FIBRES. 285 



water ; in a saturated atmosphere, 18.2 per cent, of water. It 

 is used for cordage ; in India it is extensively employed for 

 making fishing-nets. The finest fibre, even rivaling Flax 

 in fineness and durability, is woven into cloth. B. nivea is 

 now cultivated in the Southern States and in California. 



265. One of the most important vegetable fibres, namely, 

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

 of the Linden family {Tiliacece). It is an annual herb, 

 growing to a height of eight to twelve feet, bearing simple 

 jagged leaves and small yellow flowers, extensively culti- 

 vated in India, China, Egypt, Guinea, etc. For its best 

 growth there must be a hot, moist climate, with abundant 

 rain-fall, and a rich alluvial soil. The leaves are used in 

 India as a pot-herb. The plant is harvested while in 

 flower; for if allowed to stand till in fruit, the quality of 

 the bast is not so good ; as in case of Hemp, Flax, etc., so 

 here also, the strength and flexibility decrease from the 

 time of the appearance of the flowers till the ripening of 

 the fruit, in consequence probably of lignification of the 

 cells, which takes place during this time. The fibre is 

 separated from the plants by retting (maceration) — bundles 

 are thrown into water, and after a few days the bast readily 

 separates from the stem. It is then washed and dried ; 

 this simple method sufiices to obtain the Jute as clean as 

 Hemp is made by heckling, but it is very rough and rigid ; 

 an attempt, therefore, is now being made to render it soft 

 and flexible. "For this purpose bundles are laid upon 

 one another, sprinkled with water and fat (commonly 

 train-oil), and are allowed to remain, according to the 

 warmth, twenty-two to forty-eight hours, or till the water 

 has been sucked up and the fat has covered the surface. 

 Prepared in this manner, the stalks are strongly squeezed 



