

44 BULLETIN 296, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



VEGETABLE FIBERS. 



Flax. — The imports of flax fiber in 1895 were 7,233 tons, and in 

 1914, 9,885 tons. During the last live years about 90 per cent of this 

 product was supplied by European countries, chiefly Belgium, Russia, 

 and the United Kingdom. 



Hemp. — Like flax, our supply of hemp has come chiefly from Euro- 

 pean countries, mostly from Italy, during the last 20 years. The im- 

 ports were 6,954 tons in 1895 and 8,822 tons in 1914. From 1870 to 

 1890 the imports were larger, ranging from 22,557 tons in 1870 to 

 36,591 tons in 1890. The average annual value for 1907 and sub- 

 sequently has been more than $1,000,000. 



Istle or Tampico fiber. — Imports of istle or Tampico fiber (used 

 for bagging, carpets, hammocks, etc.) increased from 2,956 tons in 

 1885 to 15,607 tons in 1905, and decreased to 10,660 tons in 1914. 

 Practically all of this fiber has been supplied by Mexico. The import 

 value in 1900 was $475,090, or $83 per ton; in 1914 the value was 

 $1,036,431, or $97 per ton. 



Jute and jute butts. — The quantity of imports of jute and jute 

 butts (used for making carpets, bags, etc.) has remained practically 

 the same for the last 30 years. The imports in 1885 were 98,343 tons 

 and 106,033 tons in 1914, with slight fluctuations for intervening 

 years, the range being from 50,037 tons in 1894 to 141,704 tons in 1S91. 

 The value, however, has shown a large increase, from 3 million 

 dollars in 1885 to 11 million dollars in 1914, this being due to an in- 

 crease in the import price per ton of from $31 to $105. Practically 

 all of this article has been supplied by British India. 



Kapoc. — The imports of kapoc fiber (a substitute for cotton) in 

 1911 amounted to 2,070 tons; in 1914, 1,827 tons. The Dutch East 

 Indies supplied 84 per cent of this commodity, but a small quantity 

 came from British India, Ecuador, and the Netherlands. 



Manila. — The manila fiber imported has been supplied almost ex- 

 clusively by the Philippine Islands. The imports of this product 

 amounted to 35,331 tons, valued at $6,218,254, or $176 per ton, in 

 1891; increased to 93,253 tons, valued at $10,517,100, or $113 per ton, 

 in 1910, the largest quantity imported for any one year ; and decreased 

 to 49,688 tons, valued at $9,779,539, or $197 per ton, in 1914. 



New Zealand flax. — The imports of New Zealand flax were first 

 shown in our import trade in 1910, and since that time two-thirds of 

 it came directly from New Zealand, the country from which it takes 

 its name. The quantity imported in 1910 wls 3,353 tons, valued at 

 $362,888; in 1914, 6.171 tons, valued at $716,953. 



Sisal grass. — Imports of sisal grass (largely used for binder 

 twine ) have quadrupled in the last 20 years, the imports in 1895 being 

 1:7,596 tons and 215,547 tons in 1914. The average value per ton has 



