SOAP TREE TIBISIRI. 65 



" The average outturn of cleaned fibre per acre has been variously 

 estimated by some at 640 Ibs., by others at 700 Ibs., and at much less." 

 The filamentous fibres are separated by a process of retting nearly similar 

 to that used in the case of flax. Gunny cloth was made from the fibres 

 of this plant at Mysore. Royle says that a cord 8 inches in size, of best 

 Petersburg hemp, broke with 14 tons 8 cwts. 1 qr., while a similar 

 rope of Sunn hemp only gave way with 15 tons 7 cwts. 1 qr. 



Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). An annual plant of the Order 

 Composite. As a horticultural plant it is a well-known annual, a 

 native of America. The fibres have been recommended for cordage 

 purposes : possibly they lack strength, owing to the fact that the 

 plant grows rapidly, and has a very large and heavy inflorescence to 

 support during the time of flowering. 



Sword Sedge (Lepidosperma gladiata, Cyperaceae). This plant is 

 a native of Australia, where it grows in abundance. The stems and 

 leaves are cut down and bleached by exposure to the atmosphere. 

 The plant has been used for paper-making, and in its native country, 

 i.e., Australia, for making baskets and for fishing lines and other 

 similar purposes. 



Talipot or Fan Palm, Great Talipot Palm (Coryplia wnbra- 

 culifera, Palmacese). This plant is a native of the East Indies. Loudon 

 says : " The leaves are of great use, one being so broad and large 

 that it will cover fifteen or twenty men. Being dried, it is very strong 

 and limber; and though it be very broad when open, yet it will fold 

 and close like a fan, and then is no bigger than a man's arm. The 

 whole leaf spread is round, but is cut into triangular pieces for 

 use. These they [the natives] lay upon their heads as they travel, 

 with the narrow end foremost, to make their way through thickets. 

 Soldiers all carry them, not only to shade them from the sun and to 

 keep them dry in case of rain on their march, but to make their tents 



for them to lie under The leaves also serve for covering their 



[native's] houses, and for writing upon with an iron style. Most of the 

 books which are shown in Europe for the Egyptian papyrus are made 

 from the leaves of this palm." 



Tent-covers have been made of the leaves of this plant, also stools and 

 baskets ; examples are shown in cases in the Economic Museum, Royal 

 Gardens, Kew. 



Tashiari Fibre (Debregeasia hypoleuca, Urticaceae). A plant of the 

 nettle family which grows in the Himalayas. The branches and leaves 

 have a woolly pilose down. The fibres of the plant are chiefly used for 

 bowstrings and for cordage. 



Tibisiri Fibre (Mauritia flexuosa, Palmacese). The fibre is ^obtained 



