542 FIBRES 



FIBRES. 



Bowstring Hemp; Niyanda, S. (Sansevieria zeylanica. 

 Hoemadoraceae). A herbaceous stemless plant, with succulent, 

 .rigid, somewhat cylindrical, furrowed leaves, blotched with grey 

 and attaining a height of 2\ to 3i feet. From these a fine white 

 tough and elastic fibre is obtained, which is used by the Natives 

 for weaving into fine mats, also for bow-strings and twine. The 

 plant is indigenous to Ceylon, India, etc., being found in rocky or 

 sandy places, chierly in rather dry districts at low or intermediate 

 elevations. It thrives, however, in a moist climate up to 2,000 

 feet or more. The plant is readily propagated by seed, division, 

 or leaf -cuttings, the latter being the more convenient. It may be 

 planted in rows about 2 feet apart each way, say, 10,500 plants to 

 the acre, and the return of fibre is estimated at \\ tons per acre 

 per annum, the fibre being usually worth in London about 

 30 per ton. 



Broom corn, or Millet corn; " I d a 1 - i r i n g u " 5. (Sorghum 

 viilgarc. Gramineae). A tall annual corn, cultivated throughout 

 the tropics for its grain (see Vegetables and Food Products), while 

 its panicles (inflorescence) are largely employed for making carpet 

 brooms and cloth brushes. There is a good demand for the 

 *' fibre," which ranges in price from about 20 to 30 per 

 ton or more according to quality. The cleaned fibre should be 

 not less than 14 in. in length, and must not be coarse, stiff, or brittle; 

 the colour should be pale with a green tint. An average crop is 

 said to yield from 7 to 10 cwt. of clean fibre and from 10 to 12 cwt. 

 of seed per acre. Sowing is done at the rate of about 6 Ib. of seed 

 per acre, the seeds being sown in rows 3 ft. apart; a crop should 

 be obtained in about 5 months. 



Jute, or Gunny-fibre. This valuable fibre is obtained from 

 the stems of species of Corckorus (N. O. Tiliaceae), chierly 

 C. capsularis and C. olitorius, annual plants with long thin stems and 

 yellow flowers, attaining a height of 8 to 12 feet, indigenous to 

 Ceylon, India and Malaya. The cultivation and manufacture of 

 jute forms a large industry in Bengal, where about two million 

 acres are yearly under the product. The fibre is separated by 

 retting the stems in water, and is extensively used for making 

 cordage, coarse cloth, fishing nets, gunny bags, etc. A hot moist 

 climate, followed by a dry season, suits the plant best. The crop 

 is raised either from seed sown broadcast in the field, or from 

 plants raised in nurseries and transplanted out into rows. Harvesting 



