Volume 2

Useful knowledge: or a familiar account of the various productions of nature, mineral, vegetable, and animal, which are chiefly employed for the use of man. Illustrated with numerous figures, and intended as a work both of instruction and reference / By William Bingley.

  • Bingley, William, 1774-1823.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Useful knowledge: or a familiar account of the various productions of nature, mineral, vegetable, and animal, which are chiefly employed for the use of man. Illustrated with numerous figures, and intended as a work both of instruction and reference / By William Bingley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    125/322 (page 101)
    BAMBOO CAUSE. thick, rough, and hairy sheaths, alternate lranchest and small, entire, and spear-shaped leaves. There is scarcely any plant so common in hot cli- mates as this, and few are more extensively useful. It occurs within the tropical regions both of the eastern and western hemispheres, throughout the Enst Indies and the greater part of China, in the West Indies, and America. In England, it can only be cultivated in a hot-house; and its growth is so rapid, even there, that a strong shoot has been known to spring from the ground and attain the height of twenty feet in six weeks. ' The inhabitants of many parts of India build their houses almost wholly of bamboo ; and make nearly every description of furniture with it, in a very inge- nious manner. They likewise form with it several kinds of utensils, for their kitchens and tables; and, from two pieces of bamboo rubbed hard together, they produce fire. The masts of boats, boxes, baskets, and innumerable other articles, are made of bamboo. After having been bruised, steeped in water, and formed into a pulp, the sheaths and leaves may be manufactured into paper. The stems are frequently bored, and used as pipes for conveying water ; and the strongest stems serve to make the poles with which the slaves or ser- vants carry those kind of litters so common in the East, called palanquins. The stems of the bamboo serve also as the usual fence for gardens and other enclosures: and the leaves are generally put round the tea which is sent in chests from China to Europe. The Chinese make, of the external bark of the bamboo, a kind of cordage, which has the advantage of united lightness and durability. For this purpose the bark is cleft in strips several feet in length; and these are twisted to- gether according to the thickness that is required. For the tow lines of their vessels, eight or nine bands or strips are sufficient; but, for cables, a much greater number is requisite. Some of the Malays pre- serve the small and tender shoots of bamboo in vinegar