DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



193 



cordage of the country in a few districts. Coarse canvas is also made from it. In 

 Bengal it is employed at the present time for all the purposes of jute and also for 

 making fish nets and paper. There is no doubt, however, that it is less cultivated 

 than in Roxburgh's time, or even at a later period when Royle's work was published, 

 and before jute came into commercial prominence. In the catalogue of the Indian 

 department, Lond. Exh., 1862, it is stated that every ryot sows a small quantity 

 along the edges of his crop for his own use. At that time it was valued at about 2 

 cents per pound, average. 



"A universal practico exists in Egypt of sowing teale {H. cannabinus) around the 

 cotton fields for protection from cold, sand storms, etc. The seeds are sown the same 

 time as the cotton, not as a thick belt, but merely about 9 inches in width. The 

 plant grows fairly rapidly, and soon reaches a good height. At the end of Septem- 

 ber or in October it is cut, steeped in water, and the fiber obtained used for making 

 ropes, etc." {George P. Foaden.) 



Hibiscus elatus. Blue or Mountain Mahoe. Cuba Bast. 



Native of West Indies. A tree, 50 to 60 feet with roundish leaves and large 

 flowers of a purplish-saffron color. (See fig. 62.) 



Bast Fiber. — A specimen of the fiber from Demerara, sent to the Department in 

 1863, was described as very strong but coarse and suitable for making cordage, coffee 

 bags, etc. "Thefibersmake 

 good ropes. The lace-like 

 inner bark was at one time 

 known as Cuba bark (Cuba 

 bast), from its being used 

 as the material for tying 

 around bundles of Havana 

 cigars" (Fawcett). A small 

 quantity of -fiber known 

 commercially as Cuba bast 

 or Guana comes to this 

 country, though latterly the 

 supply is very small owing 

 to the revolutionary trou- 

 bles in Cuba. Messrs. Flint, 

 Eddy & Co., the New York 

 importers, have furnished 

 information concerning it as 

 follows: 



The process of gathering 

 entails the destruction of 

 the tree, which is cut down, 

 the bark peeled off, exposing 

 the fiber, which is separated 

 from the bark and spread 

 out in the sun to dry, and subsequently packed in bales containing 150 pounds, or 

 thereabouts. There are two or three grades of it, ranging in price from 25 to 75 

 cents per pound, the more desirable grades being the lighter and softer textures. It 

 is used extensively in this country and Europe for making women's hats and milli- 

 nery trimmings, such aa braids, etc. Its porousness makes it very desirable for the 

 above purpose, as it readily absorbs a dye without impairing its texture. We under- 

 stand that it is also used to some extent in Europe for making hammock twine, 

 narrow strips of it twisted into the form of twine having considerable tensile 

 strength. In using it for millinery purposes it is slit into narrow strij)s and then 

 woven, twisted, braided, etc. 



*Speeimens. — Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. 

 12247— No. 9 13 



Fig. 62. — Leaf and blossom of Hibiscus elatus. 



f. 



