253 
Forricn OFFICE to ROYAL yma Kew. 
Sir Foreign Office, March 25, 1891. 
WirH reference to your letter of the 26th of November last, I 
am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you a copy of а. 
despatch from the Acting Br -— Consul at. Wénchow, including a 
терају, on Rhea cultivation in Chin 
of a further despatch ton Mr. Hosie transmitting a report on 
another textile plant, is also enclo 
osie states that a case of specimens писане of g^ — 
will = forwarded direct to Kew Gard 
m, &е. 
iet) v T. H. SANDERSON. 
W. T. Thiselton — ate C.M.G 
Kew Gar 
[ Enclosure. ] 
Actina Consut Hoste to Ње MARQUIS or SALISBURY. 
My Lorp, Wénchow, January 26, 1891. 
IN connexion with my preceding despatch of this date, I have- 
the honour to enclose a brief ` Report on another textile plant cultivated 
in this Ье hood: It is to all appearances a species of Abutilon 
[since determined as Cochis capsularis, L.]; but its laneeolate and 
glabrous leaves, its rugose awnless capsules, and its general appearance 
and size distinguish it “from any Abutilon that I am acquainted with, in 
the Flora of China or of India 
I was reserving these brief notes € I had collected more detailed 
information; but as I am under orders roceed to Chefoo, and as it 
will therefore be impossible for me to айас further ере with. 
the plant during the present year, I venture to forward the Report, 
brief as it is, in the hope that it may be of some interest to ihe PHP 
of Kew Garde ena, 
Ü 
* ж * 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) ALEXANDER LHOSIE, 
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G. Acting Consul, 
Report on the eno Medos at apo of a FIBRE dos and on. 
e Extraction and Uses of its FIBRE 
Cultivation. 
The seeds of this fibre р" called Lu Ма in the neighbourhood of 
Wénchow, are sown in The greund having been made into to beds 
in the usual Chinese pare PA shallow M mim ; : d toa 
foot apart are made in the surface by hand or hoe. Into each opening a. 
pin hof мей i covered with a little vegetable ashes. 
pear they are ured once with liquid 
fiye or six feet, and quickly еар their iind give e to clusters 
of seed | capsules, usually three in num 
