457 
ranean, principally in Spain and in northern Africa. In the regions 
where this grass grows the material is used for the manufacture of 
cordage, sandals, tie material, and basket work, but its great commercial 
importance lies in its use for paper stock. The cost of its production 
and of its shipment have excluded the use of esparto in the United States, 
where wood pulp has been so cheap and plentiful, but in Great Britain 
it has found a steady market, approximately 200,000 tons, valued at from 
$15 to $20 per ton, being imported annually into that country. 
Bhabur grass.—The Bhabur grass (/schaemum augustifolium) which is met 
with throughout the central table lands of India from Bengal to Madras, the 
northwest provinces and central India, is in some parts extremely abundant. 
As a paper material this grass has been reported as little inferior to esparto 
and the paper made from it is of good quality. The Indian paper mills use 
Bhabur grass largely.*? 
The Munj grass (Saccharum sara), which is common from Bengal to north 
India, as well as several other species of Saccharum, are largely used in the upper 
India mills near Lucknow. Indeed, this is one of the most valuable of Indian 
fiber materials, in some respects being superior to Bhabur grass. The great 
obstacle to its further use is the difficulty of procuring a large and constant 
supply.” 
The following statistics which refer to the paper industry of India 
are especially significant in their bearing on the possibilities of paper 
production in the Philippines, as the raw materials in general use in 
the mills of India are very similar to those which we are about to discuss: 
There are eight paper mills in operation, two of which are private concerns. 
The capital invested so far as information is obtainable is rupees 7,320,000 
(approximately $2,500,000). Most of the white and blue foolseap and much of 
the blotting paper, note paper, and envelopes used in the Government. offices 
are now made in the Indian mills. 
The total quantity of paper made in 1902 was 47,000,000 pounds, valued at 
$2,092,000, approximately. 
The capital has trebled in twenty years since 1883 and the production and 
number of persons employed has increased sixfold during the same period.” 
PITILIPPINE GRASSES. 
Cogon.—Two grasses, Cogon and Talahib, are found in the Philippine 
Islands growing wild and apparently in sufficient quantities to warrant 
some inquiry as to their economic use. In the Philippines many coarse 
grasses are termed cogon, but, properly speaking, Cogon (Jmperata 
evaltata Brong.) is the broad-leaved, gregarious variety, 2 to 4 feet in 
height, which grows in even stands on open lands, foothills, and moun- 
tains. Where nipa is not to be obtained the true cogon is highly prized 
for thatching purposes. Conditions of drought do not appear to affect 
* Watt: Dictionary of Economic Products of India, 6, part 1. 
2 Ibid. 
8 Indian Forester (1904), 29, 482. 
