ECONOMIC BOTANY. 125 



Strong. Ramie is used for cordage ; in India it is extensively 

 used for fishing-nets. The finest fibre, even rivalling flax in 

 fineness and durability, is woven into cloth. Bcehmeria nivea 

 is now cultivated in the Southern States and in California. 



11. One of the most important vegetable fibres, namely 

 Jute, is the bast of Corchorus capsularis, and other species, of 

 the Linden family (TiliaceaB). It is an annual herb, growing 

 to a height of eight to twelve feet, bearing simple jagged leaves 

 and small yellow flowers, extensively cultivated in India, 

 China, Egypt, Guinea, etc. For the best growth there must 

 be a hot, moist climate, with abundant rain-fall, and a rich 

 alluvial soil. The plant is harvested while in flower, for if it 

 is allowed to stand till in fruit, the quality of the bast is not 

 good ; as in the case of hemp, flax, etc., so here also the 

 strength and flexibility decreases from the time of the appear- 

 ance of the flowers till the ripening of the fruit, in consequence 

 probably of lignification of the cells, which takes place during 

 this time. The flbre is separated from the plant by retting 

 (maceration). It is easily distinguished from flax and hemp 

 by its silky lustre ; it is also much more intensely colored by 

 aniline. Fresh jute has but little color ; it varies from whit- 

 ish to yellowish ; exposed to the atmosphere, and especially 

 to dampness, it becomes deeply colored, as seen in that used 

 for coffee-sacks, wool-sacks, etc. The walls of the jute cells 

 vary much in thickness ; and when examined in longitudinal 

 sections, it is found that each individual cell has at one place 

 thin, and at another place thick walls. Jute has been used 

 since olden times, in those countries where it is indigenous, in 

 the preparation of robes and fabrics. Only within the last 

 half-century, however, has it come into extended use. From 

 it is manufactured coarse cloth in great quantity, used for 

 packing and transporting all manner of goods. Even carpets 

 and cloth of considerable fineness are now made from it. It 

 is sometimes woven with silk. 



12. Musa textilis (family Masacese), a Monocotyl, is much 

 like the Banana-tree in appearance, being fifteen to twenty feet 

 highj and having dark-green leaves. It is cultivated on the 



