268 



Boehmeria nivea, G-audichaud.* 



The Rarnee or Rheea. Southern Asia, as far east as Japan. 

 This bush furnishes the strong and beautiful fibre woven 

 into the fabric, which inappropriately is called grass-cloth. 

 The bark is softened by hot water or steam, and then separa- 

 ble into its tender fibres. The best is obtained from the 

 young shoots ; it is glossy, tough and lasting, combining to 

 some extent the appearance of silk with the strength of flax. 

 The ordinary market value of the fibre is about £40 per 

 ton ; but Dr. Eoyle mentions that it has realized, at times, 

 £120. The seeds are sown on manured or otherwise rich 

 and friable soil. In the third year, or under very favorable 

 circumstances even earlier, it yields its crops, as many as 

 three annually. The produce of an acre has been estimated 

 at 2 tons of fibre. This latter, since Kaempfer's time, has 

 been known to be extensively used for ropes and cordage in 

 Japan. Our rich and warmest forest valleys seem best 

 adapted for the E-amee, as occasional irrigation can be also 

 there applied. In the open grounds of Victoria it suffers 

 from the night frosts, although this does not materially 

 injure the plant, which sends up fresh shoots, fit for fibre, 

 during the hot season. The plant has been cultivated and 

 distributed since 1854, in the Botanic Garden of Melbourne, 

 where it is readily propagated from cuttings, the seeds 

 ripening rarely there. Cordage of this Boehmeria is three 

 times as strong as that of hemp. Other species require to 

 be tested, among them the one which was recently dis- 

 covered in Lord Home's Island, namely Boehmeria calo- 

 phleba. 



Boronia megastigma, Nees. 



In "West Australia on margins of swamps. This remarkable 

 bush is recorded here as an emblem of mourning, its ex- 

 ternal blackish flowers rendering it especially eligible for 

 graves. Industrially it interests us on account of its power- 

 fully fragrant blossoms, for the sake of which this bush will 

 deserve to be cultivated. The scent might be extracted by 

 Mr. Bosisto's process. 



