321 
1892-93 was slightly iess, being of the value of 127,000,000 rupees. 
Besides cotton, there was exported from India cotton seed in 1888-89 
to the value of Rs. 301,577; in 1892-93 this had fallen to a value of 
Rs. 61,708 
FIBRES. 
mong fibrous plants it may be pointed out that while great tracts of 
Indis (in the form of hedges) are regularly under the Ameriean aloe, 
being vice at collected for experimental purposes. One or tw 
enlightened Native gentlemen have more than once been induced to 
grow the plant, and it is hoped that through their example it may be 
possible to get the ordinary cultivators to take to it, since it “affords a 
fibrein many res pects superior to jute. So, again, while much has been 
written on rhea fibre, little progress has been made. Numerous inven- 
tions have, however, been patented, and it is believed that, should a 
d : 
hemp would be a positive gain to India 
But the forests and jungles of India are literally teeming with wild 
fibrous plants, many of which could be grown on a large scale were 
this found necessary. For example, in the Rajmahal-hemp (Marsdenia 
tenacissima) India possesses a fibre which is far superior to rhea. It 
as among Índian fibres the highest known per-centage of cellulose, 
ing might be tried :—Abro erred Anona, Bauhinia, 
fr ahd Helicteres, “Malachea, been Pavonia, Sesbania, Sterculia, 
Villebrunia, &e., &c. 
Dyes. 
Competition with aniline has ruined many of the Indian dyes, such as 
safflower and madder, but there seems no ood reason why others should 
ormer may be specially mentioned the Chay-root 
