DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. Ill 



Carex vulpinoidea (?). Slough Grass. 



A species of Carex or sedge supposed to l>e C. vulpinoidea has been used to some 

 extent in the manufacture in Iowa, under the Lowry patents, of a grass binding 

 twine. Samples of this twine in the Department collection show a strand composed 

 of the grass leaves, held together by means of a thread or fine twine which ivinds 

 spirally about the mass, forming a continuous "twine," or tying substance, of 

 considerable strength. 



C. ridpinoidea is a very common sedge in this State (Iowa) in rather low places. I 

 am not familiar with the*manufacture of this twine, but am of the opinion that this 

 may not have been the only species that was used. There are several species which 

 have tough, fibrous stems. Professor Bndd informs me that this sedge was largely 

 used in tying sacks, and that it is of excellent quality. {Prof. L. H. Fammel.) 



Mr. Lowry, the patentee, makes the following statements regarding the manu- 

 facture of this twine : 



The grass for twine should be cut the latter part of July or early in August ; if cut 

 earlier it is pulpy and has no strength ; if allowed to grow longer the slender tops 

 wither off and the stalk becomes brittle. It is cut with a reaper, which delivers from 

 the platform straight and in gavels; the following day the gavels are bound and 

 " stooked " or " shocked " on the butt ends, as is done with grain, and allowed to dry 

 or "cure" for about three days, when it is stacked or baled for shipment. The yield 

 is from l-£ to 2 tons per acre. In baling, it is necessary, for twine, that it should be 

 kept straight. The first process is putting it through the combing machine to remove 

 the short grass and any weeds there may be among it. The machines as made at 

 present have each a capacity of 7,500 yards per hour. The machine takes the grass 

 from the hopper, twists it, puts the thread around it, and bales it. The labor of 

 combing the grass and feeding the machine is light work and could be done by boys 

 or. girls. One ton of grass yields about 1,850 pounds of twine and 250 pounds of hay. 

 For binder twine it requires no treatment of any kind, but it should not be subjected 

 to excessive moisture or artificial heat. 



* Specimens.— Field Col. Mus. ; Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. 



Careya arborea. 



A deciduous tree, found in India, which yields a gum, tan bark, dye, medicine, 

 fruit, and fiber. "The bark yields a good fiber for coarse cordage, and a stuff suit- 

 able for brown paper of good quality. Silk worms feed on the leaves. The fibrous 

 bark is used in Mysor as a slow match to ignite gunpowder, and in many parts of 

 India as fusees for matchlocks." (Die. Ec. Prod. Ind.). 



Carica papaya. The Pap aw of the Tropics. 



While celebrated for its fruit, it yields a fiber that may be obtained 5 feet long, 

 and is mentioned in the lists of Bernardin and the Flax and Hemp Commission and 

 alluded to by Dr. Watt. Of questionable utility. 



Carludovica palmata. 



Endogen. Cyclanthacea\ 



The plants of this genus are found in tropical South America and in Central America. 

 C. palmata is a stemless species, " common in shady places all over Panama and along 

 the coast of New Granada [United States of Columbia] and Ecuador." 



The leaves, which are plaited like a fan, "are borne on three-cornered stalks from 

 6 to 14 feet high. They are about 4 feet in diameter and deeply cut into four or five 

 divisions, each of which is again cut. The leaves are cut while young, and the stiff 

 parallel veins removed, after which they are slit into shreds, but not separated at 

 the stalk end, and immersed in boiling water for a short time and then bleached in 

 the sun." (J. Smith.) 



Specimens of the prepared leaves, in bundles, were obtained from the several 



