FIBRE OF ABROMA AUGUSTA. 267 
Guazuma ulmifolia is a South American tree, which was 
introduced into India, and largely cultivated at one time in the 
Madras Presidency under the name of Bastard Cedar, as 
fodder for cattle. The fibres of its, straight, luxuriant, young 
branches were submitted to trial by Dr. Roxburgh. (v. p. 268.) 
Abroma augusta, the Woollet-comul or Ullat-kumul of 
Bengal, and which Dr. Roxburgh at one time called Perennial 
Indian Hemp or Flax, is a native of various parts of India, 
growing luxuriantly in gardens even as far as 30° N. lat., 
and extending eastward to the Philippine Isles. It grows toa 
small tree, but may be cultivated as an annual, flowers pro- 
fusely during the rainy season, and ripens its seed in the cold 
weather. It particularly attracted Dr. Roxburgh’s attention ; 
as the bark abounds with strong white fibres, which make a 
very good substitute for Hemp, affording good common cordage. 
The plant grows so quickly, as to yield two, three, or even four 
crops of cuttings annually fit for peeling; hence it may be 
advantageously cultivated, and is deserving of more than common 
attention on account of the beauty, fineness, and strength of 
its fibres. Dr. Roxburgh ventured to prognosticate as large 
a yearly produce as can be obtained from an acre of Danchee, 
Jute, Sunn, Hemp, or Flax; as it is a perennial, large, shrubby 
plant, in every respect easier to cultivate and to prepare the 
fibres than Sunn, and the produce much greater. Indeed, in 
an experimental culture, he obtained from three cuttings 
271 lb. of clean fibre, which he states was three times greater 
than the average produce of Sunn. 
To separate the bark from the shoots, maceration in stagnant 
water, from four to eight days, answers well during the warmer 
parts of the year, while three times as much is scarce sufficient 
during the cold season, indeed the process is scarcely prac- 
ticable then ; besides, the fibres are greatly weakened by pro- 
longed maceration. The fibres being naturally very white and 
clean, they do not require to be cleaned. Dr. Roxburgh states 
that, in its native state, without being dressed in any way, it is 
about one tenth part stronger than Sunn, and in that state 
much more durable in water. <A cord of its fibre bore 74]b., 
when Sunn broke with 68 Ib. (v. p. 269.) 
In the following tables the results of some of Dr. Roxburgh’s 
experiments are given: 
