180 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



epidermis ; " China grass " to the bark deprived of its epidermis 

 and free from gum ; " Kami " is a general term applied to the 

 plant itself, or the bark as it comes from the plant. 



The cultivation is not difficult except for the germination of 

 the seed, which is a very delicate matter. The yield is given as 

 from 1,500 lbs. to 2,800 lbs. of clean fibre per acre, which 

 contrasts favourably with any fibre plant. Jute is said to give 

 2,000 lbs. per acre. Flax and hemp give from 400 to 450 lbs. 

 Cotton varies greatly, but never gives 2,000 lbs. per acre. 



The real difficulty in Rami is the preparation. The fibres are 

 extremely long, and form a continuous ring round the central 

 column of wood. They are bast fibres of the cortex, and are 

 mixed with a great deal of gummy material. They are also not 

 of uniform length. Many ways have been tried to get these 

 fibres cleanly and cheaply out of the bark. Full details as to the 

 method employed at Wraysbury will be found in a paper in the 

 Society of Arts Journal, by Mr. Cross, who is the leading 

 authority on fibres in this country. (June 25tb, 1897, Journal 

 of Soc. Arts.) 



The Rhea Fibre Treatment Company, which has kindly presented 

 the Technical College in this City with the beautiful case of 

 samples now exhibited, appears to prefer the Rhea ribbons, of 

 which specimens are included. These ribbons are dried strips of 

 the bark, and their production is extremely easy, involving simply 

 a steeping in hot water with a little crude soda, and careful 

 drying for export. 



At present it is said that 2,200 tons of China Grass are 

 employed annually, and that there are 31,000 spindles at work 

 upon it in England, Germany, and France. Undoubtedly the 

 extreme silky beauty of the fibre has a great deal to do with its 

 success. It is very strong, about twice to three times as strong as 

 hemp, four times as strong as Sax, and eight times the strength of 

 cotton. 



In spinning properties it is placed, on good authority, above 

 both hemp and jute, though below flax. This is mainly on 

 account of the variation in length of the fibres, which may be 

 from half-an-inch to about ten inches. 



