FINENESS OF MUDAR FIBRE. 809 
one hand, and separate the bark with the other. He did not 
find that any of the ordinary methods of separating fibre were 
useful; but it is probable that some of the mechanical methods 
of separating Flax would be effectual with this fibre when in a 
dry state. 
Dr. Wight’s specimens, which are those of C. gigantea, 
he describes as being merely stripped off from the stalk, and 
slightly prepared, to remove the epidermis, He observes, that 
as it ig a most common plant, it may become a valuable article 
of commerce, if a less costly mode of separating it can be 
devised, without injuring its quality. The colour, when fresh, 
is of a greenish-white. 
Dr. Wight, from his experiments, considered it the strongest 
fibre on the Madras side of India, where it is used for fishing 
lines, It bore 552 1b., when the Janapa or Sunn of Coimbatore 
bore 404 1b. A small cord, made of the specimens from the 
Punjab, examined by Capt. Thompson, at Calcutta, bore 3 ewt., 
“without showing symptoms of distress,” and was therefore 
equal to the best cordage; but it seemed to him still 
better adapted for the purposes of Flax than of Hemp. Mr. 
Willis considered the fibre to possess extraordinary merit, 
which would be valued by spinners for use in their finer fabrics. 
So, when examined by practical men in this country, it has 
been pronounced to be well calculated for supplying the place 
of good Flax, for making prime yarns. One gentleman observed 
that it twists all up at the end, and therefore could not be 
heckled. But this is probably owing to the mode of prepa- 
ration ; as the natives are described as twisting it between their 
hands. It was considered well worth £30, or rather 
£35 aton. Capt. Thompson thought, in Calcutta, that it 
would be valued at from £30 to £40 per ton in England ; 
perhaps more. 
Though the Mudar or Yercum fibre, from its fineness, seems 
well calculated to answer for many of the purposes of Flax ; yet, 
from its strength, it is also well suited to supply the place of 
Hemp. In the Author’s experiments, when Petersburgh 
Hemp bore 1601b., and the Brown Hemp of Bombay and 
Jubbulpore Hemp bore 190]b., the Yercum also bore 190 Ib. 
Dr. Wight has given the following as the results of his 
experiments : 
