DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 37 



Nevertheless, machine stripping and water retting of jute has been practiced in this 

 country in Texas in a small way. An economical machine for extracting this class 

 of bast libers is yet a desideratum. See Machinery, Appendix A. 



* Specimens. — Field Col. Mus.; U. S. Nat. Mus.; Mus. I', s. Dept. Ag. 



Abutilon bedfordianum. 



Native of Brazil. Tall rank shrub. Introduced into Victoria, Australia, where its 

 growth is rapid. 



Bast Fiber. — Almost white, the filaments fine and regular. "The bark yields a 

 fiber of superior quality, suitable for whipcord, tine matting, paper, and perhaps 

 textile fabrics." (Guilfoyle.) A beautiful example of the fiber was showu in the 

 Victorian collection, Phil. Int. Exh., 1876. A. aJbuyn is another Victorian species. 

 See Ann. Kept. U. S. Dept, Ag., 1879. 



* Specimen. — Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. 



Abutilon incanum. 



Native Mexican name. — Tronadora. 



The species is found in Mexico, acquiring greatest perfection on the rich bottom 

 lands. It reaches a height of about 8 feet. 



Bast Fiber. — Extracted from the bark. The Zotlahnacar Indians, who live -10 

 miles south of Manzanillo. are said by Dr. Palmer to utilize the fiber in making ham- 

 mocks, ropes, and carrying nets, which are so durable that they last from seven to 

 ten years in constant use. 



Native preparation. — When the plant is mature, the lateral branches are cut 

 away and the stems are buried in the mud at the edge of Lake Alcuzagua (Lake of 

 the Devil). Three or four days afterwards the plants are removed and washed, and 

 are then ready for the stripping of the inner bark or fiber. This is done in the fol- 

 lowing manner: The workman, standing upright, with the stem, which rests firmly 

 upon the ground, in his left hand, presses the right thumb firmly upon the stick, and 

 taking the fiber between the fingers, he pulls steadily, bending gradually to the work 

 until he falls upon his knees. When the fiber is removed, the stem rebounds and flies 

 over the shoulder of the operator, stripped of half its bark. This seems a very slow 

 process, but jute was formerly cleaned as slowly, and it was only after many and 

 repeated trials that machinery was perfected to perform this tedious work. Prob- 

 ably if this, like jute, is allowed to die before cutting, it would become brittle and 

 fit only for paper manufacture ; therefore, in more northern latitudes, it may be best 

 to cut the plants before frost. Experiments will be necessary to ascertain the proper 

 time for cutting, the length of time it should be immersed, if water will accomplish 

 the same result as mud, rendering the bark soft and pliable. {Dr. Edw. Palmer, 

 Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb.. Vol. I.) 



Abutilon indicum. Country Mallow. 



Native names. — KangM (Hind.): Potdri (Beng.j; Deishar (Arab.); DaraMte- 

 shanah (Pers.); Tram (Malay); Anoda-gcilia (Ceyl.). 



A small annual shrub, common to India and Burma, but cultivated in Mauritius; 

 found in south Africa. 



Bast Fiber. — Very similar to that of A. arieenncv, which see. " The stems contain 

 good fiber suitable for cordage." ( Watt. ) A fine sample of the fiber was exhibited in 

 the Indian Court, Forestry, W. C. E., 1893. The leaves, seed, and bark of this spe- 

 cies and .1. asiaticum are used as a medicine in India. The last-named species also 

 yields a good cordage fiber. 



There are 10 or 12 Indian species of Abutilon, among which may be also named A. 

 graveolens, A. muticum, aud A. polyandrum, all of which are fiber plants. The latter 

 is said to yield a long silky fiber resembling hemp. 



