33 



present regarded as an evil, I refer more particularly 

 Grass Fibres, to the conversion of tlie high grasses into 

 fibre that might be imported into Europe in this 

 form, or in that of half-stock, whichever, after trial, 

 proved the more profitable form for shipment. And 

 I would beg leave at this point to remind the 

 Authorities that the same machine which is suited 

 for the manufacturing of the Calotropis fibre is 

 equally well adapted to the manufacture of the 

 grass fibre. Further on I shall have occasion to 

 refer to these grasses again, and I shall then enu- 

 merate the parts of India where they abound, and 

 where they so seriously interfere with the forest 

 conservancy. I shall also give my authority for 

 stating that they are peculiarly adapted to the re- 

 quirements of the paper and rope trade, being 

 light, tenacious, and capable of bearing, without 

 injury, alternate exposure to wet and dry. At this 

 stage of my argument I shall confine myself to 

 stating the probable yield of grass per acre, and the 

 cost of its conversion into fibre. 



44 One acre of land has been estimated to yield 

 15,375 Ibs., or nearly 7 tons of unhandled 



cost of prepara- . , -\ r>rt r> T A 



tion. raw material, and 62 per cent, of oona 



fide manufacture, averaging from 2 to 2J feet long, 

 at a cost of 3 17s. The grass is irrepressible, and 

 will yield a second crop of fibre within twelve months 

 of the first cutting; it is independent of irrigation 

 other than the annual inundations, and it requires 

 no cultivation. It seems clear, then, that by turning 

 this grass to account we should not only be bene- 



