BAMBOO. Privation of some ordinary substances, which attract little attention from common observers, would materially affect the convenience of entire nations. Few are wont to appreciate the incalcula ble value of limestone in the quarry, or iron in the pit, or even to form any conjecture of how the arts and manufactures of this country could be carried on without them. In the same manner, the bamboo, a -plant of universal use in other regions, scarcely re ceives the slightest notice, unless when its properties, for which there is no substitute in the use of any other vegetable, are considered in detail. It is to millions in the east what the most useful raw mate rial is to the western world.
This plant is generally ranked by botanists in the -number of reeds; but some, less sensible of its analogies with them, incline to institute a separate genus for it. In the Systema Nature, Linnteus describes two spe cies, under the genus Bambusa, which is charac terized by " scales three, covering the spikelets, which are about five flowered ; calyx none ; corolla, a two valved glume ; style bifid ; seed one." Lou. reiro, who had an opportunity of studying the nature of the bamboo in its own climate, characterizes it as having " flowers with six stamina ; panicle diffused, with imbricate spikelets ; branches of the calm spi ny; calyx one flowered." We shad abstain from discussing the more minute botanical characters, as it is to the real utility of the plant that our attention is to be specifically directed. The bamboo is a na tive of the warmer climates only, though growing luxuriously without the limits of the torrid zone. It rises to the height of 40, 60, or even 80 feet, with a slender hollow stem, shining as if varnished. Many, however, and probably according to the particular species, are only 12 or 15 feet high ; and those which attain the greatest height here mentioned, are rather . to be viewed in the same light as the overgrown ve getable productions of our own country. The stem is extremely slender, not exceeding the thickness of five inches.in some which are 50 feet high, and is others reaching 15 or 18 inches in diameter. The whole is divided into joints or articulations, separated by a short interval, called a knot or internode, and in some there is the distance of several feet between each. Small alternate branches spring from the base to the top, which, together with the narrow pointed leaves issuing from the knots, give the.tree an elegant feathered appearance as it waves in the wind.
The rapidity of growth is surprising in the' ham boo. It sometimes vegetates three or four inches in a single day. Accurate observers have seen it rise 20 feet, and as thick as a man's wrist, in five or 13ix weeks ; and it has been known to reach SO feet in six monthi. This enables us to credit the assertions of those naturalists who maintain, that its full dimen sions are attained in a year ; and that the only sub sequent change is greater thickness and induration of the wood. It is always more solid and compact to
wards the root, and the hollow cells of the stem be come wider in proportion as they ascend. In Mala bar it is said to bear fruit when 15 years old, and that it then dies. Slenderness is a distinguishing charac teristic of the whole plant, and it seems probable that there are several different species which have not yet been recognised by systematic botanists. Soil and climate may have also produced effects which would disappear on uniformity of circumstances. An ob server of the bamboos of China, in general, confiders that there are ten species or varieties, and an observer of those in Cochin-China admits of eight. The for mer judges the difference to consist, first, in the size and height, for there is here the greatest disparity in those that are full grown ; and it has been supposed that some, if not all species, originally spring of their ultimate diameter, which receives no accession. Secondly, The distance of the knots, or length of joint, which, in certain species of full-grown bamboo, is only four inches, while, in others young and slender, they are nine or ten feet asunder. Thirdly, In the colour of the wood, which is whitish, yellow, brown, pale blue, or speckled. Fourthly, In the size and form of the knots, some swelling out from the stem above and below ; some encircling it like a cord ; and those of the most singular kind, which do not penetrate within to interrupt the tubular part of the bamboo. Fifthly, By the surface and figure of the internodes being channelled or covered with tuber cles ; and a kind is said to exist, called the square bamboo. The varnished surface is also of different quality. Sixthly, The substance and thickness of the wood, which, varying without any the di mensions of the plant, afford sufficient characteristics for constituting a species. The wood is either soft and tender, or very hard and of great strength ; and the stem is either very thin and hollow, or almost totally filled up and solid, like other trees. But else where, in Bangalore for example, this solidity is not ascribed to the difference of species, but to the tar diness of its growth in stony places. Seventhly, It is said that there are bamboos entirely devoid of branches, however old they may be ; while others protrude as they spring from the earth. Eighthly, There is a great difference both in the hue and figure of the leaves, as also in their size ; they are bluish, ash-colour, reddish, or mottled. Some are so large as to make very good fans. Ninthly, The roots, though knotty and irregular, are found in one species to penetrate like a large tuft of filaments into the earth. Tenthly, There are certain singularities which distinguish the species of this plant, in excres cences from the knots, which may be ate ; a saccha rine pith ; and wood of a red colour and agreeable odour.