70 



Yields a strong fibre of good quality — percentage of cellulose 

 approximately 78 ; length of staple 3-5 feet ; length of ultimate 

 fibre 3-4*5 mm. (Tech. Rep. and Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, 

 p. 68). The breaking strain of either wet or dry fibre has been 

 estimated by Dr. Roxburgh at 107 lbs. 



The present commercial value of the plant appears to lie in the 

 aromatic seeds, which are used by perfumers to give a musky 

 odour to satchets and hair powder (Mus. Kew). It is believed 

 that the chief users of musk seed are the manufacturers of 

 vermouth in France and Italy (Piesse, Agric. News, Barbados, 

 1901, p. 93). There is, however, not a large demand for the seeds ; 

 they are occasionally imported from the West Indies to London ; 

 from Java to Holland, and from Martinique to France, at prices 

 varying from about Is. to 2s. per lb. 



Cultivation as Hibiscus esculentus (q.v.). 



Ref.—Blct Econ. Prod. Ind. iv. pp. 229-231.— Agric. Ledg. 

 No. 6, 1896, pp. 29-31.—" Oil of Ambrette Seeds," in The Volatile 

 Oils, Gildemeister & Hoffman, 1900, p. 501. — Tech. Rep. and Sci. 

 Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, pp. 68-69 ; with an analysis of the fibre 

 from plants when in seed (retted for 13 days), and an analysis of 

 fibre from stems cut when in flower (retted for 10 days). — " Musk 

 Seed," Jackson, in Agric. News, Barbados, 1904, p. 93. 



Hibiscus cannabinus, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 204. 



III.— Roxb. PI. Corom. t. 190 ; Rchb. Icon. Hort. Bot. t. 164 ; 

 Duthie, Field Crops, t. 22. 



Vernac. names. — Kanaff, Kanabe or Kanaspe (Persia, Murray) ; 

 Wild Saur (Gambia, Lester) ; Ambari or Ambasi Hemp ; Hemp- 

 leaved Hibiscus ; Deccan Hemp ; Indian Hemp ; Bastard Jute ; 

 Bimlipatam Jute. 



Niger ; Nupe ; Lagos. 



This is the most important fibre-producing Hibiscus in Nigeria. 

 The fibre is understood to be as good as, and possibly superior to 

 average Jute, for which it forms an efficient substitute in the 

 manufacture of cordage, sacking, or any of the coarser textiles. 

 Bleached materials made of this fibre may be dyed in every 

 shade of colour, and chemical bleaching is said not to injure the 

 texture (Kew Bull. Add. Ser. ii. p. 10). Cellulose percentage 

 about 75 ; length of staple 3-7 feet ; length of ultimate fibre 

 1*5-4 mm. (Tech. Rep. and Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, p. 70 ; 

 Bull. Imp. Inst. 1905, p. 260). 



Bimlipatam Jute is identical with this fibre. This fibre has 

 been a regular article of commerce since about 1901 (Tech. 

 Rep. & Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, p. 87). Its cultivation appears 

 to be chiefly centred in the Madras Presidency, and the area 

 under cultivation has been estimated at from 37,171 acres, pro- 

 ducing 80,000 bales of fibre (in 1905), to 68,201 acres, with a 

 production of fibre in proportion (in 1906) (U.S. Cons. Rep. 

 Washington, May, 1907, p. 210). Hibiscus cannabinus is also 

 cultivated in other parts of India, and, owing to the great simil- 

 arity in the fibre, it is not unlikely that it often occurs as an 

 adulterant of Jute a. v. for methods of preparation. 



