The stems of bamboo plants are very strong, but hollow, with the exception of partitions at the nodes; and to these two qualities is due the great popularity and usefulness of bamboo canes, which to the Chinese, Japanese, indo-chinese, and West Indians are essentials to everyday life, and have been so for many centuries to the European they have been known popularly for only a few years. Bamboo stems resemble the stems of all grasses in being jointed; they are hard, light as regards weight, elastic, and, as has been said, hollow, con taining only a light, spongy pith, and the parti tions at the nodes, these partitions increasing the strength of the stems greatly. Most bamboos are of approximate circular section, but one species is square; this, when three years Old, has a sectional area of one square inch.