50 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



in the Botanic Garden of Melbourne, where rUis readily propagated 

 from cuttings, the seeds ripening rarely there. Cordage of this 

 Boehmeria is three tines as strong as that of hemp. Numerous 

 shoots spring after cutting from the same root. Fertile humid soil 

 or rich manuring is necessary for productive returns. Dr. Collyer, 

 of Saharumpore, boils the whole branches with soap-water (a pro- 

 cess used here since 1866, for separating the Phormium-fibre) for 

 easy separation of the fibre, of which he obtained 150 Ibs. from a 

 ton of Rheea branches ; the cost of separation and final preparation 

 being calculated at 10 per ton (interest on capital for machinery 

 not counted). He also perfected the machinery to render the pro- 

 cess easy and highly remunerative. Fibre further prepared by 

 Bonsor's process can be spun into the finest yarns. Colonel 

 Hannay and Dr. Forbes Watson record, that in Assam four to six 

 crops are cut annually, that obtained in the cool season providing 

 the strongest fibre ; the latter is obtainable to the length of 6 feet. 

 Other species require to be tested, among them the one which was 

 recently discovered in Lord Howe's Island, namely, Boehmeria 

 calophleba (Moore and Mueller). 



Boletus bovinus, Linne. 



Europe. Besides this species Dr. Goeppert mentions also the 

 following as sold for food in the markets of Silesia : B. circinans, 

 Persoon ; B. edulis, Bull ; B. luteus, L. ; B. sapidus, Harzer ; B. 

 scaber, Bull. ; B. subtomentosus, L. ; B. variegatus, Sw. 



Bongardia Rauwolfi, C. A. Meyer. 



From Greece through Turkey to the Caucasus. A perennial herb, 

 the leaves of which are utilised like culinary sorrel. 



Borassus Aethiopicus, Martius. 



Africa, from Zanzibar to Egypt. A palm of gigantic dimensions, 

 attaining a stem 9 feet in diameter at the base or 7 feet at 4 feet above 

 the ground ; sometimes stems have even been measured having a cir- 

 cumference of 37 feet. The leaves are as much as 12 feet across, 

 serving for baskets, mats, ropes and sieves. The edible portion of the 

 fruit is yellow, stringy, of a fruity flavour. The sap obtained from 

 incisions in the stem under the leaves yields a kind of palm-wine. 

 In its natural home the tree always denotes water (Colonel Grant). 



Borassus flabelliformis, Linne. 



The Palmyra. From the Persian Gulf to India, extending to 30 

 North. This noble palm attains a height of 100 feet. The pulp of 

 the fruit serves as food. Enormous masses of sugar or toddy are 

 produced in India from the sap, which flows from incisions of the 

 stalk of the unexpended flowers. Also to be reared for scenic 

 plantations. 



