_ manufacture their strings, lines, and cordage for every pur- 
_ pose, which are so much stronger than any thing we can 
make with Hemp, that they will not bear a comparison. 
From the same plant, by another process, they draw long 
_ slender fibres, which shine like silk, and are as white 
as snow : of these, which are also surprisingly strong, the 
finer clothes are composed ; while of the leaves, without any 
other preparation than splitting them into proper breadths, 
and tying the strips together, they make their fishing nets; 
some of which are of an enormous size. A plant, which, with 
such advantage might be applied to so many useful and 
important purposes, would certainly be a great acquisition 
to England, where it. would probably thrive with very little 
trouble, as it seems to be hardy, and to affect no particular 
soil ; being found equally in hill and valley, in the driest 
mould and the deepest bogs. The bog, however, it seems 
rather to prefer, as near such places we found it to be larger 
than elsewhere.” 
The seeds brought home by Sir Joseps Banxs in 177] 
_ did not succeed, but the New Zealand Flax was introduced 
to the Royal Gardens at Kew, through the medium of the 
same enlightened individual in 1789, and thence has been 
liberally distributed to collections in our own country and 
_ upon the continent. I possess flowering specimens in my 
_ Herbarium, which were produced in the Liverpool Gardens 
_ more than twenty years ago, the only instance that has come 
under my knowledge, except in the case of the individual 
plant now under consideration, which blossomed in June 
of the present year, in the greenhouse of Joseru Bourrszr, 
Esq. of Springfield, Knowle, near Birmingham, who de- 
Scribes it, “ though not as a brilliant, yet as a very hand- 
_ Some and magnificent plant.” By Mr. Arron it was sent to 
_ the garden of the Museum of Natural History of Paris in 
_ 1800: and in that country it has, as might be expected from 
_ the nature of the climate in many of the districts, been cul- 
_ tivated in the open air, and, for the first time, it produced 
flowers in the department of the Dréme, in 1812, but it 
bore no fruit. Messrs. Lasitarprere, F'avusas pe St. Fonp, 
Desronraines, and Freycinet, have devoted much atten- 
tion to the cultivation, and to the manufactory of this plant. 
It has even withstood the severe winters of Paris: but in 
the South of France it has been propagated with consider- _ 
able success, and survived the winters without the smallest 
protection. In the departments of the west, particularly in 
_ the environs of Cherbourg, it has perfectly succeeded and 
_ yielded ripe fruit. It is readily increased too, caged 
& 
