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seems important, that this valuable plant should here be 

 brought universally under culture, particularly on any 

 inferior spare ground or on the sea-beaches or any rocky 

 declivity, where it may be left unprotected to itself, as no 

 pastoral animal will touch it. It is evident, that the natural 

 upgrowth will soon be inadequate to the demand for the 

 plant. Merely torn into shreds the leaves serve at once in 

 gardens and vineyards as cordage, and for this purpose, 

 irrespective of its showy aspect, the Phormium has been 

 distributed from our Botanic Garden since the last 14 years. 

 From the divided roots any plantation can gradually be 

 increased, or this can be 'done more extensively still by 

 sowing the seeds. In all likelihood the plant would thrive 

 and become naturalized in the Auckland's and Campbell's 

 Group, in Kerguelen's Land, the Falkland Islands, the 

 Shetland Islands and many continental places of both 

 hemispheres. Among the varieties three are better charac- 

 terized than the rest : The Tehore, the Swamp and the 

 Hill variety. The first and the last mentioned produce a 

 fibre fine and soft, yet strong, and the plants attain a height 

 of only about 5 feet, whereas the Swamp-variety grows to 

 double that height, producing a larger yield of a coarser 

 fibre, which is chiefly used for rope or paper making. As 

 might be expected, the richer the soil the more vigorous the 

 growth of the plant ; it likes moreover now and then to be 

 overflown by fresh or brackish water, but it will not live if 

 permanently sunk into wet. In swampy ground trenches 

 should be dug to divert the surplus of humidity. Fibre free 

 from gum-resin properly dressed withstands moisture as well 

 as the best Manilla rope. Carefully prepared the fibre can also 

 be spun into various textile durable fabrics, either by itself or 

 mixed with cotton, wool or flax. In October last, the sale 

 of Phormium fibre in London was 11,500 bales, ranging in 

 price from 19 to 31. The tow can also be converted into 

 paper, distinguished for its strength and whiteness. The 

 London price of Phormium fibre for this purpose is from 

 10 to 20 per ton. 



For further details on the utilization of this plant the elaborate 

 reports of the New Zealand Commission for Phormium 



