10 Dec, 1918.] Native Fibre Plants. 749 



The barks of E. globulus, E. amygdalina, E. goniocalyx, E. corym- 

 bosa. E. longifoUa, E. stuartiana, and E. rostrata are also stated to be 

 useful in or suitable for paper making, 1 have not been able to procure 

 any samples of paper made from these barks, nor can I find any data 

 as to the cost and value of paper prepared from them. They all appear 

 to have one or more disqualifications as economically valuable sources 

 of paper-making materials, and hence, until precise information in 

 regard to them can be brought forward, including cost of treatment and 

 value of product, they can be dismissed from the list of materials suit- 

 able for paper making. 



Acacia penninervis (the hicl'ory wattle). — The bark of this plant 

 is stated to be suitable for making coarse paper, and that of other 

 species for packing paper. I cannot find any record of paper having 

 been made from the bark of this tree, and in general barks which are at 

 all rich in tannin are unsuitable for paper pulp. 



Melaleuca ericifolia (swamp paper bark). — ^The bark is stated to be 

 adaptable for making blotting paper, and probably filter paper. The 

 papery bark is very deceptive in appearance. It is non-fibrous and 

 suberinized, and is, therefore, the worst possible material for either 

 blotting paper or filter paper. Grood blotting paper should consist of 

 as pure as possible cellulose fibres. Lignified fibres are not so good. 

 Suberinized tissue, being non-absorbent, is useless. As filter paper 

 should be as nearly free from ash as possible, the bark of the paper tree 

 is useless for filter paper on that account alone. 



Brachy chiton (kurrajong), — ^^The barks of the different species of 

 this tree yield a strong fibre. It is often cut down in drought time to 

 feed stock, and hence is rapidly disappearing from Victoria. The fibre 

 is worthy of investigation, but it would not be profitable to grow the 

 tree for its bark alone, 



Pimelea. — Various species of these are herbs or shrubs, with a very 

 tough fibrous bark, Mr, Patton, Government Research Scholar, has 

 isolated the fibres in some cases, and finds that they are of great length, 

 and appear to be of considerable strength. They are worthy of further 

 investigation, since the fibres are as long as short-staple cotton, but, 

 unless the plants can be cheaply and economically cultivated, they are 

 not likely to compete with such fibre plants as flax or cotton. The above, 

 as well as Plagianthus pulchellus (the hemp bush), and Commersonia 

 Fraserii (the blackfellow's hemp), were well known to the native abori- 

 gines as sources of fibre or cordage. So far, however, they have not been 

 found to possess such special properties as would render them capable of 

 displacing any of the recognised economic fibre plants. 



Casxiarina stricta (drooping sheoke) and C. suberosa (black buloke). 

 — It has been stated that the foliage of these trees can be converted into 

 an excellent pulp for packing paper, and even printing pa}oer and miD- 

 boards. The trees really have no foliage, for the leaves are reduced to 

 minute scales. The branches are so formed that it is very doubtful 

 whether paper pulp could be economically obtained from them. They 

 contain two different kinds of fibres, requiring dissimilar treatment, and 

 the two classes of fibre would be difficult to separate. Mr. Patton 

 informs me that the fibres are among the smallest that he has examined. 



