12 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



* Abroma ' could meet, with greater acceptance, and which it most 

 certainly would by this time have supplied, but for the early success of 

 Jute." Messrs. Cross and Bevan give the length of staple as from 4 to 

 8 feet ; but so long a staple is quite unsuited for admixture with cotton 

 or for being spun with cotton-spinning machinery. 



It might be successfully used along with other vegetable silks for 

 upholstery or other purposes. 



The fibres of young plants seem to differ in properties from those of 

 old plants. Thus Messrs. Cross and Bevan say : " The fibre obtained 

 from new plants has a larger percentage of cellulose, and is less readily 

 attacked by hydrolytic agents, but microscopically the ultimate fibres 

 are somewhat thin and ill-formed." A writer in Spon's Encyclopaedia 

 says : "It grows well and quickly, and yields two to four crops yearly 

 of bark fit for peeling; three trial cuttings gave 271 Ibs. of clean fibre. 

 The bark is separated from the shoots by maceration in stagnant water 

 for four to eight days in summer ; in the cold season a three times longer 

 steeping is necessary and greatly weakens the fibres. The latter are 

 naturally white and clean, and require no dressing. They are about 

 y^j-th stronger than Crotalaria juncea (Sunn Hemp) say 68 to 74 

 Ibs., and are much more durable in water. It is used locally as a 

 substitute for hemp in cordage manufacture, and is equal to jute for 

 paper-making purposes. 



Dib. This is a species of Scirpus or Bulrush which grows in India. 

 The stems are used for making mats. After the stems have been 

 macerated and beaten to make them pliable, they are used as the 

 woof in certain durable mats. 



Dolichos Fibre (Dolichos trilolus, Leguminosse). The fibres of the 

 above plants have been used for spinning and weaving " Grass 

 Cloth." Another grass cloth is made from nettle fibres. 



Dolichos belongs to the Pea family. Most of its twenty species 

 grow in the East Indies, but Jamaica, China and Egypt have a few 

 species each. 



Dombeya (Dombeya cannabina, Byttneriaceae). A native of 

 Madagascar. The bark has been used to a slight extent for cordage 

 making. 



Dunchi Hemp (Sesbania aculeata, Leguminospe). It is a native 

 of the East Indies, and was introduced into England as an ornamental 

 plant as far back as 1690. 



The bast fibres of the stem have been used for making cord and 

 twine under the name of " Dunchi Hemp." 



Ejow Fibre, Egoo or Gommuta (Arenga saccharifera, Palmaceae). 

 The "Gommuti palm," as it is called, grows to a height of 20 to 30 



