36-4 OTHER SPECIES OF URTICA AND BOEHMERIA. 
Indeed, Major Hannay, who has chiefly brought it into notice, 
says of Bon or Jungle Rheea (Boehmeri@ species) that it is a 
jungle plant, common in the Assam forests, and thriving best 
in the vicinity of water or of running streams. When unmo- 
lested it grows to a tree, but, by proper management, any 
quantity of young shoots can be obtained; and as the divided 
roots afford numerous shoots, the plant can be propagated by 
slips as well as by the seed. Its cultivation for its fibre might 
be carried on as with the Willow in Europe. 
By the Chinese in Assam it is said to be exported into 
Southern from Northern China. It is cultivated largely by 
the Hill tribes, north-west of Yeunan, and by the Singpoos 
and Dhoanncas of our own north-eastern frontier, to a small 
extent only for a coarse cloth, but chiefly for nets. The 
Nepaulese recognise it as the Leepeeah of Nepaul. (‘ Journ. 
Agri-Hortic. Soc.,’ vii, p. 222.) 
This fibre, in the state in which it has been sent, is well 
adapted for rope-making. It is about five feet in length, brown 
in colour, strong, and flexible. Capt. W. Thompson, of the 
house of Messrs. Thompson, rope-makers, of Calcutta, says of it ; 
“Tt is all that can be desired either for canvas or lines, and only 
requires to be known to be generally used for such purposes.” 
It was the kind which was made into a five-inch rope by Messrs. 
Huddart (p. 373,) along with the Dom Rheea or China-grass,and 
broke with a weight of about nine tons, or precisely 21,025 Ib. 
Since then, it has been made up into ropes of various sizes, 
which have been carefully tested, and found in every case greatly 
to exceed in tenacity those made of Russian Hemp of the same 
size, as shown in the Table at p. 374, It has also been made up 
into lines and cords, some of them almost fine enough for fishing 
lines: in all which it displays its fitness for all such purposes, 
from the union of strength and flexibility. There is no doubt 
that it would command a market as soon as its good qualities 
become known. It would be desirable to ascertain whether, 
by pressing it between grooved rollers, or something of that kind, 
it could not be sent in a still cleaner state, and command a still 
higher price. It was valued at £35 a ton. 
