98 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



Along the edge of the leaf, about 6 inches apart, are short, sharp, curved thorns. 

 "When the plant is cultivated these gradually disappear.*' 



Capt. A. L. Varney, in a paper on bristle fibers (Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 

 1883, p. 161), refers to the statements of Squier and others, and, commenting on the 

 confusion that exists as to the names of the fibers of the Agaves and Bromelias, says: 

 '•Most writers, however, refer to the ' title,' l ixtle,' or ' it:lc' as the fiber of Bromelia 

 sylvestris," which he regards as the source of Tampico. He then gives a plate illus- 

 tracion of " Bromelia sylvcstris or penquin (sic), the wild Pineapple." 



The writer also fell iuto error in his " Report on vegetable fibers," in Annual 

 Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1879, the statements being reproduced 

 in Xo. 6, Xew Commercial Plants and Drugs, by Thos. Cbristy (London, 1882). And 

 the confusion is still further added to in the writer's treatment of B. sylvestris in Xo. 

 5. Fiber Investigations series, A Report on the Leaf Fibers of the United States (1893). 

 In Bernardin's Catalogue the species is treated thus : "IztU, Mexique ; pita, pinuella, 

 Am. cent.: Penguin, Ind. oc. ; Silk grass, Honduras Brittanique. Bromelia Karat a 8 

 en parait une variete." In the Manual Hoepli B. sylvestris is stated to be found in Brazil 

 and Guiana. "The fiber is white, lustrous, and fine, from which is manufactured 

 exclusively articles de luxe." (Savorgnan.) 



See Istle and Agave heteracaniha, in this catalogue, and also refer to Bromelia pin- 

 guin, above, and to the note by Dr. Morris on Bromelia pita, under B. pinguin; see 

 Karatas plumieri. 



Broom (see Cytisus scoparius). 



Broom corn (see Andropogon sorghum vulgaris). 



Broom hemp (see C rotatoria). 



Broom palm (see Attalea and Thrinax). 



Broom root (Mex.). See Epicampes. 



Broom, Spanish (see Spartium). 



Broomstick grass (see Aristida setacea). 



Broussonetia papyrifera. Paper Mulberry. 



Exogen. Moracece. A small tree. 



Native names. — Kodzu and A-ozo (Jap.); hoa-ko-chu (China); ken dang (Java); 

 ma-lo (Fiji Is.). The fabric made from its bark, by beating, is known on the 

 Pacific Islands as tappa, tapa, and kapa. 



Native of China, Japan, Siam, Polynesian Islands, and Burma. Introduced into 

 other countries. (See fig. 36.) 



Fiber. — The fibrous substance of the bark pulps readily, and is therefore esteemed 

 in Japan as paper stock. In Burma iti s used for papier mache. " The fiber is strong 

 and fine, and has the great merit of requiring little bleach*' {Watt). Beautiful 

 .specimens of the fiber were received from the Japanese court, W. C. E., 1893, and 

 are now in the collection of this Department. 



It is said that the finest and whitest cloth and mantles worn by Sandwich Island- 

 ers and '• the principal people of Otaheite," are made from the bast of this tree. It 

 dyes readily, particularly in red, and takes a good color. Tapa cloth is also printed, 

 a large sheet from the Fiji Islands, in possession of the Department, being stamped 

 or rudely printed in black, in large checks or squares, resembling the patchwork 

 of a quilt. The manner in which the fiber is beaten out by the native women of 

 ( >taheite is very curious. The cleansed fibers are spread out on plantain leaves to 

 the length of about 11 or 12 yards; these are placed on a regular or even surface of 

 about a foot in breadth. Two or three layers are thus placed one upon the other, 

 much attention being paid to making the cloth of uniform thickness: if thinner in 



