Since long past offset and rhizome
planting have been conventional methods
of small scale bamboo propagation in the
villages of Bangladesh and other
neighbouring countries (Peal 1882). Use of
these propagules, however, is not economic
for large scale bamboo afforestation
programme due to their bulky size, heavy
weight (4-30 Kg) and transportation
problem (Banik 1980). Moreover, a clump
can supply these propagules in only limited
numbers, certainly not enough for large
scale plantation. The availability of bamboo
seeds is also restricted because of long
flowering interval in bamboo. Propagation
of bamboo through branch cutting

A kraft mill, even by utilizing the best available technology,
cannot be made completely odour-free. However, there are several
sulphide-free and non-sulphur pulping methods. Among these, sodaanthraquinone
(AQ) pulping process seems to be promissing.

The most practised chemical to-day is the kraft process. 95% of the present production of chemical 74 Pulp yield can be increased by using polysulphide, H2S or AQ
in the cook. The first two are used exclusively in kfraft cooking, and
so the odour problem cannot be overcome. AQ on the other hand,
is also suitable in a sulphur-free cook which eliminates the odour
problem of the pulp mill. Soda-AQ pulping is more suitable with
hardwoods.

Seedlings of Pinus caribaea var.
hondurensis planted at Keochia Silvicultural
Research Station, Chittagong in 1972
reached an average height of 14.0 m and
started bearing fruits in 1982. The trees
flowered during the months of January-
February and cones ripened in August-
September of the same year. Some seeds
were hand-picked from two selected trees
in 1982 and the seeds were extracted from
the cones by exposing them in the sun.
Germination experiment was carried out
with them. The seeds were first tested by
floatation process with 85% ethyl alcohol
for finding out the empty seeds. After the
test, 220 mature seeds were sown in
polybags filled up with forest top soil. An
appropriate quantity of chemical fertilizer
was also applied. The tops of the bags