206 ON THE FIBRE PLANTS OF N. S. WALES, 



nishes by its bark a similar fibre to the last, but of a finer 

 description, and admirably suited, it is supposed, for Paper-making. 

 The fibre of this tree is prepared in the same manner as the 

 former, and may be obtained at as cheap a rate and in unlimited 

 quantities, and I would here remark, that although stripping these 

 trees of their bark will destroy the main stem, yet, the root is 

 not seriously affected by the process, as the destruction of the 

 stem causes innumerable shoots to spring from its base, which 

 would annually yield a supply of young fibres perhaps better 

 suited for general purposes than that from older growth. 



I shall now refer to the fibres known as Kurrajong, an abori- 

 ginal name, I believe for fibre, and not, as is commonly supposed, 

 applied to any one plant at all events Colonists know several 

 plants under this name. The-Kurrajong of Sir Thomas Mitchell 

 is " Sterculia heteroplujlla" a tree not uncommon in many parts 

 of the Colony, particularly in the Western districts. The 

 aborigines in the interior, almost exclusively employ the fibre 

 from the bark of this tree in manufacturing their nets, fishing-lines, 

 dilly-bags, &c. It is of a strong and durable character, but of 

 little commercial value, as the expense of collecting it and the 

 carriage would be more than it is worth. The Kurrajong : from 

 which the district beyond Richmond is named, is Hibiscus Jietero- 

 phyllus, a plant of very frequent occurrence in all thickly wooded 

 places within the coast range ; the fibre from this is exceedingly 

 tough, and perhaps more generally used by the natives, than that 

 of any other. Very large quantities of this bark might be obtained 

 and at a comparatively trifling cost. Another, but smaller plant 

 than the preceding, the Pimelea hypericifolia, also bears the name 

 of Kurrajong ; this yields an excellent fibre, and as it grows in the 

 greatest profusion in various places from Illawarra to Twofold 

 Bay on the coast, and from Berrima to Araluen inland, no diffi- 

 culty would be experienced in procuring a supply of its bark, 

 which, in its raw state, is often used by settlers for purposes as a 

 substitute for twine. Again, in the Northern brush forests, 

 particularly on the banks of rivers, one of the most common plants 

 to be found, is called by settlers Brown Kurrajong Oommersonia 

 ecliinata, the fibre of which is more valued by the natives for 

 its strength and durability, than any other kind ; of this these 



