973 
GRAMINE®. 
Stipa madagascariensis, Baker. Employed in making native 
baskets, &c. (Cent. Reg.) Hdravola. The plant is closely allied 
to the esparto (S. S L.) of Spain and N. Africa, so largely 
used for paper making. 
LXXXIII. —Notes on Articles contributed to the Muse 
of the Royal Gardens, Kew, from the Colonial and Indias 
Exhibition, 1886. 
[K. B., 1887, September, pp. 4-19. ] 
e Kew ae have always ere largely from the several 
bestia ons, and, as might be expected, in no previous year have they 
been so extensively ance as they were niks the close of the exhibition 
last year, and this not only from the penia of the specimens obtained, 
but also from the interest attached to 
The following are some gis the prisein additions in fibrous materials 
from the different colonies 
CANADA. 
From N.W. America several interesting one at — manufac- 
ture, including a mask, a huge whistle, spoon, &c., e of the even 
grained wood of the Native “Cedar (Thuja giganto), were procured, 
also a r-tive head-dress made of the remarkable 
among the Conifere for its fibrous chara and i a that mats 
are made from it, and when twisted and lated it Fors a good bas basket- _ 
making material. 
New SoutH WALES. 
The Kew Museum being already in possession of a very fine set of 
woods and other vegetable products from this Colony, pes or nothing 
was required or obtained for the collection, except a sa 
a soft woolly substance from the base of the leaf stalks of p raea 
spiralis, a Cycadeous plant of New South Wales and Queens land. This 
substance is said to be produced in quantities, and used ga stuffing 
mattresses, cushions, &e. 
FIJI ISLAND 
the cocoa-nut ], it is stated that the bulk 
hitherto found a market i in Australia and 
sent to other 
“ per ton, according to quality. Brush fibre o 
157. to. 307. per Po saa yarn from 207. to 307. per ton in Fiji. The 
“ cost of labour to produce one ton of fibre, exclusive of cost and werr 
“of machinery, may be put down at from 5/, to 1 
$395 
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