i68 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



Like its relatives, it puts forth its stiff stalks from ij to 2 m. 

 high, every summer, from perennial roots. These are cut off close 

 to the ground towards the end of August or in September, and 

 subjected to a short soaking in water to get the bast.^ 



There are several special obstacles in the way of a technical 

 utilization of Boehmeria nivea^ as of certain other nettle species. 

 There has not yet been nearly as much success as might be ex- 

 pected from the great efforts and encouragements to its use, not to 

 mention the exaggerated hopes which many set on such utili- 

 zation. The first thing necessary is to invent a machine for sepa- 

 rating and preparing the bast. The Indian government, in 1878, 

 offered a grand prize of ;^5,ooo for this object, and declared its 

 willingness to furnish Boehmaria stalks from the botanical garden 

 of Calcutta for the experiments, which were to be undertaken in 

 Sahdranpur, India, from the middle of August to the middle of 

 September, 1879. Yet it failed to accomplish its purpose, and the 

 matter fell through. 



The epidermis of this plant, however, adheres so fast to the 

 bast-tissue beneath it, that it is extremely difficult to thoroughly 

 separate them. There are a large number of other difiiculties 

 besides this, rendering it hard to get the bast clear. Wiesner, in 

 his book on plant-stuffs, pp. 387-393, has dealt with these in part. 



Marco Polo makes mention of this white-leaved nettle, remark- 

 ing that the province of Kweichau is especially distinguished for 

 textures from its bast. This so-called grass-linen is fine, smooth, 

 and shiny, like cambric, besides being very cool, and therefore 

 peculiarly adapted for summer wear. I never observed any culti- 

 vation of the Mao-plant in Japan. It is said to be cultivated, 

 particularly in Uzen, Kaga, Echigo, and Idzumo, as was shown at 

 the National Exhibition at Tokio, in 1877, the official catalogue of 

 which recorded no less than thirteen exhibitors of fibres, ropes, and 

 textures from Yamagata-ken (Uzen), and seventeen from Chimane- 

 ken (Idzumo). This industry is, however, by no means in an ad- 

 vanced and influential stage. The bast ordinarily used is perhaps 

 tough and durable enough, but it lacks fineness. The so-called 

 "cottonized China-grass," on the other hand, consists of white 

 fibres, which compare favourably with flax in fineness and strength, 

 and with silk in lustre. 



4. Miisa basjoo, Sieb. [M . paradisiaca, Thunb., M. textilis, Nees), 

 Jap. Basho. The banana is no longer found in Japan proper, 

 though it is extensively grown on the Riukiu Islands, chiefly for 

 its bast, from which the natives make a light, loosely woven brown 

 cloth, called Bashofu. Of this plant Doederlein speaks as follows : — 



" Bananas (on Amami-Oshima) grow almost as high as Cycas, 

 though keeping close to the water-courses, along which they grow 



^ St. Julien's statement in "Industries de I'Empire Chinois," etc., p. 166, 

 "Chaque ann^e on peut faire trois recoltes," is mistaken. 



