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A visit to the moso

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:50 pm
by bamboothew
Just wanted to share some pics from my annual (or so) visit to the moso grove in the Clemson University Experimental Forest. This grove was planted by Rufus Fant (planter of the famous Anderson grove) in the 1930s. From what I understand it has never been contained or groomed in any way, and now covers aprox 2 acres of land. Most of the culms in this grove are 4-5" in diameter but I found a few 5.5-6 inchers.
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Re: A visit to the moso

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:02 pm
by bamboothew
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A visit to the moso

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:13 am
by rickw
Awesome photos but reminds me how puny my little groove is, 1"X12'. Someday

Re: A visit to the moso

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:10 pm
by Jeff: Igor's Apprentice
I would have definitely thought an 80 year old grove of moso would cover more than 2 acres if left unchecked.

Wish moso was a little hardier. I love the look of 'Nabeshimana', in particular.

Re: A visit to the moso

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:42 pm
by bamboothew
The info I found claimed the grove only covered an acre in 2005 but it appears to cover about 2, but that's really just a guess. My own property is about 2 acres here so I think I have a good perspective on the size, but could be wrong. The perimeter is so overgrown with weeds and such that I couldn't really walk the perimeter, else I could step off the perimeter and estimate the size a little better. Official data on that grove is scant! Btw moso isn't known as a very aggressive spreader anyway and voles could be hindering it too for all I know, but I didn't see evidence of any. Plus, the soil the grove is spreading into is almost pure red clay.

Re: A visit to the moso

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:50 pm
by foxd
I remember that the Moso grove in Silverbrook Cemetery was also spreading into red clay. I've wondered if Moso likes red clay. :?

Re: A visit to the moso

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:58 pm
by bamboothew
I read somewhere that it does, in fact I'm sure I read somewhere that in asia clay is sometimes used as a soil ammendment for bamboo being grown in lighter soils, especially moso! Btw though, in the middle of the Clemson grove the leaf litter and resulting humus is way over a foot thick, wish I could have a truckload of that stuff!