etn aR na 
265 
they are again manured with liquid manure. In July, small yellow 
flowers appear on the stems, which have meantime grown to a height of 
five or six feet, and quickly dropping their petals, give place to clusters 
of seed capsules, usually three in number and firmly attached to the 
stems. The latter continue growing and flowering until the end of 
p 
of 9 to 12 feet, with a circumference at the base of from 2 he 3 
inches, and with branches pomene oa vs some 3 feet from i the 
Harvesting. 
They are „plucked up by the roots, the adhering soil being removed b 
beating against the nearest stone, and where I saw the stems harvested, 
the roots welt "thoroughly washed in a pond close to the field. 
Decortication, 
n are required to remove the peel. One takes hold < the 
plant by its branches, the other oe the stem below the first branch 
between two rounded pieces of wood about a foot long and from three 
to four inches in circumference, tapering somewhat towards (hs end so 
as to provide a firmer grip for the hands. The first workman pulls the 
stem through the two pieces of wood which crush it, separate the peel 
from the central woody matter, and remove the root. The plant is then 
reversed and the branches are pulled through the i ge handles and 
and the peel of stem and branches is ready to be made into bundles for 
market, 
Uses. 
Such is the treatment which the plant receives when the fibrous peel 
is. to be bape into cordage; but, when it is to be manufactured into 
sacking or coarse cloth, the plants, when harvested oe steeped for a 
day i dod water, and, when manipulated as above described, much of 
the outer cuticle is removed in the process, and when bleached, a whiter 
fibre is obtained. 
e plant grows luxuriantly on the ee but I have also seen it 
cultivated at an altitude of over 1,300 fe 
He 
(Signed) seu HOSsIE 
H. B. M. Consulate, Wénchow, Acting Consul. 
January 26, 1891. 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 
SIR, May 5, 1891. 
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton- e to prinosi ‘the receipt 
of your vores of the 25th March enclos pies of despatches, in 
original, received from the Acting British Conant at Wénchow, on 
certain fibre plants. 
The aimera illustrative of Mr. Hosie’s reports have since been 
received at Kew, and they are all of an interesting character. The 
. 
