ll develop roots and send out other rhizomes. These rhizomes are relatively light and may be shipped long distances at low cost. They should be kept moist and cool during shipping and never be permitted to dry out.
The proper time to lift and divide the rhizomes is in February, March, or early April, just before the buds begin to push (grow up forming plants). Failure will likely result if the rhizomes are not lifted at the proper time.
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A NURSERY. A nursery is almost indispensable if large quantities of planting stock are needed. The nursery soil should be a rich fertile loam. It should be well prepared and irrigation provided to take care of the young plants. The rhizomes should be cut in 12- to 15-inch sections, planted in trenches, covered about 3 to 4 inches, and the soil firmed around them. Immediately after setting, they should be moistened and the soil kept moist at all times. Mulching is highly desirable.
One hundred properly selected rhizomes will weigh 3 to 5 pounds. Under favorable conditions, 50 per cent germination may be expected, so the 100 rhizomes should produce 50 good plants.
Careful weeding and watering during dry spells are needed the first summer. Plants usually attain a height of 1 to 3 feet the first year. At the beginning of the second year the plants may be dug and transplanted to permanent areas. If the nursery is to be used as a permanent source of planting material, it should be left 2 or 3 years to develop rootstocks before beginning digging. In digging, enough rhizomes are left to reestablish the nursery.
A good fertilizer program for a nursery is 80 pounds N, 35 pounds P (80 pounds P2O5) and 50 pounds K (80 pounds K2O) per acre worked into the soil before setting rhizomes. Apply 200 pounds of ammonium nitrate per acre about June 15 and again about September 1. The second year, 80 pounds N, 35 pounds P, and 50 pounds K per acre are broadcast before growth begins in the spring and ammonium nitrate applications are repeated during the summer as in the first year. This treatment is needed each year as long as the nursery is in use.
Weeding should be done carefully so as not to damage the rhizomes. Most of the weeding will have to be done by hand pulling or use of herbicides. Do not hoe around the young plants, because this will damage the rhizomes.
Excellent control of annual grasses and weeds was obtained at Auburn and at Camden by spraying with simazine at the rate of 3 pounds active ingredient per acre after the rhizomes were set. One application controlled the broadleaf weeds and grasses until about July 1. Another application of about 1 pound per acre was sometimes necessary to control the weeds until frost. No damage was apparent to the bamboo plants.
Setting Permanent Areas
For planting large areas it is desirable to use clumps of plants from a nursery. Plants survive better and require less care than do rhizome cuttings. Rhizome cuttings may be used for small areas. The plants should be removed from the nursery and set in February or March when soil is moist. If the plants in the nursery are too tall, cut them back for easy handling. It is desirable to dig a hole larger than the divided clump with its attached roots and soil. Set the plants a few inches lower than they grew in the nursery. Carefully fill the hole so as not to damage the buds on the rhizomes. The hole should not be completely filled, leaving a depression to hold water. Watering plants to settle the soil around the roots is desirable.
SPACING OF PLANTS. Spacing will vary with purpose of the planting, cost of planting material, and the earliness desired to cover the area. Developing a grove or a plantation requires 10 to 15 years to bring the plants to a desirable size. Bamboo culture is slow work and little can be done to speed up the development. Therefore, little can be gained by going to the expense of close plant spacing. Planting 15 to 20 feet apart in each direction has been satisfactory at Auburn and Camden. On the other hand, a planting for a hedge or screen or for ornamental purposes