150 JUTE AND SIMILAR FIBRES 



slightly lustrous, well cleaned, rather harsh, of fair 

 but uneven strength, and of irregular length varying 

 from 3 feet 6 inches to 6 feet. In chemical composi- 

 tion and behaviour the sample was very similar to the 

 " Kowe " fibre examined previously. The loss on 

 hydrolysis was unusually low and indicated that the 

 fibre would prove durable. The product was sold at 

 public auction in London, with the result that a 

 portion of the material realised 18 per ton, whilst 

 the remainder sold at 17 55. per ton. The brokers 

 who sold the consignment reported that i& per ton 

 was about the price, subject to market fluctuations, 

 which might be expected for future lots of this fibre, 

 for which it seemed possible that a demand might be 

 created. It is probable that the fibre was purchased 

 by rope-makers, as at that time Manila hemp was 

 at an exceptionally high price. 



The sale of another small consignment in 1909 

 was attended with considerable difficulty, and a much 

 lower price was obtained. It appears that, although 

 the fibre can be used for spinning in admixture with 

 jute, spinners do not care to purchase it when they 

 can obtain ample supplies of Indian jute at a reason- 

 able price. Moreover, it fails to attract rope-makers 

 when Manila hemp is cheap and plentiful. It there- 

 fore follows that, in these circumstances, the fibre is 

 classed in the market as " nondescript " and has to 

 be sold at a very low price to anyone who can find a 

 use for it. 



Hibiscus rostellatus. This species, known in the 

 Gambia as " Darwaso," yields a moderately lustrous, 

 nearly white fibre of the nature of jute. 



Hibiscus Sabdariffa. This plant grows in Northern 

 Nigeria and in the Northern Territories of the Gold 

 Coast, and is known to the natives of the latter 

 country as " Rama." It is also cultivated in many 

 parts of India and occurs in the West Indies and in 

 Florida. The fibre is fine, strong and silky, and from 

 6 to 7 feet long. 



Hibiscus squamosus. A specimen of the fibre of 

 this species, received at the Imperial Institute from 

 the Gold Coast, consisted of strong, lustrous fibre, 



