110 



USEFUL FIBEK PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



over any other method; first, less expensive; second, a superior bleaching of the 

 fiber. In the ovens the operation is hastened, and many time* this is a very desirable 

 system. In a perfectly dry atmosphere three to six days suffice for drying thoroughly. 

 The stalks are again put into bundles and placed in dry locations, safe from rodents. 

 The drying by artificial heat is done in common bread ovens, but the temperature 

 should be very moderate ; usually the hemp is introduced one hour or one hour and 

 a half after the removal of the bread from the oven. The hemp stalks are decorti- 

 cated in various ways, by hand processes of beating, or by machinery. The French 

 brake, which is somewhat similar to the Kentucky brake, is little used, though a 

 machine (juite as primitive is largely employed. In this device the stalks are first 

 crushed, then cleaned by beating. The hemp is not ready 

 for market when it comes from this machine, but is fur- 

 ther cleaned, and the bits of wood, etc., which adhere to 

 the fibers are carefully removed. See Hemp Machinery in 

 Appendix A. Fig. 38 is a Kentucky hemp brake. 



The market prices for American rough hemp at the pres- 

 ent time may be stated at $70 to $80 per ton for Missouri 

 and $125 per ton for Kentucky. Xo recent figures are at 

 hand showing cost of production, but in 1890, counting 

 a man and a team worth $3.50 per day, the cost of produc- 

 ing an acre of hemp in Kentucky was shown to be about 

 $24. The average yield is about 1,000 pounds per acre, 

 but this is frequently exceeded by several hundred 

 pounds. 



^Specimens. — Field Col. Mus. ; U. S. Nat. Mus. ; Mus. 

 U. S. Dept. Ag. 



Canoe birch (see Betula papyri/era). 



Capas, or Kapas. Gossypium. 



Capo di bue (It.). See Antirrhinum. 



Caraguata (Arg.). See BromeJia argentina. 



Caraiia. 



Orton gives this as the Brazilian name of a fine glossy 

 fiber from a species of Bromelia, from which ropes are 

 made. 



Carex brizoides, et sp. div. 



Endogen. Cyperacecv. A sedge. 

 This and the two species of Carex, which follow, are 

 mentioned in the Manual Hoepli. and are presumably 



Fig. 39. — Carex j^aniculata. 



Italian species. They are sedges or rushes. C. brizoides can be employed as 

 substitute for Esparto in brush making, and is woven. The species appears in 



C. pendula is employed for chair 

 C.pahidosa supplies similar material 



Bernardin's list as Alpengfass, from Holland 

 seating, itsltalian name being Sola perseggiole. 

 and is known by the simple name Sala. 



Other species of Carex are mentioned in the Official Guide Kew Mus., as follows: 

 C. tereticaulis is an Australian species, that has been employed by the Murray River 

 native tribe for net making. Guilfoyle names the species as paper stock. C. lepo- 

 rina is employedin Switzerland for stufriug furniture. The culms of C. rhynchophjim 

 are used for making table mats \v. Japan, and C. paviculata, in England, is employed 

 for hassocks and brooms. The species is also mentioned by Guilfoyle as a good paper 

 stock. See Fig. 39. 



