JUTE. 157 



rally used, that it now rivals flax and hemp in its import- 

 ance as a commercial product. The Jute plant is a native 

 of the warmer parts of India, where its cultivation is car- 

 ried on, especially in Bengal, to an immense extent. It is an 

 annual plant, growing from twelve to fourteen feet in height. 

 The valuable fibre is contained in the bark, a striking cha- 

 racteristic of the plants of this Natural Order. The flowers 

 somewhat resemble those of the common Lime or Linden- 

 tree; they proceed from the stem in bunches of two or 

 three on very short pedicels, and are succeeded by a capsular 

 seed-vessel of a subglobose figure and rough fluted sides. 

 The leaves are about four inches in length when full-grown, 

 oblong-pointed, and serrated at the edges; the two lowest 

 serratures near the petiole being curiously extended into 

 two long pointed appendages. Short branches are pro- 

 duced from the axils of the leaves. 



Jute, or Jute-hemp as it is usually called, is generally 

 about eight feet in length ; the fibre is fine and has a re- 

 markable satiny lustre ; it will not stand wet well, hence 

 it is not well adapted for cordage or canvas, which has to 

 withstand exposure to weather. In India it is chiefly used 

 for making coarse canvas called gunny, of which bags and 

 bales are made for packing other raw produce. In England 



