Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
Bamboo Advocated for Naturalization
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The bamboo. probably the most use
ful plant known to mankind. can be
successfully grown in the Southern Sec
tions of the United States, If accorded
proper treatment. according to the De-
partment of Agriculture. The depart
ment is constantly sending scientists
to all parts Of the world to investigate
exotic plants, and its experiment sta
tons are continuously employed in at
tempting to acclimatize foreign plants
which it is believed would be useful to
Americans.
This is scientific development of
the work done by early Americans, eS-.
pecially In the Southern colonies and
States. With the increase in wealth
and the establishment of large estates,
the planters became interested in nat
urallzing strange trees. shrubs and fow-
erS on their own properties Several
types of trees, now found in large num-
bers, growing wild in the woods, orig
inally were complete strangers to Amer
lean soil, having been brought here by
the early planters. Examination of the
gardens and parks Of old houses from
Pennsylvania southwark will reveal
probably 20 different varieties of trees
growing within q small compass. All
were planted and many represent i'm
portations.
The Department Of Agriculture, in
following up this work, has looked more
to the economic usefulness of foreign
plants than to their ornamental value,
although the latter had not been wholly
neglected. AS a result of the depart
ment's work many grasses, trees, vari-
cites OF grain and other representatives
of the vegetable kingdom have been
acclimatized in the United States, add
ing materially to the national wealth.
Recent experiments with the bamboo
indicate that there is nothing in the
American climate inhospitable to the
plant. While principally tropical and
subtropical plant, it grows In the tenn
perate zone. It grows on the slopes OF
the Himalayas, in Japan it is found at
an altitude as high as 10000 feet and
in South America 1t thrives up to the
great differences in soil or moisture
conditions as between these locations
and the United States.
Varieties and Uses.
The Department Of Agriculture sug-
gests that the plant might well be In
PRODUCED as an ornamental grass ir
Southern gardens. It Is classed as 8
: grass although bamboo grasses In some
suggested that the smaller varieties Of
bamboo make pleasing borders, while
the dwarf bamboo, which runs over the
ground, is especially beautiful. The
bamboo Of every species requires g. deep
moist, but not sodden, loamy soil. Il
is classed as hungry plant by botanists
and the soil, therefore, must be rich
Indeed, the bamboo often will draw sc
much nutriment from the soil thai
other plants growing in its proximity
will die out. The bamboo rohs them
It Is advisable to shelter the plants
from the wind and necessary to keer
them well watered.
Americans are such enthusiastic gar.
deners that 1t Is expected the sugges.
tons of the department regarding thu
bamboo will be adopted by many
Should this acclimatization of the plant
develop and the bamboo take firm hold
in the Southern States, they would I'll.
| ttmately have commercial asset o.
tremendous Importance. The number
of uses of the bamboo are almost In.
| credible, not only because there are
many varieties, but because every va.
riety lends itself to manifold purposes
at different stages Of growth. The scope
and range of the plant can be realizec