51 
“ Hibiscus,” which attracted chief attention, was really what is known 
in Natal as Native hemp, possibly a local form of Cannabis sativa. In 
the Official Reports, p. 378, it is stated by Mr. C. F. Cross, “ that the 
“ yarn prepared from this fibre was of a greyish colour, bleaching easily 
“under the ordinary treatment to a full white. It was remarkably 
“soft to the touch, more nearly resembling an Angola yarn than flax 
“or cotton. . This fibre has been submitted to flax spinners of expe- 
“rience, aud from inspection, together with the results of laboratory 
“ investigation, they have formed a high estimate of its value.’ 
r, J. Medley Wood,- AtS, me indefatigable ee of the 
Botanie Gardens at Durban, to whose zeal and co-operation we are 
indebted for the elucidation of many i ocne with the flora 
of Natal, mentions that his native hemp grows vigorously to a height 
of six feet or more, and that it lends itself readily to the exigencies of 
cultur 
The xt most interesting fibre exhibited in the Natal Court appears 
to ee Ee forwarded by “Mr. J. Kirkham, of Umzinto. It was stated 
by Mr. Wood to belong to the natural order Urticacee, but he had at 
that time been unable to obtain either STRA or flowers, and it was 
unrepresented in the herbarium at Durbar 
Of the nettle family in Natal he states :— 
“There are several indigenous species, some of which attain a 
“height of over 20 feet, with a pithy semi-herbaceous stem eight 
“ inches in diameter. Others are more or less dwarfish, being but half 
“an inch thick and four is five feet high. The barks of all are highly 
“ prized by the natives on account of the strong cord or thread they 
“ make, in their own rude manner, from the fibre contained therein. It 
“is known to them by the name “ imbogo sempi. 
In a letter dated 23rd August 1887, Me Wood writes : 
“ By this post I send flowers of my No. 3,837, whika appears to be a 
“ Urera. It is a shrub about 8 to 10 pit high or more, and is, I 
“ think, the plant producing the fibre which was said to pe the second 
n best fibre shown at the late Colonial and Indian Exhib 
“The plant is not uncommon in ne Sapes pT but this is 
“ the first time that I have seen the flow 
“It will be important I think, to eee whether its fibre is 
a really s of value ; it grows readily from cuttings, and could be grown 
“ in quantity if found to be payable.’ 
Again on the 23rd November :— 
“T have collected a quantity of seed for Aiairibations, also § 
am 
“ plant propagated here, in case it may be in demand.” 
On investigation at Kew, the plant sent by Mr. Wood proved to be a 
new species, which has been described and figured in the Icones 
Plantarum as Urera tenax, N. E 
The bark, as sent here, appears to pee in many respects that of 
uncleaned Ramie or Rhea (Boehmeria nivea). The fibre is, however, 
more brittle and not so lustrous as the best specimens of China grass. 
Unfortunately the sample hitherto received does not admit of this new 
fibre being treated in an exhaustive manner. It is quite pone that 
8895 i 
