DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 35 



Abrus precatorius. Indian Licorice. Eosary plant. 



Exogen. Leguminosce. A twining shrub. 

 Native of India, but found in the West Indies, Mauritius, and other tropical 

 regions. The bark or bast is twisted. into rough cordage. 



Abutilon avicennae. Indian Mallow. 



Exogen. Malvacece. Herbaceous annual. 

 Native names. — Cafiajrina (Arg. Rep.); Ch'ing Ma (China). 

 See A. indicum for Indian names of Abutilon, spp. 



Widely distributed, north and south, east of the Rocky Mountains, and is found 

 in the State of Washington. Although it has been considered an indigenous species,. 

 Gray states that it was introduced from India, and when found growing wild has 

 escaped from cultivation. Also distributed to northern Asia and westward to 

 southern Europe. Grows in northwestern India (Sind and Kashmir). Said to be 

 found in South America; cultivated experimentally in United States and India, com- 

 mercially in China, from whence the fiber is exported as China jute. In the United 

 States the plant grows so freely upon any rich soil, even thrusting itself in and 

 growing spontaneously, that it has come to be considered a farm pest in many por- 

 tions of the country. It grows luxuriantly throughout the West and North, the line 

 of States from Ohio to Missouri producing vast quantities of the bast, which rots 

 and goes to waste upon the stalks every year. (See fig. 6.) 



The revised name of this species is Abutilon abutilon. 



Bast Fiber. — A jute substitute, which may be manufactured into twine, rope, and 

 common cordage. Fiber white and glossy, and shows good strength. Has been 

 manufactured into paper in Illinois, the ligneous body of the plant giving more 

 cellulose for paper stock than other species. Early experimenters stated that fiber 

 extracted from plants that had not reached their maturity would be fine enough to 

 work into yarns for carpet fillings and even fabrics. It takes dyes readily, and an 

 advantage is claimed in this respect over India jute, which is antagonistic to cheap 

 bleaching and dyeing. The fiber was once classified in value between Italian and 

 mauila hemp, but it will not grade so high, coming nearer to jute, as is proved by its 

 being sold as a variety of jute. The seed of the plant is so hardy that it is not 

 affected by the severest winter, which enables the plant to perpetuate its species in 

 any locality where introduced. It is claimed that an acre of ground will produce 5 

 tons of Abutilon stalks, giving about 20 per cent of fiber. Of doubtful economic value, 

 considering that we have other and better fibers which are already in cultivation. 



Cultivation. — Experiments with cultivation in the United States date back to 

 about 1870, when the plant attracted considerable attention in the West, particu- 

 larly in Illinois, through the endeavors of Mr. J. H. McConnell to establish the 

 industry, and the fiber was given a flattering promise of utility. The plants .are 

 stated to grow 9 to 14 feet high; the seed should be sown 12 to 16 quarts per acre, in 

 corn-planting time, in the same manner as hemp ; it is cut with a reaper, shocked 

 like hemp till cured, then water retted like hemp ; a volunteer crop will spring up 

 the last of July, which can be dew retted. The cost of cutting is given at 75 cents 

 per acre; water retting, $10 ; dew retting, $5; hand cleaning, $12; and half as much 

 by machinery, making the total cost, not including rent of land, $19 to $31. Messrs. 

 McConnell offered $100 per ton for all water retted that could, be furnished and $75 

 for the dew-retted. The crop is not exhausting to the soil if the refuse is restored 

 to it. 



Seven or eight years later the plant was the subject of special investigation and 

 experiment in the State of 'New Jersey, through the endeavors of Mr. Samuel C. 

 Brown, secretary of the bureau of labor, statistics, and industries of that State. A 

 circular was issued in 1878 for the twofold purpose of awakening an interest in the 

 subject of fiber cultivation and to ascertain what portions of the State were best 

 adapted to its cultivation. While the promoters of these experiments were satis- 

 fied that no difficulty existed in the cultivation of the fiber, the enterprise failed 



