DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 141 



with a sickle close to the ground. Of the Poona district, Bombay, it is stated that the 

 crop is "left standing for about a month after it is ripe, that the leaves, which are 

 excellent manure, may fall on the land." It is not clear whether the crop is left on 

 its roots— that is to s.iy, not reaped — or whether it is cut and stacked on the fields; 

 tho latter more probably. The greatest difference of opinion prevails as to whether the 

 cut crop should be dried before being steeped, or, like jnte, be carried at once to 

 the retting tanks. But even with jute some cultivators dry the plants sufficiently 

 to allow of the leaves being rapidly stripped, since these are supposed to injure the 

 color of the fiber if allowed to rot in the water of the tank. With regard to sunn 

 hemp, the general rule may be almost safely laid down that in moist regions, like 

 Bengal, rapid submersion is preferred, and in dry regions, like Madras, stacking the 

 crop is practiced. Roxburgh, from actual experiments, arrived at the opinion that 

 "steeping immediately after the plant is pulled is the best, at least in Bengal dur- 

 ing the rains, for then it is very difficult to dry it, and the fiber becomes weakened 

 and the color injured.'' 



The average yield of fiber is about 640 pounds per acre. In preparing the fiber in 

 the Lucknow district the stalk is cut near the root when the plant begins to flower, 

 "tied in large bundles, and immersed in Avater, the natives putting small weights 

 upon it (generally mud) to prevent it being carried away. After remaining in water 

 from four to eight days it is withdrawn, taken by handfuls, beaten on a piece of 

 wood or stone, and washed till quite clean, and the cuticle and leaves entirely 

 removed." The woody portion is separated by further beating and shaking when 

 perfectly dry. At Commercolly the plants are pulled, tied in bundles, and are then 

 left standing in water, on their roots, to the depth of several inches. This allows the 

 fiber to obtain the right degree of firmness without becoming parched and dried by 

 the sun. O versteeping causes the bark to separate very easily, but weakens the fiber. 

 Dr. Roxburgh found "no advantage, but the reverse, by drying the plant after macer- 

 ation and before the bark is removed," 7 which is the mode practiced in regard to flax 

 and hemp. After the fiber has been separated it is thoroughly washed by repeatedly 

 squeezing and wringing the water out of it, after which it is hung upon lines. When 

 dry the fiber is separated a little, or combed with the fingers, and then bundled for 

 market. 



In another account it is stated that small pools of clear water, well exposed to the 

 sun's beams, seem best suited for the steeping, because heat hastens maceration and 

 consequently preserves the strength of the fibers, while clean water preserves their 

 color. 



Having discovered that the necessary degree of retting has been attained, the cul- 

 tivator, standing in the water up to his knees, takes a bundle of the stems in his 

 hand and threshes the water with them until the tissue gives way and the long, 

 clean fibers separate from the central canes. According to some writers, the retted 

 stems, after being partially washed, are taken out of the water and placed in the 

 sun to dry for some hours before being beaten out in the way described. This prac- 

 tice, while it is followed in some parts of the country, is condemned in others as 

 injurious, or at least as a useless delay. 



The drying is usually accomplished by hanging the fiber over bamboos to be dried 

 and bleached by the sun. Naturally, in this country, such primitive processes as are 

 described above would never be resorted to. They are interesting, however, and 

 some valuable points may be gained from the experience. 



When the plant first began to attract attention among Europeans it was believed 

 the Hindo method of treatment could be improved upon with favorable results, but 

 much opposition was raised by the natives, who declined strenuously going out of the 

 beaten track of their fathers. It was found to be a much more delicate plant than 

 hemp, and consequently could not bo prepared after the European methods without 

 a modification of the processes. 



Other species. — The Jubbulpore hemp (Crotalaria tenuifolia) has been consid- 

 ered by some authors to be a variety of C.juncea, and is said to be superior to Russian 



