81 



Further on. Dr. Watson tells us, in the same Report, that 

 "the fibre obtained from the dried stems (of the rheea) 

 amounts to about 20 to 28 per cent, of the weight of the 

 dried stems, which corresponds to about 4 to 6 per cent, in 

 the weight of fresh stems." There is no reason, physical or 

 other, that I know of, why the dried stems of the Calotropis 

 should not give similar favourable results. However this 

 may be, I would very earnestly urge the expediency of 

 giving this plant a fair trial. If the experiment fails, the 

 next point to which attention should be turned is the 

 introduction of a machine capable of working the raw 

 material. We should then be precisely at the stage at 

 which the Rheea project rests at present. 



The following is the Correspondence referred to above : 



From the Additional Conservator of Forests, British Burma. 

 To the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, British Burma. 



No. 645. 



14L 



Dated Rangoon, 5th July, 1875. 



Sir, I have the honour to forward copy of Mr. Strettell's 

 letter, dated 2nd May, 1877, to my address, regarding papers 

 to be made from 



Broussonetia papyri/era. 

 Streblus aspera. 

 Ficus infectoria. 

 Ficus Rumphii. 

 Ficus excelsa. 



I would respectfully state that the Forest Department, as 

 at present constituted, and with the work in hand of 

 selecting reserves, &c., has not the time to enter into exper- 

 iments with regard to the disposal of minor forest produce. 

 Moreover, although the trees enumerated are plentiful, they 

 F 



