o2 
an indigenous plant of this character may be better suited to the cir- 
cumstances of Natal than the China Grass. On receipt of a larger 
sample, it will then be possible to investigate its merits in an exhaustive 
mann 
XXI.—RAMIE. 
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn.) 
[K. B., 1888, pp. 145-149.] 
The plant known under the several names of China hires Ramie, or 
Rhea, belongs to the natural order, Urticacew, and hence it is nota 
grass at all, but a species of nettle, somewhat resembling, in appearance 
and habit of growth, the common nettle of Eur s 
The China — plant, first known and long cultivated by the Chinese 
under the name of Tchou Ma, is the Boehmeria nivea of botanists. 
The Say aes name, nivea, was given to it on account of the white 
Rheea, and in the Malay islands eee was believed by Roxburgh to 
be distinct from the Tchou Ma e Chinese, and it was named by this 
otanist Boehmeria (Urtica) Paes issima. In this plant there is an 
absence of the white felted appearance on the under-side of the leaves, 
so characteristic of the China Grass plant, but in Tas other respects the 
two plants are identical in their botanical charact 
F oses of classification, the Tchou Ma r Ohi ina Grass plant, 
Demart nivea, may be accepted as the typical species, and the Rhea 
or Ramie, retained as a geographical variety of it, er the name of 
Boehmeria nivea var. tenacissima. This latter is admis known 
as the Spires, China Grass, a name which may be conveniently 
retained for 
The fibre ne by these plants has been long recognised a 
pre-eminent amongst vegetable fibres for strength, fineness, and hak 
ence numerous attempts have been made to cultivate aan and to 
prepare the fibre in large quantities for commercial purpos The 
plants are exceedingly easy of cultivation, and thrive in all are but 
preference should be given to those of a light loamy character. Itis 
essential that the climate be moist and stimulating, in order to poduda 
abundant and frequent crops of stems. The plants may be raised from 
seed, but the more ready method is by root or stem Ean The roots 
being perennial, the stools become stronger and more vigorous every 
ear, and from these fresh sets are easily öbaiked for extending the 
cultivation. 
Numerous attempts have been made during the last 10 years to 
extract the valuable fibre which exists in this plant. The experimental 
processes hitherto employed may be briefly classed as either mechanical 
or chemical. In the first, it has been sought to extract the fibre from 
the green stems by means of rapidly revolving beaters attached to a 
drum driven by steam power. In some cases, water is used to wash the 
fibre while under the beaters. The chief difficulty experienced in this 
method is the small quantity of fibre cleaned per day. This has 
ordansod the cost to such an extent as to render the process practically 
