have been definitely settled. It may turn out to be simply à 
question of soil and climate. China grass may give a larger and 
better a of fibre under cool conditions, wher o 
hea may do equally well u mene essentially tropical conditions. 
The question as € India mt! easily be settled by cultivating 
under various condition of climate and soil authentic specimens 
of each plant, and ted ins tituting, as suggested by Dr. Watt, a 
careful chemical and microscopic analysis of the fibres yielded by 
Indian-grown plants of both Behmeria nivea and B.tenacissima." 
In the United States, with a comparatively temperate climate, 
except in the extreme south, the plant so far cultivated is China 
grass SERIO TAE, nivea). In a“ Report (No. 7) on the Cultivation 
nited States,” by Mr. Chas. Richards Dodge, 
issued by the U. s. Department of Agriculture Csahingion, 
1395), the distinctions between China grass and Ramie are not so 
clearly kept in view as could be wished. Practically the former 
only is dealt with. But the name Ramie or Rhea is unfortunately 
re toit. It is probable that China grass (Behmeria nivea) 
is the more common plant under cultivation at the present time, 
but iti is possible also that, where Ramie or Rhea (Behmeria 
tenacissima) is grown, sufficient — is not laid on the fact 
that it is not hers ordinary China grass of commerce. As pointed 
out by M. Charles Roux in Notice sur la Ramie, * this error has 
crept into mun publications and has been extremely mad 
to the development of this culture. It has been represented that 
Ramie (Behmeria tenacissima) is successfu lly grown in France, 
but well organised experiments have proved that this is a mistake. 
amie is essentially a plant of warm countries." "The plant 
chiefly cultivated in France, and possibly in Algiers also, is 
China grass (Bahmeria nivea). The fibre at present known in 
commerce as China grass is the produce of B. nivea, prepared 
entirely by hand labour in China. The stems are first stripped 
and the epidermis removed by scraping and washing, but a good 
deal of the gum is still left in soda with the fibre. This has 
subsequently to be removed by chemical means in Europe. The 
quantity of this China grass e ey et is somewhat limited. 
It forms, however, the chief source of the raw material used for 
China grass fabrics hitherto pibaieed in this country and the 
Continent. 
in commerce is a term applied indifferently to the 
produce ‘of either B. nivea or B. tenacissima. m chief use in 
Trade Re Bbbrts appears to be to distinguish between machine- 
prepared fibre (* Ramie") and the hand-cl hbd fibre of the 
Chinese (* E X T rce 
consists of (1) Aba or strips which are merely the cortical 
zer removed from the stems and dried ; or (2) the grey, brown, 
or whitish fibre in a more or less cleaned Ae t ney freed from 
and from the epidermis and gummy 
The use of the term China grass eile "i a hand-cleaned 
fibre shipped from China is Bud from objection. It is really the 
produce of B. nivea, and no contusion is likely to arise. The term 
should, however, be applied to all fibres, whether cleaned by hand 
or by machine, if originally derived from B.n nivea. The latter 
might be called “ machine-cleaned China grass.” On the other 
hand the term Ramie should be strictly limited to the produce of 
