444 xi)ri:s ox fii'.ki'.s. 



ground and j^lenty of moisture the leaves may be grown to a 

 leaigth of <S or lo feet, but its usual length is from 4 to 6 feet. 

 It is used l)y the natives of New Zealand for making a coarse, 

 rough clothing, as well as string, mats, etc. The presence of a 

 viscid, gummy matter in the leaves has hitherto rendered the 

 cost of preparation too greet, Init that difficulty has now been 

 overcome, and the future of this plant seems to be i)romising. 

 Without manipulation narrow s-tripes of the leaves may be used 

 ill the garden to rei:)lace string. Irrigation would be re(|uired 

 for its successful cultivation. 



Now that Manilla heni]) cannot l)e im|xjrted, an effort should 

 be made to replace it with the fibre of the plantain Miisa para- 

 disiaca. a closely allied s])ecies df Miisa Icxtilis. This is capable 

 of ])roducing a hemp not inferior to that i:)lant. The i)]antain is 

 more hardy than the banana, grc^ws much taller, and can be 

 grown even where a few degrees of frost is experienced. I'lants 

 mature in three vears. when the fruit may be harvested and the 

 roUed-up leaf-stems removed and treated for its tibre. 



Yoirng plants are produced annually from the underground 

 stems, so that an annual supi)ly of mature plants are maintained 

 without rei)lanting. 



I am convinced that a hemi) can 1)e pre|>ared from this ])lant 

 to take the place of Manilla, which has hitherto been almost the 

 only fibre that can be used in the self-binding reaper. All avail- 

 able jdants ought to be turned to account. This is (vnlv an im- 

 perfectly prepared sample, but it will suffice to show it> length 

 of fibre and strength. 



Mauritius hemp. Fourcroya (/i(/aiitca, is used in the ]\Iauri- 

 tius and elsewhere : like Sisal hemp, the large fleshy leaves arc 

 cut after the third year, rotted in water and l^eaten out. This 

 plant is not so hardy as the Amepican aloe, l)ut it will grow well 

 without irrigation, producing leaves to feet in length that will 

 yield an abundance of useful fibre. 



Stcrcitlia dircrsifolia, an Australian tree, usually planted for 

 ornament, has a thick bark containing a large (|uantity of very 

 strong fibre of commercial value. It is a fjuick-growing tree, 

 and can be easily propagated from seed or cuttings, growing 

 freely from large limbs like the wdld fig. and when cut down a 

 young- growth springs up rapidly from the old stumps. 



The inner bark of the young trees is easily removed in 

 ribbon-like strips, and may be used as a bast, Init the whole of 

 the bark in the older trees contains good fibre. Several Indian 

 species yield a cordage, and Stcrcitlia tragacantlia, of Sierra 

 Leone, yields the gum of that name. 



There are many other good fibre-producing plants that I 

 have not mentioned, but those dealt with will suffice to show the 

 wonderful possibilities that lie in this direction, i)roviding 

 material for the establishment of an industry capable of employ- 

 ing a large amount of labour, and supidving our own needs as 

 well as exporting a large surplus. 



[Read, July 5, lyi/.) 



