285 



Corchorus capsularis, L.* 



From India to Japan. One of the principal Jute plants. 

 An annual, attaining a height of about a dozen feet, when 

 closely grown, with almost branchless stem. A nearly 

 allied but lower plant, Goroliorus Chmhmghami, F. v. Mueller, 

 occurs in tropical and subtropical East Australia. Jute can 

 be grown where cotton and rice ripen, be it even in localities 

 comparatively cold in the winter, if the summer's warmth is 

 long and continuous. The fibre is separated by steeping 

 the full grown plant in water from five to eight days, and it 

 is largely used for rice and cotton bags, carpets and other 

 similar textile fabrics, and also for ropes. About 60,000 

 tons are annually exported from India to England, and a 

 large quantity also to the United States. Jute is sown on 

 good land, well ploughed and drained, but requires no irri - 

 gation, although it likes humidity. The crop is obtained in 

 the course of four or five months, and is ripe when the 

 flowers turn into fruit capsules. Grood paper is made from 

 the refuse of the fibre. 



Corchorus olitorius, L.* 



South Asia and North Australia. Furnishes, with the fore- 

 going species, the principal supply of Jute fibre. As it also 

 is an annual, it can be brought to perfection in our 

 summers. The foliage can be used for spinage. The fibre 

 is not so strong as hemp, but very easily prepared. It 

 will not endure exposure to water. The allied Corchorus 

 trilocidaris, L., of Indian origin, is likewise a native of 

 eastern tropical and subtropical Australia. 



Cordyline Banksii, J- Hooker. 



New Zealand. This lax and long leaved palm-lily attains 

 a height of 10 feet ; its stem is usually undivided. This 

 and the following species have been admitted into this list 

 for a double reason, because not only are they by far the 

 hardiest, quickest growing and largest of the genus, and 

 thus most sought in horticultural trade for scenic planting ; 

 but also because they furnish from the leaves a superior 

 fibre for ropes and other purposes. The small seeds are 

 produced in great abundance, and germinate with extreme 



