16 



Bertholettia excelsa, H. & B., " Brazil Nut " — A plant was 

 put out in the garden, but soon died, when about a foot high. 

 Baron Muella says that it suceeds just outside the tropics, but 

 its growth is then very slow. 



Boehmeria nivea, Hook, k< China Grass." —This plant suc- 

 ceeds well in the garden and may be cut three times in the 

 year, in favourable seasons, perhaps four times ; it bears seeds 

 every season, and seed can be supplied when ripe, but we do not 

 keep them on hand. Cuttings can be supplied when required, 

 but division of the roots is the quickest and best way. From a 

 recent article on Rhea or Ramie fibre in " Indian Planting and 

 Gardening," I venture to extract the following : — 



" We have on several occasions in our columns drawn 

 attention to the mixing up of Rhea or Ramie ribbons, fibre, 

 and filasse. The first is the bark stripped from the stem and 

 dried with the gummy substance which forms such a formidable 

 barrier to the cleaning of the fibre ; the second is the fibre 

 cleaned of its gummy envelope ; and the third is the fibre 

 worked up into the condition of " floss " silk, ready for 

 spinning. The ribbons can, we believe, be shipped from India 

 at about £12 per ton f.o.b. London, and leaves a margin of 

 profit to the grower. The fibre could not be exported at any- 

 thing uuder £30 per ton, while the filasse could only be shipped 

 at from £50 to £70 per ton. We have worked out all these 

 figures in previous issues. The only circumstance that has 

 stood in the way of Rhea fibre becoming a recognised industry 

 in India is the uncertainty of finding a market for it. Let the 

 Ramie Fibre Spinning Syndicate, Ld., or any other firm 

 using Rhea fibre, send us an offer to buy all that our planters 

 can produce in the way of Rhea fibre, and they would soon 

 have their orders filled. Let them offer a reasonable price, and 

 within one year from date of order there would be a continuous 

 supply of fibre from India, quite equal in quality to China 

 Grass. 



" We do not say, nor have we ever said, that Rhea fibre 

 would oust cotton, hemp, and jute. These fibres serve a certain 

 purpose, which Rhea could not, but it would certainly come 

 into severe competition with flax and silk. In strength and 

 durability it is superior to both, in lustre snperior to flax, and 

 quite equal to silk. It can be produced cheaper than both. 

 For men's wear fabrics made from Rhea fibre would completely 

 oust linen. We have seen the most beautiful fabrics, which 

 could not be distinguished from silk in delicacy of colouring 

 and soft texture, made from Rhea fibre. The late Sir Thomas 

 Wardle, the well-known silk manufacturer, when he visited 

 India some years ago, exhibited fabrics made from Rhea fibre 



