86 CURIOUS OR USEFUL PLANTS. 



before long be transplanted to New South Wales, and be found 

 growing with equal luxuriancy in that territory. In the former 

 country it flourishes every where near the sea, and in some places a 

 considerable way up the hills, in bunches or tufts, with sedge-like 

 leaves, bearing on a long stalk yellowish flowers, which are suc- 

 ceeded by a long roundish pod, filled with very thin shining black 

 seeds. 



This plant serves the inhabitants instead of flax and hemp, and 

 excels ail that are put to the same purposes in other countries. 

 Even of this plant there are two sorts, and the leaves of both re- 

 semble those of flax, but the flowers are smaller, and their clusters 

 more numerous ; in one kind they are of a deep red, and in the 

 other yellow. Of the leaves of these plants, with very little pre- 

 paration, they make all their common apparel ; and of these they 

 also make their strings, lines, and cordage, for every purpose ; 

 which are so much stronger than any thing we can make with hemp, 

 as not to bear a comparison. By another preparation they draw 

 from the same plant long slender fibres, which shine like silk, and 

 are as white as snow : of these, which are also surprisingly strong, 

 the finer cloths are made ; and of the leaves, without any other 

 preparation than splitting them into proper breadths, and tying the 

 strips together, they make their fishing nets, some of which are of 

 an enormous size. This plant, which is found in hill and valley, 

 in the driest mould and in the deepest bogs (but that in the bogs is 

 the largest), would be a great acquisition to England, could it be 

 brought to flourish heTe. With this view Captain Furneaux 

 brought over a quantity of the seed : and after quitting New Zea- 

 land, he touched at no other land than the Cape of Good Hope, 

 until he arrived at Spithead, having traversed one entire hemis- 

 phere of the globe in seven months. These seeds were imme- 

 diately carried to his Majesty, and by his order sown in Kew 

 garden; but the whole unfortunately failed, and there with the 

 hope of acquiring this valuable vegetable. 



[Coo k. Miller. Editor. 



