Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1919 — Bamboo Can Be Raised for Table Use in This Country as in China [ARTICLE]

Bamboo Can Be Raised for Table Use in This Country as in China

An agricultural explorer from the department of agriculture spent six years in China investigating the possibility of introducing new and promising plants into the United States. His experiences are rather Interesting. The imlust rious Ch inesp have deyeloped from their native vegetation- a u i tiri si ngtv~tu rge 11u inher of improved varieties that are admirably suited to their local conditions. Many of the plants should be equally successful in the United States. The expert mentioned refers to the popularity of edible bamboo shoots in China, not to speak of Japan, and says that when they are of a good variety they are a vegetable dish that has no rival. Their crispness and their freshness of flavor appeal to nearly* every one the first time be eats. "them. Foreigners in the Orient become as partial to bamboo sprouts as Americans are to asparagUS. —"-y:‘‘ T; The varieties that are cultivated for their shoots are generally grown in gardens close to the house, and are heavily manured, in order to insure a maximum of sprouts and the greatest tenderness of texture. In California and some of the southern states are groves of one species’ that are producing sprouts nearly, if not quite, equal to those raised in the Orient. ' It is believed that the bamboo can be cultivated for table use in this country as successfully as in China, for the Chinese colonies in our large cities afford a ready market and Chinese restaurants consume large quantities In soups and other dishes. Moreover, there are who have acquired in the East a liking for the shoots, and would be glad to buy them if they could get them.