lage it possesses emollient properties In veterinary medicine the 

 oil is used as a purgative. 



VIII : Requires a rich fertile land in good tilth and clean condi- 

 tion. Very exhaustive. Better a deep loamy soil, liberally manured. 

 Koui'ri manure is chiefly used when the plant is about 1/2 ft. high. 

 Thorough cultivation but not great want for water. Careful weeding 

 especially from a wild Mustard ( vrb : Irilla). The steeping requires 

 12 20 days, average 15. Great attention is required during the 

 process. Take plants out when the bark peels easily along the stalk. 



Let the plants dry and then proceed to the Breaking process ; 

 natives use a kind of wooden mallet. The woody matter of the 

 flax stems boiug thus broken up, do the Scutching* "or separating 

 the woody matter from the fibrous portion. This is generally done by 

 means of a wooden-comb. Yield is on an average about 3 1/2 ardebs 

 of seed for good land and about 700 rtls. of first, second and third 

 quality fibre ; roughly speaking I parts of the first. 2 of the second 

 and 1 of the third quality. 



Lawsonia alba : Henna (the plant). Tamr Henna (the flower) ; 

 Henna plant or Egyptian privet; Lythraceae. 



II : Generally by cuttings ; Wood one year old, sets about 25 cm* 

 long, 2/3 buried, planted alternately at a distance apart of 30 cm. 

 on the flat. About 4 kerats of cuttings plant one feddan. Cuttings 

 ou-fiht to be strong and provided with good eyes. 



III : March and April (15 15). 



V : The plant is a perennial shrub. Harvesting begins late in 

 September or early in October. The sho )ts are carefully cut down, 

 left to dry in the shade and then stripped of their leaves. Only one 

 crop obtained during the first year. In subsequent years two crops, 

 I he first in September or early in October and the second toward 

 the end of November. The plant lasts up to 50 years. A paying 

 crop. 



VII : The plant is ornamental in gardens, grown for its strong- 

 smelling flowers, which are very plentiful in summer. Asa farm crop it 

 is grown for its leaves; the shoots are largely used in basket-making. 



The leaves contain a colouring substance. A decoction of them is 



