33 
very large one, and that the prices are exceptionally low; but if with 
favourable conditions jute of the quality of the sample from Gambia 
can be produced, with i nit of fibre nearly equal to the Indian growth, 
there is a large future before it. 
Taking one year with aa A the values realised for the Indian crop 
have been sufficient to induce a constantly extending cultivation in that 
country. 
You would receive along with the sample a small portion taken from 
a bale of Indian jute which has been sent to show the length of jute of 
this season’s crop. 
Apart from the fact that a better price per ton is realised for jute of a 
long growth, the bulk of produce from the land is eee oan affected 
thereby—a most important factor in the result to the produc 
It may be hoped that the trials now being made will a ine jute 
growing in Africa will fulfil all the conditions of ¢ paas rcial success. 
ours 
(Signed) cord C. KEILLER, 
Secretary. 
XIV.—SIBERIAN PERENNIAL FLAX. 
(Linum perenne, L.) 
[K. B., 1890, pp. 104-107.] 
The common flax (Linum usitatissimum) indigenous in the South of 
Europe and in the East, has been in cultivation from the earliest times. 
It is now largely grown throughout the no ksi hemisphere; and 
extends to 54 degrees N. lat. It is one of the most useful members of 
the vepeablo Westen and the tenacity and lustre of its core ames 
places it at the head of textile plants. The testa of the seed (linseed 
contains an abundant mucilage, and the embryo a cares emetient. "il 
which is ve in may 
possibly be regarded as a drawback to the ordinary ax i is the fact that 
it is an annual, and requires to be raised from seed year by Io The 
discovery of a perennial flax possessing the un a of the ordinary 
flax would naturally excite keen interest amongst flax growers. The 
subject appears to have cropped up from Pran to time during the last 
results so far attained do not hold ar ies, hope x 
It is also lands in Middle and Southern eal in Western Asis, and 
in India. This plant has numerous wiry, slender stems about 1 to 2 
feet high. The flowers are about 1 inch broad, bright blue. Many 
attempts have been made to utilise this plant for yielding fibre or oil, 
and attention has been drawn dt ps fact that in some parts of the world 
such as Siberia, flax has at ime been prepared from it. At the 
present time it is doubtful atte ‘flax on acommercial scale is obtained 
from any other than the common flax, Linum usitatissimum. 
The following correspondence will serve to show what is at present 
known ropecting perennial flax,and it may lead to a further elucidation 
of pes ubjec 
c 
