358 



FIBRES 



Nettle ( Urtica Jicicfopht/lla).- -This nettle appears to bo remarkable be- 

 yond all others for its slinging properties. It is abundant in Mysore, nourishing in 

 Alpine jungles. Tho Todawars IUVJMJV. tin- fibre of this plant by DOlfixg tho stems in 

 water, after -which they readily separate it from the woody parts and then spin it into 

 a coarse but very strong fibre. Tho Malays simply steep the stems in water for ten 

 or twelve days, after which they are so much softened that the outer fibrous portion 

 i.s easily peeled off. 



Ycrciuti Nar. This is the native name of the fibres of the Calotropis (Asdepias) 

 qigantca, a plant which grows wild, abundantly, in various parts of the Bengal and 

 Madras Presidencies, and is used by the natives in the manufacture of cord called 

 Lamb-dore, or Tondcc Coir. 



Aloe fibre, or Nar, the produce of the Agave vivipara, and other allied species. 

 This is often called the Silk grass fibre. 



Pine-apple fibre, sometimes called Ananas flax. This has been prepared in Java 

 and at Travaucoro. Many fine specimens have been brought to this country. 



Plantain fibre. In the Government establishments of Ceylon this is extensively 

 employed. Canvas and ropes are made of it. It is obtained from the Musa tcxtilis. 

 It is calculated that 8 cwt. per acre of this excellent fibre might be obtained. 



Mahant bark. Employed at St. Vincent's in the manufacture of fishing nets, 

 common cord, and coarse lines for fishing. 



New Orleans mess ( Tillandsia j'ftneoides), a substitute for horse-hair as a stuffing 

 material for upholsterers. Sometimes the fibrous husk of the Indian corn is used 

 for the same purpose, but it is more brittle than the moss. 



Palm-tree fibre. These fibres are obtained from many varieties of the palm. 



Grass fibre. Many of the grasses are now being used in the manufacture of paper, 

 and for other purposes. 



The following tables by Dr. Roxburgh and Dr. Wright, afford much information 

 as to the relative strengths of different kinds of fibrous substances. The first table 

 gives experiments made by Dr. Roxburgh in 1804 ; some of the fibres were, however, 

 probably imperfectly prepared : 



In 1808, Dr. Roxburgh made another series of experiments, of which the following 

 table gives the result : 



Experiments were made some years i;^,, ], v J) r . Wright on several well-known vege- 

 table fibres when made into ropes. Tho following v.vn- the results : 



