694 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Nov.. 1910. 



WILD ''GRASSES" FOR AVEAYING. 



Alfred J. Eicart. D.Sc.. Ph.D.. F.L.S.. Govenuucut Botanist and 

 Professor of Botany in the Melbourne University. 



The American Consul. Mr. J. F. Jewell, writes as follows: — 

 " I have the honour to state that I am in receipt of a letter from the- 

 United States forwarding the enclosed sample of grass, with the request 

 to ascertain whether similar grass is procurable here and, if so, whether 

 it would be possible to obtain regular supplies of at least 5,000 tons per 

 year. My correspondent is a manufacturer of grass rugs and carpets and 

 desires to establish the industry here which is successfully carried on in 

 the United States, if the right kind of grass is procurable in sufficient 

 quantities and at the price of, say, from ^2 to ^3 los. per ton. The 

 grass, he states, is grown in marshes or waste land, is cut with an old- 

 fashioned reaper, and is bound in bundles by hand after lying long enough 

 to get dried or cured. I would, therefore, appreciate your courtesy if you 

 would kindlv furnish me with the desired information." 



The specimen accompanying the letter does not appear to agree exactly 

 with anv Victorian gras.ses or .sedges. l)Ut since it consists simoly of the 

 stems and leaves used in manufacture, it cannot be identified with cer- 

 taintv. We have, however, certain grasses and sedges growing wild in 

 Victoria which approach the present sample, and which might prove valu- 

 able for the purposes mentioned, if an abundant supply of them could be 

 assured. Judging from the sample, the conditions required are: — 



1. The stems or leaves must be slender, about the thickness of a 



steel knitting needle, of nearly the same diameter throughout,, 

 and from 18 inches to 3 feet in length. 



2. Thev must be tough and fibrous and must remain flrxiblr when 



dry. 



3. Thev should not become discoloured in drying. 



4. A steady supply in fair quantity should be obtainable. A 



temporary or an occasional supply would be of little value. 



5. The surface should be smooth, but the edges may be rough, as. 



in the present sample. 

 As the quantity required, 5.000 tons, is considerable, and at ^3 per 

 ton would represent ^15.000 per annum, it may be worth while to find 

 whether a supply could not be obtained from Victoria, as plants of this 

 character grow wild in swampy places, which are often of no agricultural 

 value. Onlv the cost of collecting the material would come into considera- 

 tion, so that if a suitable nati\e plant could Ije found to satisfv this 

 demand, a fair profit might be possible. Samples of the material in 

 question can be .seen at the National Herbarium, or will be forwarded on 

 loan if desired, and specimens of any grass sent in as a suitable one could 

 be forwarded to the manufacturer in question for his approval, provided' 

 the requirements mentioned above leem likely to be satisfied. 



PLANTS IXDlGEXOrS TO \ I(JTORL\. 



The attention of readers of the Journal is drawn to the notice on the 

 back cover regarding Professor A. J. I'.warts latt-st work. Plants In- 

 digenous to Victoria, Vol. II. 



