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CHAPTER XV. 



LECUMINOS/E USED FOR TEXTILE PURPOSES. 



Only a few plants among the Leguminosa^ are of use for 

 textile purposes. 



The chief species is Crotalaria juncca, l3ut numerous other 

 species furnish fibres which, though not of any great com- 

 mercial value, still serve a number of useful purposes in those 

 localities where thev occur. The greater number of these 

 plants are foimcl in India, and the natives have turned them 

 to excellent account. 



In Australia it is chiefly the acacias which have shown 

 the most useful Cjualities. These plants occur in many other 

 parts of the Tropics, and might be turned to equally good 

 account in spots where they are sufiticiently numerous to 

 allow of profitable exploitation. 



We will restrict ourselves to a brief note on each species, 

 with the exception of Crotalaria juncea, the fibre of which 

 occurs in commerce under the name of Sun Hemp, and 

 which merits more attention. 



PAPILIONACE/E. 



/Eschynomene aspera (Tree). — The wood is used for making mats. 

 In India the pith of JEschynoniene indica is emplo3"ed for manu- 

 facturing baskets and various other similar articles. 



Butea frondosa (Tree).— The bark of the roots is used for textile 

 purposes. 



Crotalaria juncea (Shrub). — This plant is subject to intensive culti- 

 vation in different parts of Southern Asia, and especially in India, 

 for the sake of the fibre extracted from its stem. The stems are 

 ■'■' retted " by immersing for four or five days in water, the bark is 

 then removed by beating, without breaking the fibres, the removal of 

 the last portions being accomplished by beating against the water. 

 After drying, the fibres are separated. Those obtained in this way 



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