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usually to about 6 feet, but in other parts of the world in good soil 

 8 to 10 feet. It will grow on poor soil, but does better on richer 

 ground. Being practically an annual, it grows fast, and can be 

 taken up altogether when full grown. The fibre is obtained by 

 retting when the plant is in flower. The fibre is said to be equal 

 or superior to jute and fine and silky. 



Hibiscus AbelmoschuSy L. [Kapas Hantu). 



Kapas Hantu, the musk seed, is more frequently to be found in 

 waste ground than //. sabdarijfa, and is more or less cultivated for 

 its musk scented seed. It is a tall herb, about 6 feet tall, with pal- 

 mate leaves, and conical hairy pods, the flowers large yellow with 

 a maroon eye. It has been experimented with in India and gave a 

 good return of fibre, 8oo lbs. to the acre, but the Agricultural Horti- 

 cultural Society of India came to the conclusion that it was not 

 better than jute. 



It can hardly be said to be cultivated in the Malay Peninsula, but 

 a few plants occur in the Gardens here and there and the seeds are 

 collected and sold at 75 cents a catty for use medicinally. The 

 Malays do not seem to do anything with the fibre. 



Hibiscus esculent us, Okra, Ladys' Fingers, Kachang Bendi, 

 Kachang Lindir. 



This well known vegetable is cultivated everywhere, and needs no 

 description. Some years ago, in India and America, attempts were 

 made to cultivate it for its fibre to replace jute. It, however, proved 

 to be very inferior and on comparison with other mallow fibres was 

 found to be about the poorest of those tried. The fibre is white 

 pliant and lustrous, but brittle. It is, therefore, hardly worth trying 

 when the other mallows which give a better fibre are as easy to 

 cultivate. 



H. Surattensis, L. 



Asam Susor is a common scrambling prickly plant in hedges and 

 waste ground, with handsome but fugacious flowers, yellow with a 

 large purple-brown centre. It has been experimented on as a fibre 

 plant, but no information as to the quality of its fibre is to hand. 



Urena lob at a [Malvaceae). 

 The Perpulut of the Malays, also called Pulut-pulut, Pepulut and 

 Poko Kelulut, is a very common weed in dry sandy places all over 

 the tropics. It is generally 3 or 4 feet tall, with lobed leaves and 

 rose pink flowers. The fruit consists of small adhesive burrs. The 

 chief use of the plant here is for adulterating patchouli leaves, those 

 of the Perpulut bearing some resemblance to the patchouli leaves. 

 The fibre is said to be very fine, white, and a metre in length and to 

 take colour well. It is very strong and makes good cordage. It 

 has been experimented with also as a paper stuff and was found to 

 be almost twice as strong as Bank of England note pulp. It does 

 not seem, however, that it ever has been put under cultivation and 

 it is doubtful if it would pay if it was. 



