DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 297 



zuela, growing wild in all localities, the fiber being readily extracted, and fine and 

 strong. 



As far back as 1889 the Office of Fiber Investigations received from South Caro- 

 lina statements regarding S. rhomMfolia, which, on the authority of J. P. Porchcr, 

 of Eutawville, in that. State, had been known as a weed throughout that region for 

 many years, at least since 1880. Later, when visiting Charleston, the attention of 

 the writer was called to the plant by Dr. Panknin, who states that it had made its 

 appearance in comparatively recent years, and was now a common roadside weed. 

 As it was early in June, the stalks had not sufficiently matured to give particular 

 evidence of value as a fiber plant, although later some good hand-prepared samples 

 of the fiber were secured. It has also been grown in Alabama. 



Bast Fiber. — Chemists say that although closely similar to jute in structure and 

 general chemical characteristics, it is in appearance a superior fiber, being softer to 

 the touch and in all respects more uniform. 



A beautiful example of the fiber labeled Sida retusa, and known as "Queensland 

 hemp/' was received by the Department in 1876 from the Queensland collection 

 (Phil. Int. Exh., 1876), accompanied by another specimen from Victoria labeled Sida 

 rhombifolia. The first named was prepared by Dr. Guilfoyle, who stated that the 

 plant had established itself in Melbourne, and was of very quick growth, seeding 

 freely. He regarded the fiber as suitable for fine paper and for the manufacture of 

 cordage. The sample of S. rhombifolia is very white and lustrous, the filaments fine 

 and even. In a portion of the museum sample the ribbon-like character of the bark 

 is retained, filled with delicate indentations, giving it a lace-like appearance. These 

 ribbons of fiber break easily, but a twisted cord of the finer prej)ared fiber, the size 

 of cotton wrapping twine of the shops, broke only after repeated trials with the 

 hands. The fiber was prepared by Alexander McPherson. In India the bark yields 

 " abundance of very delicate flax-like fibers," which Dr. Roxburgh thought might be 

 advantageously used for many purposes. Forbes Watson, in the Descriptive Cata- 

 logue of the East Indian Department, International Exhibition, 1862, pronounces 

 the fiber similar to jute in appearance, "but considered to be intrinsically so supe- 

 rior that it is worth from $5 to $6 more per ton, and he places it next that fiber" in 

 order to attract to it the attention which it deserves. Experiments with the fiber 

 of S. rhombifolia demonstrated the fact that a cord one-half inch in circumference 

 would sustain a weight of 400 pounds. In speaking of Dr. Roxburgh's specimens, 

 Royle says "the fibers are from 4 to 5 feet in length, and display a fine, soft, and 

 silky fiber, as well adapted for spinning as jute, but infinitely superior." Fur- 

 ther experiments in India have demonstrated that sida fiber is also superior to jute 

 from the fact that under hydrolysis, or bleaching and cleaning with alkali, "it loses 

 a very much smaller proportion of its weight, is therefore less easily disintegrated 

 by the action of water, and is consequently more durable." The fact that its stalks 

 are not more than half the length (or size) of jute is a disadvantage compared with 

 jute, as indicating a much smaller yield. George Watt, of the revenue and agricul- 

 tural department of India, was of the opinion, regarding the Indian experiments, 

 that the properties of the sida fiber recommended it as worthy all the time an 

 expenditure necessary to ascertain whether or not all its advantages are counterbal- 

 anced, from the money standpoint, by a less acreage in yield. Thirty years ago the 

 fiber of "Sufet bariala" (S. rhomboidea) , as produced in India, was considered worth 

 from $25 to $30 more per ton than jute. 



Growth in the United States. — The species has been cultivated in parts of the 

 South as a forage plant. Statements received from Hon. G. D. Tillman, of South 

 Carolina, in 1890, throw some light on the habits of the species : 



"I do not remember seeing a sprig of S. rhombifolia until about four years ago (1886), 

 when a small patch of it first appeared in the back yard of my residence, whence 

 it has spread over the yard, covering an acre or more of land, and scattering sprigs 

 of it are appearing here and there at numerous localities over the large plantation. 

 Last summer I saved 3 or 4 bushels of seed, and in the fall scattered them in waste 



