The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1909-01-02
A BAMBOO FARM.
Uncle Sam Prospecting III
this Locality for 4 Location
for ~ Experimental Ham-
boo Farm

| |
boo Farm.
A Plant Of Many Industrial
and Commercial Hos4lhil
tiles.
On "Wednesday y gentleman
called at this office aud presented
hia card, which read. "Mr Frank
N. Meyc, Washir gton, Ng'lcu|Iu'
al Explorer, Department Of Agri-
culture. United States Of America I"
lie explained that his mission here
small experimental farm, where
tests conld he made hv The L s.
Agricultural Department in The
cultivation of certain varieties of
the bamboo.
For this purpose about 20 acres
would be needed. II this conld
be found the Government would
require the PRIVILEGE Of holding
the tract for such time, at it's op
ton, as would he necessary to
thoroughly test the advantages Of
this climate and sol. III the grow
ing of this plant Al the end Of
the test, proving the success ur
failure of the undertaking, he
Lane, will be ,etuinpd to the owner
in whatever condition il may then
he. If the taking proves n
success the lauu. owner would
come into possession Of The tract
with its crop aud any improve
menta.
Mr. Meye, has very recently ~
turned from the Orient. where he
spent some three years IN travel
and search for varieties Of trees
and plants. new TO this country,
with a view of introducing tlcM
into America. where they give
promise Of beng useful or profit
able to our people. He carried
with him Il camera, and the frnIl
it bore was most lnteIc 7ting in
deed. Many wonders Of 4 strange
land and peculiar people dld
it bring back Pictures of sacred
trees, trees twelve and sixteen
hundred years old, the results Of
the art ot grating ~ practicrd by
The Chinese, art III gardening,
the results Of ueforestatlon Of the
mountains with its consequent
wreck and ruin Of once fertile hill
and valley, methods Of irrigation,
and city and country life mid
blooms and shows, formed most
interesting collection, especially
when explained hy the man whose
hand pressed the button.
OF all the plant life studied by
the explorer none seemed to pre-
sent itself with greater favor than
the family Of bamboos. Among
the many varieties Of this plant
there are many interesting kinds
of great value to man. Some grow
to a height of 12O feet and attain
a diameter o. or more inches.
Others grow an extremely hard
reed of great utility in the manu-
facture of furniture and other
domestic articles. This ware is
very durable. In the manufac
ture of baskets alone this variety is
peculiarly valuable. One Of the
members Of tina family Of plants
produces tender succulent shoot
and root which are edible. They
are wholesome and palatable, hav
ing the crispness of celery and a
flavor quite similar TO that of as
paragus 1t sa very common
art,cle of diet with the Orientals
In fact, says Mr.. Meyer with de
llberateness, lake away the BAN
boo aud the people of China and
Japan wonld starve." 1t enters
largely into their commerce and
as much care il given to It's cnltl-
vation as Is given to any OF their
other crops.
Mr.. Meyer came here from Yer
million and left the same day fot
St. Landry. Thence he goes to
brownsville, Tex. II his other
engagements will permit he will
return 20 this place later, when be
will visit especially that section
on the west shore of Spanish Lake
IN the bope Of finding some place
where he. will be able to establish
one Of kisa experimental farms.
OAMr ruurnp