OTHER FARM CROPS 587 



facts that flax and hemp can be readily grown over large areas of 

 our country, and that the cultivation of these plants and the manip- 

 ulation of the fiber are matters well understood, have prevented 

 some of the native forms from being brought into prominence in 

 northern localities favorable to their growth, while the cheapness of 

 commercial jute has kept back the culture of others, particularly in 

 the South, where they might readily be produced. 



Nevertheless, some of these species have been regarded with 

 high favor in the Old World, where they have been cultivated to 

 some extent and where the fiber is prepared cheaply, though by 

 primitive methods that could not be adopted in the United States. 

 In these countries the product is usually manufactured in or near 

 the localities of growth and is considered of "local" rather than of 

 "commercial" importance. This indicates a possible utilization of 

 some of the native species ; for while it might be difficult to produce 

 fiber that would be marketed with the commercial cordage fibers, 

 small local industries might be established to grow the fiber and 

 utilize it in such manufactures as would enter exclusively into home 

 consumption. For many purposes sisal and manila cordage only 

 can be employed, but, at the same time, considerable quantities of 

 sisal and manila cordage are employed in uses for which the cheap- 

 er, home-grown fiber would be just as well adapted. 



The first thing to be considered, however, is the question of 

 economical production. What will it cost to grow an acre of stalks, 

 and what will be the expense of stripping and cleaning the fiber? 

 Until these questions can be satisfactorily answered, the cultivation 

 of the fiber must be considered as still in the experimental stage, 

 and it would be unwise to go into the culture expecting sure re- 

 muneration. 



The malvaceous fibers include the swamp rose mallow, the ro- 

 zelle hemp plant, the sida fiber, the cotton-stalk fiber, and the for- 

 eign species of hibiscus. The okra and abutilon fibers of this group 

 give promise of practical value. Others are the asclepias, or milk- 

 weed fiber, the Colorado River hemp, the bowstring hemp, the In- 

 dian hemp, the nettles, the common burdock, bear grass (Yucca), 

 and Pineapple fiber. In this connection should also be mentioned 

 the tree bast fibers used by nurserymen. (U. S. Fiber Inves. Kept. 

 5 and 6.) 



TOBACCO GKOWING. 



Tobacco was first cultivated in America. The early explorers 

 of this continent found the natives making use of tobacco for smok- 

 ing, chewing, and medicinal purposes. 



Varieties. Tobacco belongs to the Solanacese family, which 

 includes, among other plants, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, red peppers, 

 and jimson weeds. There are more than one hundred varieties of 

 tobacco in cultivation. The leading varieties grown in America are 

 the White Burley, Zimmer Spanish, Cuban, Orinoco, Connecticut 

 Seed Leaf, Yellow Pryor, Havana Seed Leaf, and Sumatra Seed Leaf. 

 (U. S. E. S. Far. Inst. Lect. 9.) 



