576 



Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



" The well-prepared fibre of Hibiscus cannahinus is 

 exported from India under the name of ' Bimlipatam jute,' and 

 finds a market as a jute substitute at approximately the same 

 price as the medium qualities of jute. A specimen of this Indian 

 Hibiscus fibre is sent herewith, which is worth about £15 per ton 

 at the present time (September, 1909)." 



A further sample of this fibre, weighing 2 lb. l^ oz., was obtained 

 from Mr. M. Macpherson, of Barberton, Transvaal, and submitted 



Photo by I. B. Pole Evava.'] 



Plate VI.' Bundle of Hihl.tcnx eannahimix ready for retting and 

 two lots of fibre extracted from similar sized bundles. 



to the Imperial Institute in July, 1909. 

 follows : — 



The Institute reported as 



" The fibre had a fair lustre and an irregular pale greyish- 

 brown colour. It had not been well prepared, but the whole of 

 the material was gummy and some parts were strappy and con- 

 tained a good deal of adherent barky matter; these defects were 



