IX EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 89 



wants damp soil. It does not require drained land, according to 

 Mr. C. B. Clarke. The harvest is in three, four, or five months. 

 Unlike cotton it will bear a slight frost. Under favourable cir- 

 cumstances 2,000 to 7,000 Ibs. may be obtained from an acre. It 

 is best grown on flooded ground, as otherwise it proves an exhaus- 

 tive crop. Two hundred million pounds of jute were woven in 

 1876 in Dundee, and fifty million gunny bags were exported from 

 Britain in one single year, according to S. Waterhouse. Jute does 

 not so easily decay when exposed to moistu?e as hemp. 



Corchorus olitorius, Linne.* 



South Asia and North Australia. Furnishes, with the foregoing 

 species, the principal supply of jute fibre. As it also is an annual, 

 it can be brought to perfection in the summers of the warm tempe- 

 rate zone. The foliage can be used for spinach. The fibre is not 

 so strong as hemp, but very easily prepared. It will not endure 

 exposure to water. The allied Corchorus trilocularis, L., of Indian 

 origin, is likewise a native of eastern tropical and sub-tropical 

 Australia. 



Cordyline Banksii, J. Hooker. 



New Zealand. This lax and long-leaved Palm-Lily attains a height 

 of 10 feet ; its stem is usually undivided. This and the following 

 species have been admitted into this list for a double reason, 

 because not only are they by far the hardiest, quickest growing, and 

 largest of the genus, and thus most sought in horticultural trade 

 for scenic planting, but also because they furnish from the leaves a 

 superior fibre for ropes and other textile purposes. The small 

 seeds are produced in great abundance, and germinate with extreme 

 readiness. These Palm-Lilies ought to be naturalised in forest 

 ranges by mere dissemination. 



Cordyline Baueri, J. Hooker. (C. Australis, Endlicher, not J. 

 Hooker.) 



Norfolk Island. The stem of this stately species attains a height 

 of 40 feet, and becomes in age ramified. It is very intimately 

 allied to the following species. 



Cordyline indivisa, Kunth. 



New Zealand. The stem of this thick and rigid-leaved palm-like 

 species rises to a height of 20 feet, and remains undivided. Leaves 

 finally 5 inches broad ; yield the toi fibre. Aged leaves persistent 

 in a perfectly downward position for many years. Panicle at first 

 erect. Berries white. 



