THE MORE IMPORTANT PLANT PRODUCTS 75 



between the wood of the tree and the thick outer bark, and 

 this they make into something resembhng sheets of paper, but 

 black." The famous Venetian's error in calhng this the silk- 

 worm Mulberry is pardonable enough, since the trees are very 

 closely allied, and somewhat similar in appearance. Paper 

 money is still made from the paper prepared from the bark of 

 the " Kou shu," and the same paper, " P'i-chih " owing to its 

 toughness, is used for wrapping up silver, for tags on silk goods, 

 and as a lining between the fur or cotton and the outer fabric 

 in fur-lined or wadded garments. The B. papyri/era occurs 

 all over China up to 4000 feet altitude, and if left alone 

 forms a much-branched tree 35 to 45 feet tall with a smooth 

 dark grey bark. In a bush form it is abundant by the way- 

 side and on cliffs. Most of the paper (which is called Kou- 

 p'i-chih — literally bark paper) made from this tree and used 

 in Western China comes from the province of Kweichou. In 

 Hupeh the slender branches from young trees and bushes 

 are cut into lengths, steamed in vats to facilitate the removal 

 of the bark, which is converted into string and cordage. 



The material from which the original India paper (a 

 Chinese, not an Indian product), which came from Canton, 

 was made is unknown. Possibly it was prepared from Ramie 

 fibre [Bcehmeria nivea), but I venture the suggestion that it 

 may have been obtained from the bark of Broussonetia 

 papyrifera. 



Bamboo supplies the material for the manufacture of all 

 the better class papers used for printing and writing upon, 

 papering windows, and a hundred and one other purposes. 

 Several species are employed for this purpose, one of the 

 commonest being Phyllostachys heterodada. This bamboo is 

 abundant in central and Western China, especially in alluvial 

 areas near streams up to 4000 feet altitude. It grows 12 to 

 18 feet tall, with fairly slender dark green culms ; commonly 

 it forms extensive groves. The stems cire cut into lengths, 

 made into bundles, and immersed in concrete pits, being 

 weighted down and kept under water by heavy stones. After 

 three months they are removed, opened up, and thoroughly 

 washed. Next they are restacked in layers, each layer being 

 well sprinkled with lime and water, holding potash salts in 



