunate men to the growing shoots.
In few hours time the pipe-like stems
bad either pierced their bodies or rent them
asunder.
The bamboo can only perhaps be seen in
perfection In South America, India and the
tropical islands of the world; but the in
genuity and love Of beauty which charac-
terize the japanese enable them to convert
1T to a far greater number of Servfceable
and ornamental purposes than can the UNI
tutored natives of the other countries
wherein it grows. In all the cities, towns
and villages of Japan there are numerous
shops, In certain places whole streets Of
other, are exposed for sale. And the dis
ccvery Of new methods Of using them not
hitherto seen will be daily occurrence
during travellers sojourn among these in
gen1ous people.
Mating, furniture screens, blinds, bas-
kets, washing basins, baths, buckets, lad
ders, brooms, stools, trays, cooking uten-
sis and other domestic articles are all
easily made from some part or another OF
these extraordinary grasses. So are pipes,
tobacco Jars, walking sticks. fans, umbrel-
las combs, spoons, flutes and other mu-
steal instruments. Then they are by cum
ming Workmen turned into articles of pure
ly ornamental character, such as flower
vases beautifully carved, picture frames,
grotesque images, ingeniously opening and
closing boxes frames, trays. PLAQUES and
other things that would make far too for
midable list to specially enumerate in
any class Of literature but an auctfoneers
catalogue. In the way of clothing. umbrel-
la hats, which are probably, for hot or
wet climate, the best form Of head cover
ing now used in any part of the world, san
dals. clogs and peculiar form Of cloak
worn by the peasantry as protection
against rain, are gifts for which the people
are indebted to bamboo.
Bamboo harnesses and pannierS FOR
horses and oxen are also frequently seen.
Piping for drains or conduits. made from
the largest-siZed stems, Is in universal use
in the small towns and villages. These
pipes are made by fitting selected bamboos
together by wedging them firmly one in an
Otner untll the lenStn required mas Deen
reached. The divisions in the stems have,
of course, to be first cut out or pierced in
such a way that the water can readily flow
through them.
In Japan the greatest danger apprehended
&C mes from earthquakes which not only
destroy buildings, but open up the ground.
however, are such ordinary
events that only very violent ones produce
any CONSERVATION, for the houses. being |
built in a light way by free use of bam- |
boo are not very dangerous, even If shaken |
down. In remote country districts the peo-
pie living adjacent to bamboo groves are |
said to rush there at the first premonitory !
that an earthquake is likely to be |
more than usually violent, for they have |
discovered that the tangled network of in |
terwoven roots these grasses shoot out in
every direction afford reliable support |
even when the earth splits and yawns be-
meath.
The bamboo supplies. in its young and
succulent shoots a vegetable which Is in
universal use, and is frequently to be seen
on the menus Of hotels and the dinner ia
bles of the foreign residents in the treaty |
ports 1t is often compared to asparagus, |
but there are few who taste If for the first |
time, who do not think the comparison |
litelous. Nevertheless, bamboo sprouts are |
not bad eating, either as vegetable or in |
the form of pickles or preserves. |