FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER. 391 
able for paper-making, and might add to the agriculturists’ 
profits without much additional outlay. 
So some Malvaceous (p. 258) plants are cultivated on account 
of their fruits being used as articles of diet, as Okhro (p. 259) 
(Hibiscus esculentus), in the West Indies and in the United 
States. The Ram-turai of India is closely allied to it, and is 
cultivated for the same purpose. Both plants abound in fine 
flexible fibre, which is not, but might be easily separated, and 
afford a considerable supply, especially if the cultivation was 
extended in the neighbourhood of towns. Paper is made from 
a species of Hibiscus in Japan, and H. Sabdariffa is cultivated 
in India on account of its jelly-yielding calices. Numerous 
other species of Hibiscus, of Sida, and of other genera of this 
family, abound in warm climates; several are cultivated in 
different countries, as Hibiscus cannabinus in India, and Sida 
titiefolia in China: more might be so. They grow quickly, and 
to a large size, and abound in fibrous material of a fine, soft, 
flexible quality: on which account they might be cultivated 
with profit, and the tow be useful to the paper-maker. (p. 200.) 
[The stems of Cotton plants would also yield a supply.] 
The Tiliaceze (p. 232) are likewise remarkable for the abun- 
dance and fine quality of fibre which many of them contain. 
Tilia europea produces the enormous quantities of bast exported 
from Russia. Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis, the leaves 
of both of which are used as a vegetable, yield the large supply 
of Jute (p. 239) imported into this country, as well as the 
gunny cloth and bags exported even to America. Several 
species of Grewia yield edible fruit, on which account they are 
cultivated. Others abound in the jungles, and most would 
yield a valuable fibre, as some of them already do, for com- 
mercial purposes. [The Indian Basts, p. 239, are cheap, and 
abound in fibre. ] 
Some of the Leguminose also abound in valuable fibre. 
Crotalaria juncea yields the common Sunn of India. Sesbania 
aculeata or cannabina yields the Dhanchi of Bengal; while 
Bauhinia racemosa is used for making rope bridges in the 
Himalayas. The fibre of Parkinsonia aculeata was sent to the 
Exhibition in 1851, expressly as being fitted for paper-making: 
though colourless, it wants strength. (pp. 270—298.) [Some 
paper is made from gunny bags in India.] 
