144 COMMERCIAL BOTANY. 



mixed with Venetian Whisk, the roots of Ghrysopogm, 

 Gryllus, which, though somewhat lighter in colour, are 

 similar in appearance, but of a superior quality ; and in this 

 mixed condition it is exported to England for making clothes, 

 velvet, carpet, and dandy brushes. The roots are known 

 in Mexico as " Raiz de Zacaton," and are referred in the 

 Bulletin of Miscellaneotis Information, Royal Gardens, Eew, 

 No. 12, December, 1887, p. 9, to Epicavipes macroura. 



About twelve years ago a new material was introduced 

 for gardening purposes — namely, for tying plants — under the 

 name of Roffia or E/Apfia ; for some time the origin of 

 this article remained unknown, but it was subsequently 

 proved to be the thin but very strong cuticle of the leaf 

 of Raphia Ruffia, a palm, native of Madagascar. It is 

 exported chiefly to Mauritius, and thence to England — at 

 the present time in very large quantities. Its value in the 

 London market ranges from £25 to £200 per ton, but its 

 average price may be taken at from £40 to £50 per ton. 

 In Madagascar this same substance, split into fine threads 

 and dyed, is used for making mats and cloths, some of 

 which are very beautiful. 



It is said that the cuticle of the leaves of R. tmdigera, 

 a Brazilian species, is also exported to this country, and helps 

 to make up the bulk of the Roffia of trade. This material 

 has entirely supplanted the old Cuba Bast from Hibiscus 

 elatus, which was so largely used in gardens about forty 

 years ago. It was originally used for tying up bundles of 

 real Havanna cigars; and during the Russian war, when 

 the bast from the lime-tree became scarce, it was used as a 

 substitute for that article, and has now passed from notice 

 to give place to Roffia. 



In the London International Exhibition of 1862, 

 amongst the South African products some prominence was 

 given to a stiff black fibre which was advocated for brush- 

 making, as a substitute for horsehair, and for paper- 



