Dec. 1, 1865,] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



277 



M 



Y\g. 2. Chixa-grass Nettle {Bmhneria niveci). 



a. Female Flower; d, Cluster of ditto ; h, Male Flower; e, Seeds, natural size ; e, Seeds, magnified. 



nets, but in Piedmont tlie fibre is converted into a 

 kind of linen clotli. We possess thread lace of 

 excellent quality which had no more aristocratic 

 origin than the common stinging-nettle. The Puj'a 

 {Bcp.hmeria puya) of Darjeeling, and the China-grass 



{Boshmeria 7dvea) of Assam, China, &c., are nettles 

 (fig. 2) which yield fibres unsurpassed for strength, 

 are easily bleached, and may be converted into the 

 finest linen in the same manner as flax. The 

 Neilglierry Nettle is also useful in a similar manner. 



