248 
ë da 
i M t which has been lately identified, from i 
to the Acting Consul at Chefoo, Mr, Alexander Hosie, as 
Abutilon vt Pia Gertn. In regard to the application of the term 
hemp this appears to be. still more ss widely and loosely used. It is 
applied, in its usual sensé, to the common ог Каззїап jemp, grown in 
s 
indifferently used ‘and applied to the China grass or Rhea fibre 
oehmeria nivea, Hk.) of Kiukiang, to the fibre prepared from the 
bark of young trees of Sterculia platanifolia, L., at Hupeh, and to the 
pine-apple fibre (Ananas sativus, Baker) of Kiungchow, Hainan, and 
Form 
ова, 
The application of pest bod A eaim terms as jute and hemp to 
fibres so different in chara origin must lead to much confusion 
and tend to retard the аон of trade. Опе of the most interest- 
locally as Ko-pou, has also passed under the name > hemp, although 
the quantity produ і is apparently very small. An account of this Ko 
pos is given in the Enumeration of Chinese Plants Journ, Linn. 
vol. xxii. 
To return to the subject of jute. Seeds and specimens of Chinese 
jute from South Manchuria received at Kew in 1879 through Mr. 
to Abutilon Avicenne, Gertn. Fibre yielded by the same plant was 
forwarded to б, іп 1885 by Mr. W. М. Cooper, Her Majesty’s Consul 
at Ningpo. ^ complete set of йаа! specimens, with fruits 
These specimens, with the full report furnished by Mr. Hosie, afford 
nt А conclusive information respecting the origin of the so-called jute of 
Northern China. This may now be more correctly called Abutilon 
. Another set of specimens, illustrative of the pine-apple fibre 
(also called hemp) has been received from Mr. E. H. Parker, Her 
and origin of Chinese jutes an and hemps, is given in the following cor- 
respondence. It is desirable to place this information on recor a 
basis for the further inquiry which is in е of being undertaken at 
Chinese ports under the direction of Sir Robert Hart, G.C.M.G., 
Inspector-General of =: hpi es Imperial Maritime Customs The very 
interesting memorandum prepared by Dr. of 
value for the purpose of aiding in such an inquiry, “and this Бай 
is greatly indebted to Sir Robert Hart for the copy of it communica 
in the form of a pamphlet—China, Imperial Maritime Customs, II. :— 
Special Series: No. 16, 1891. 
Inspectorate General of Customs, Peking, 
December 
27, 1890. 
An inquiry respecting * Chinese jute” having been made by the 
Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, Dr. Augustine Henry, one of 
and graven. certain points for elucidation. The original inquiry 
and the subsequent memorandum are hereto appended, and the ports — 
