256 
standing water, so that only the lower halves:are submerged. . The root 
halyes being more matured than the upper require more retting, and for 
this reason they undergo two days' preliminary sleeping. After the 
lapse of two days the bundles are laid on their sides in the water, and 
covered with sufficient earth to sink and bring them in contact with the 
bottom of the ром; In four ог, at the most, five days the fibrous -peel 
is loose enough to be easily removed by hand from the woody interior. 
‘The fibre ribbons, which rap now all but lost their green ot are 
afterwards washed in clean cold water and sprea out in t d 
when dry they are of à good white colour, such of the external greenness 
as remains after the retting and washing disappearing in the process of 
drying. 
ese remarks appiy to the plant as cultivated ee dl but Ia 
informed that i in other parts of this province and in the Mongolian bills 
the stems attain a much greater height and yield a Yee fibre. “The 
comes from Mongolia, is sometimes found to be as much as fifteen feet 
in length, whereas the oe itself does not attain that height in the 
light sandy soil near C 
The table annexed to this Report* gives the climatic conditions pager 
which the. plant is cultivated here. 
(Signed) Атжх. Hosts, 
H. B. M. Consulate, Chefoo, Acting Consul. 
— 5, 1891. 
RoYAL GARDENS, Kew, to FOREIGN OFFICE: 
Royal Gardens, Kew 
Sir, No vember 23, 1891. 
AM desired by Mr. Thiselton Dyer to acknowledge the receipt 
of ay ана of чө 2156 ultimo, forwneding a copy of a ‘despatch and 
report by M e, Acting Consul at Chefoo, on the subject of a 
fibrous roc = ртт yielding Chinese e jute. 
2. The specimens mentioned by Mr. коней and sent direct to this 
establishment have now been received, ‘These specimens were admir- 
ably prepared, and taken with the report they definitely settle the 
the 
question raised in my letter of the 5th May last in regard to the origin 
of Chinese jute from Northern China. The plant yielding it is Abutilon 
eem пе, Gertn., a widely diffused species in Eastern Asia. 
Mr. Thiselton Dyer would express the hope that Mr. Hosie may 
be thanked for the very intelligent manner in which he has prosecuted 
his inquiries in this matter, and for the valuable assistance he has 
afforded to ‘this establishment. 
I have, &c. 
.. ir. T. H. Sanderson, K.C.M.G., (Signed) Р. Morris, _ 
Foreign Office, S.W 
ROYAL GARDENS; Kew, to FOREIGN OFFICE. qu gdi 
$m шз 17, 1891. > 
vos 1 AM directed by Мг. Thiselton Я to inf he has 
read with interest the Report on the Trade of Каун б the year 
1890, by Astin 8 Сара} оед, Apnesi Series, 0 00 o P8 
тт оме аа. BEL ER 
ВОМУ DES d ° фей racibaud gui qu 
