THE TECHNOLOGIST. [June 1, 1865. 



482 USEFUL PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



greenish, capsules round, four inches by one inch, twisted, drooping 

 leaves, narrower, finer fibre, drooping. Whatever may be the Buccess in 

 the invention of means to prepare the fibre for the manufacturer, it 

 ought to be always borne in mind that the su]jply of the raw material 

 will be very soon dependent upon cultivation. It is a great mistake to 

 suppose that an unlimited supply exists in the native state ; and per- 

 haps this is not to be regretted, as cultivation will improve the fibre, 

 and those varieties possessing the finest fibre only will be cultivated. 

 It is understood that the Maories cultivated this plant on the North 

 Island, and it would be a subject worth inquiring into, in order to dis- 

 cover which is the best variety for producing a fine quality of fibre, and 

 if there is any peculiarity in the system of cultivation. Also, minute 

 information is much required connected with the method and substances 

 used in dyeing the flax with those brilliant fast colours, in which art 

 the Maories have excelled. The difficulty in produciug a good fast colour 

 on vegetable fibre is well known, and many tedious and expensive pro- 

 cesses are used to animalise (as it is termed) the vegetable fabrics, so as 

 to enable the dyer to fix the colours. If we are to improve on the 

 Maories' method of dressing the flax, we should not be behind them in 

 its adornment. 



The gum of the flax is used for the same purpose as gum arabic. 

 The root is purgative, and said to have the properties of sarsaparilla. 



Coxlyline Australis, Ti or Cabbage-tree. — "Whole plant fibrous, and 

 might be made into paper. The juice of the roots and stems contains a 

 small amount of sugar, and has been used for procuring alcohol. 



The fibre of the trunk of C. indivisa is used by the Maories in the 

 manufacture of mats. 



Among the grasses in the genera Triticum, Agrostis, Arundo, and 

 Dantlionea, are several species well adapted for paper-making. They 

 are abundantly spread over the grassy hills of Otago, at altitudes over 

 1,000 feet. If the article should become one of export, the cost of con- 

 veyance to port would be heavy, unless means could be applied to com- 

 press it into bales. At some future time, however, machinery could be 

 erected, where water-power is convenient, and the manufacture of an 

 inferior description of paper could be carried on in the country. There 

 is a so-called cotton-plant in Otago {Celmosia coriacea) the dressed fibre 

 of which is shown, and it has been made into cloth by the natives. 



