180 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
epidermis; “ China grass” to the bark deprived of its epidermis 
and free from gum; “ Rami” is a general term applied to the 
plant itself, or the bark as it comes from the plant. 
The cultivation is not difficult except for the germination of 
the seed, which is a very delieate matter. The yield is given as 
from 1,500 lbs. to 2,800 lbs. of clean fibre per acre, which 
contrasts favourably with any fibre plant. Jute is said to give 
2,000 Ibs. per acre. Flax and hemp give from 400 to 450 lbs, 
Cotton varies greatly, but never gives 2,000 lbs. per acre. 
The real difficulty in Rami is the preparation. The fibres are 
extremely long, and form a continuous ring round the central 
column of wood. They are bast fibres of the cortex, and are 
mixed with a great deal of gummy material. They are also not 
of uniform length. Many ways have been tried to get these 
fibres cleanly and cheaply out of the bark. Full details as to the 
method employed at Wraysbury will be found in a paper in the 
Society of Arts Journal, by Mr. Cross, who is the leading 
authority on fibres in this country. (June 25th, 1897, Journal 
of Soc. Arts.) 
The Rhea Fibre Treatment Company, which has kindly presented 
the Technical College in this City with the beautiful case of 
samples now exhibited, appears to prefer the Rhea ribbons, of 
which specimens are included. These ribbons are dried strips of 
the bark, and their production is extremely easy, involving simply 
a steeping in hot water with a little crude soda, and careful 
drying for export. 
At present it is said that 2,200 tons of China Grass are 
employed annually, and that there are 31,000 spindles at work 
upon it in England, Germany, and France. Undoubtedly the 
extreme silky beauty of the fibre has a great deal to do with its 
success. It is very strong, about twice to three times as strong as 
hemp, four times as strong as fax, and eight times the strength of 
cotton. 
In spinning properties it is placed, on good authority, above 
both hemp and jute, though below flax. This is mainly on 
account of the variation in length of the fibres, which may be 
from half-an-inch to about ten inches. 

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