260 
in the form of a pamphlet—China, Imperial Maritime Customs, II. :— 
Special Series : No. 16, 1891. 
Inspectorate General of portage Peking, 
ecember 27, 1890. 
An inquiry respecting “Chinese jute” having been made by the 
Director of the Royal Ga rdens at Kew, Dr. Augustine Henry, one of 
attention to botanical subjects, prepared a memorandum on the jute 
and hemp of China, setting forth the present extent of our knowledge, 
and formulating certain points for elucidation. The original meee 
and the subsequent memorandum are hereto appended, and the s 
concerned are requested to keep the B. in view and, while opi 
the Inspector-General with such reports as may be drawn up, forwa 
to the Non-Resident Secretary for the Kew Gardens such specimens as 
can be procured. 
By order, 
(Signed) E. B. DREW, 
Chief Secretary. 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to the NON-RESIDENT SECRETARY. 
SIR, October 9, 1890. 
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that a sample 
of “ China jute,” a small portion of which is enclosed Trate has 
lately been presented to the Museum of Economic Botan t Kew. 
This “jute,” we take it, is prepared t Pappea from pone relat of 
Chi ut we are unable to trace its ori 
2. This establishment takes a apsal interest in the industrial 
application of plant products, and we have received very valuable aid 
from time to time from officers connected with the Department of the 
Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, for which we are very gratefu 
In the present instance, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would esteem it 
him i 
ning 
botanical specimens of the plant which yields “ China Eigen together 
with some particulars respecting the methods pursued in preparing it 
ior market. ical specimens s d, if ible, consist of 
leaves, flowers, and fruit, placed between sheets of paper and strengthened 
ed c n this manner they would travel very well by parcel or 
00 
I am 
(Signed) ` 5. MORRI 
A isan Dir 
. D. Campbell, Esquire, Secretary, Chinese Tapora Maritimo 
"Customs, 8, Storey’s Gate, St. James’s Park, S.W. 
MEMORANDUM on the JUTE and Hemp of CHINA, by Dr. AUGUSTINE 
H Y, F.L.S. 
I have read over the letter addressed to the London Office by Mr. 
Morris, of Kew, and I think the specimen referred to “ China jute” is 
not jute at all, but Abutilon hemp. I am also of opinion that the article 
comes fro rom | ientsin 
rew th r of the e Gardene at Kew seems anxious to 
obtain information concerning th e plants producing textile fibres in 
