915 



Hindu poets for the whiteness of its blossoms, which give 

 a large plain, at some distance, the appearance of a broad 

 river. Both plants are extremely useful to the Indians, 

 who harden the internodal parts of the culm, cut them Into 

 implements for writing on their polished paper. From the 

 munji, or culm, of the sara was made the maunji, or holy 

 thread, ordained by Menu to form the sacerdotal girdle, in 

 preference even to the cusa-grass.' Munjl fiber is obtain- 

 ed from the leaf -sheaths ; the blades are the sar or sara 

 used in thatching houses and as a paper material; the con- 

 tained flowering stem is the bind or vind; the panicle or 

 flowering stem is the sirki, til or thili, used in thatching 

 boats, carts, etc.; seritha or kana is the lower, stronger 

 portion of the flowering stem, used In the manufacture of 

 chairs, stools, tables, baskets and screens; and tllak, 

 tilon or ghua are names that denote the flowers. Some of 

 these names, such as munji and sara, have been supposed to 

 denote the products of different species, instead of dif- 

 ferent parts of one and the same plant, hence has origi- 

 nated much of the confusion that prevails. Sara is used 

 in paper-making and munji as a textile fibre. The much 

 prized munji is strong, elastic and has a wonderful power 

 of enduring moisture without decaying. It is extensively 

 employed in the manufacture of cordage, ropes, the famed 

 Delhi mats, and in the preparation of baskets, etc. Munji 

 mats are reported to be proof against white ants, but are 

 hard on shoe leather, harsh to the foot and fatiguing when 

 walked on for any length of time. These are largely pro- 

 duced In Allahabad, Agra, Delhi, and are traded in all 

 over India, and within recent years have begun to find 

 their way to Europe. In the early spring the old grass is 

 often fired when shortly after a crop of young leaves is 

 produced from the stools, which is much valued as fodder." 

 (Watt's Commercial Products of India, p. 929.) 



pumila L. (Ulmaceae.) 40898. Seeds from China. 

 Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for 

 this Department. "The Chinese elm, used all over northern 

 China and Manchuria as an avenue, shade and timber tree. 

 Resists droughts, extremes of heat and cold, and neglect 

 remarkably well; will be a good shade tree for the semi- 

 arid northern regions of the United States. The Chinese 

 carts are mainly constructed from the wood of this tree. 

 Has proven itself to be adapted as an ornamental tree over 

 a very extended territory in the United States." (Meyer.) 



