264 
7. Particulars regarding the place of phere: the manner of 
cultivation, and preparation, are wanted, &c., 
(Signe ed) AUGUSTINE HENRY. 
London, October 15, 1890. 
FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL sien O KEW 
SIR, For n Office, March 25, 1891. 
WITH reference to your letter of A 26th of November last, I 
am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to upar to you a copy of a 
despatch from the Acting British Consul at Wénchow, including a 
are on China grass cultivation in Chios 
copy of a further despatch from Mr. Hosie, transmitting a report on 
another textile plant, is also enclo 
r. Hosie states that a case of pamai illustrative of his reports 
will be forwarded direct to Kew Garden 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) (i He SANDERSON. 
W. T. een aed -Dyer, >i y OMG. 
Kew Garden 
[ Enclosure. } 
Acting Consul HOsIE to the MARQUIS OF SALISBURY. 
My LORD, Wénchow, January 26, 1891. 
exion with my “pears despatch of this date, I hav 
the honour m raer a brief Report on another textile plant chitivated 
in this neighbourhood. It is to all talamen a species of Abutilon 
[since determined as Corchorus a L.]; but its ee 
glabrous leaves, its rugose awnless capsules, and its general appearan 
and size distinguish it from = “Abutilon that I am samte with, in 
the Flora of China or of Indi 
was reserving these brief 1 notes until I had collected more detailed 
information ; but as I am under orders to proceed to Chefoo, and as it 
will therefore be impossible for me to conduct further experiments with 
the plant during the present year, I venture to forward the Report, 
brief as it is, in “ape hope that it may be of some interest to the Director 
of Kew Garden 
* * * mm 
I have, &e. 
(Signed) ALEXANDER HOSIE, 
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G. Acting Consul. 
REPORT on the CULTIVATION, at WENCHOW, of a FIBRE PLANT, and on 
the EXTRACTION and USES of its FIBRE. 
Cultivation. 
The seeds of this fibre plant, called Lu Ma in the neighbourhood of 
Wénchow, are sown in May. The ground having been made into beds 
in the usual Chinese fashion, aint openings from nine inches to a 
