FIBRES 527 



considerably later without prejudicing its prospect as a 

 crop. This is a very important matter in the more 

 westerly districts of Bengal, for instance, where rainfall 

 is often so late that the chances of a successful crop of 

 C. capsularis would be problematical. 



C. capsularis is more widely grown than C. olitorius. 

 It is practically the only kind of jute to be found in the 

 Jalpaiguri, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Purnea districts, 

 and by far the larger area in the Dacca and Tipperah 

 districts is also sown with C. capsularis. It yields a finer, 

 softer fibre than C. olitorius, and once it has reached a 

 height of about 5 ft. it will continue to grow unchecked 

 even when the land becomes deeply submerged. 



Other differences between C. capsularis and C. olitorius 

 are : 



(a) The seed of C. capsularis is red and rather larger 

 than that of C. olitorius, which has a greenish-black 

 colour. 



(b) Both flowers are yellow in colour; but that of 

 C. olitorius is twice as large as that of C. capsularis. 



(c) The leaves of C. olitorius 1 are sweet to the taste 

 (mita pat), and are commonly used as a vegetable. The 

 leaves and seeds of C. capsularis, on the other hand, are 

 bitter (tita pat), and an infusion of the dried leaves is 

 commonly used in Bengal as a tonic medicine. A con- 

 siderable quantity of the crude bitter principle has recently 

 been isolated by the Fibre Expert to the Government of 

 Bengal, and its physiological action is now being investi- 

 gated in England, as well as by the Indian Foods and 

 Drugs Committee. 



A detailed study of the crops of C. capsularis found in 

 different districts has shown that the species embraces a 

 number of different types. All these types possess the 

 same general characters, viz.: 



(a) Small yellow flowers. 



(b) Round fruits. 



(c) Reddish-brown seeds. 



Yet they differ among themselves as regards tallness, 

 time of ripening, colour of stem, etc. Some kinds, for 

 instance, grow to a height of 9 to 10 ft., while others, 

 34 



