257 
notice as a possible raw material for paper twenty-five years ago, while I 
was in the Forest Department in the North-west Provinces. It is very 
common in the Siwalik range, and in the Bhabar forests of the Gharwal 
and Kumaon Himalaya. Samples of it sent home by me in 1873 toa 
paper-maker in Scotland, were favourably ayoa upon ; and again in 
1877 a sample sent by me to the India Office, having boua submitted to 
the late Mr. Routledge, of the Ford Paper Mills (then a leading authority 
on paper-making), was declared by him to be little inferior to Ksparto 
as a raw material an paper. A year or two subsequently to this it was 
discovered, by the help of Mr. J. S. Gamble, of the Forest Department, 
that this grass is common in the forests of Chota Nagpur. Samples of 
then the use of this grass has so increased that it now forms the chief 
raw material of an industry which, in this country, is yet probably only 
in its infancy. As seed of Bhabur grass is now being applied for from 
abroad, it is possible that, before long , it may be cultivated in other 
tropical countries.” 
LXXIX.—BROOM ROOT OR MEXICAN WHISK. 
(Epicampes macroura, Benth.) 
[K. B., 1887, December, p. 9.) 
In the Report of Her Te s Consul at Vera Cruz for the year 
1886, Mr. Baker draws attention to a comparatively new industry 
connected with the preparation id export of what is called “ Broom 
oot.’ 
This root was exported from the port of Vera Cruz last year to the 
any value of 58,6327. The bulk appears to have been shipped to_ 
Ge and France, while the quantity shipped to England was 
compara ative ely small. The Curator of the Museum [Gardeners’ 
Chronicle, Vol. II. (third series), p. ms, ue Pareme the fact 
that the broom root exported from Vera C in Europe 
as Mexican or French Whisk. It is aF pyi e Germans and 
French to mix with Venetian whisk, derived from e toot of Chryso- 
pogon Gryllus, for the manufacture of dandy brushes, clothes brushes, 
carpet brushes, and velvet brushes, sien are shipped to this nina 
at exceedingly low prices. The broom root, therefore, appears to be 
a cheap substitute for Venetian whisk ina it is said that when made 
into brushes and thoroughly dry it is apt to become brittle and break 
off. For this reason it has never = much favour in England. 
As the botanical origin of bro root was as waked, efforts were 
e through the Foreign Office t to obtain specimens of the plants 
yielding it. These specimens were obligingly forwarded to Kew by 
Mr. Consul Baker, and received on the 3rd October. a appears that 
ocal name 
is “Zacaton.” This is a plant with coarse tufted lle found widely 
distributed over the highlands of Mexico, and attaining a height of six 
or seven feet. The roots, in the condition in which they are exported, 
are called “ Raiz de paced peed roots are about nine inches to a 
foot long, possessing vy chara and about one-sixteenth of an 
inch in diameter. They ak perp undergone some cleansing 
8896 
