314 USEFUL RESULTS OF DR. ROXBURGH’S LABOURS. 
it in his report on Assam as a kind of rug worn by the Gar- 
rows in the cold weather, and serving them as a blanket by 
night. 
But the specimens of this, as well as some of others, are 
chiefly interesting as showing the probability of the existence 
of numerous plants, of which the useful properties still remain 
unknown—for the fibrous properties of this are not mentioned 
by Dr. Roxburgh; and of him, it is justly observed in the 
‘Journ. of the Agri-Hortic. Soc.,’ vi, p. 188: “ From this 
circumstance it may be inferred he was not aware of it, as he 
appears never to have allowed an opportunity to pass of draw- 
ing attention to the useful properties of plants described by 
him, but, on the contrary, to have ever been desirous of ren- 
dering his botanical acquirements subservient to the dissemina- 
tion of useful information in connection with every department 
of the vegetable kingdom.” 
Hemp. 
Sans., Bhanga, Ganjica; Hind., Ganja; Arab., Kinnub; Pers., Bung. 
Though so many fibres have been mentioned under the name 
of Hemp, it is only now, as we approach the end of our labours, 
following an arrangement according to the natural affinities of 
plants, that we have arrived at the true Hemp plant, the 
Cannabis sativa of botanists. The fibre of which is so gene- 
rally employed for cordage in Europe, that the value of all 
other fibres is estimated, not so much from their intrinsic 
properties, as from their greater or less resemblance to Hemp, 
and especially to Russian Hemp. There is every reason for 
believing that the plant is of Eastern origin, while there is no 
sufficient reason for thinking that the climate of Europe is so 
peculiarly suited to the production of its fibre, as to exclude 
those of its native climes. Especially where attention is paid to 
those where the plant is grown on account of its fibre, and 
these distinguished from the others where it is cultivated for 
its resinous and intoxicating secretion. The latter requires 
exposure to light and air. These are obtained by thin sowing, 
while the growth of fibre is promoted by shade and moisture, 
which are procured by thick sowing. But before we proceed 
