23 



27. The Calotropis fibre has been pronounced by 

 S an7and b s r u e P S manufacturers of paper, rope, and tex- 



to most materials ., p , . , ~, 1 



now in paper market, tile fabrics equal to any fibre now in the 

 market, and far superior to most of them ; and uni- 

 versal surprise has been expressed that so valuable an 

 article should not have attracted public attention 

 long ago. This fact is all the more astonishing when 

 it is remembered that as far back as 1831 this valu- 

 able fibre was brought to the notice of the English 

 public. 



28. With such strongly-expressed professional 

 NO reason why it opinions in its favor, I think it can 



should not be intro- L 



hardly be considered doubtful that there 

 would be a demand for this fibre in the home market, 

 and I see no reason why it should not be introduced 

 with advantage to both buyer and seller. It is in all 

 respects well-fitted to meet trade requirements, and, 

 once introduced, there is nothing to prevent an enor- 

 mous business in this fibre, a business far surpassing 

 even that in jute. The fibre will be found to possess 

 all those qualities which are requisite to produce a 

 compact felted first-class paper ; namely, flexibility, 

 strength, and length, it is also barbed and spiral, 

 habits of growth that render flax more valuable for 

 paper material than cotton. 



29. The following information regarding this 



^ffiSSJ "" P lant is based on data obtained from the 

 collector of Shikarpore, through Colonel Sir William 

 Merewether, and may therefore be accepted as trust 

 worthy. 



30. One acre stocked with plants 4' x 4' would 



