146 JUTE AND SIMILAR FIBRES 



Hibiscus Abelmoschus. This plant is cultivated 

 throughout West Africa, and grows in most tropical 

 countries. A sample of the fibre from India, 

 examined at the Imperial Institute, was found 

 to possess characters strongly resembling those of 

 jute. 



Hibiscus cannabinus. This species is cultivated in 

 India, chiefly in Madras, but also in Bombay, Bihar, 

 and the United Provinces, and the fibre is known as 

 "Ambari hemp " or "Deccan hemp." A considerable 

 amount of fibre is produced in Madras and exported to 

 the United Kingdom, where it is sold under the name 

 of " Bimlipatam jute " and realises prices about 

 equal to those of medium grades of jute. It has been 

 estimated that the crop yields from two to three tons 

 of fibre per acre. A study of Hibiscus cannabinus 

 has been carried out by the Agricultural Department 

 in India, and seed of the best races has been selected 

 for multiplication, so that pure seed can now be 

 supplied in large quantities to the growers. The fibre 

 of this plant is somewhat coarser than true jute, 

 but can be used for most purposes to which jute is 

 ordinarily applied . Hibiscus cannabinus is also grown 

 in West Africa and in many other tropical countries. 

 It is an important fibre-plant of Nigeria. 



Hibiscus esculentus. This plant is the well-known 

 " Okra," " Awkraw " or " Bhindi," which yields a 

 mucilaginous seed-pod used in many parts of the 

 world as a vegetable and appears to be grown in all 

 parts of West Africa. 



A sample of " Awkraw " fibre was forwarded to the 

 Imperial Institute from Sierra Leone in 1905. The 

 material was of a pale straw colour, fairly lustrous, 

 but not well cleaned, somewhat harsher than jute, and 

 about 3 1 to 4 feet long. On chemical examination 

 it was found that " Awkraw " fibre is of a somewhat 

 different character from Indian jute, and is much more 

 susceptible to the attack of alkali and on this account 

 would probably be somewhat less durable. Com- 

 mercial experts reported that this fibre could be spun 

 with good results when mixed with jute, and if of 

 somewhat greater strength would be worth from 



