519 



materials with view to their employment in textile and other indus- 

 tries. We shall hope to see other Companies, and Associations 

 following this good lead for other products. 



Of cottons the best samples examined came from India, Rhodesia 

 and British Guiana. Among the last fibres were several of interest, 

 One was from the well known vegetable called here Lady's fingers. 

 ( Hibiscus esculentus ), cultivated as a vegetable everywhere. The 

 fibre was taken from the stalks after the fruits had been collected and 

 was valued at £14, £10 to £20 per ton with medium jute valued at 

 £14 to £16 per ton. As the plant is otherwise useless after two or 

 three crops have been taken off, perhaps the vegetable gardeners 

 instead of putting it on the burning heap might find it worth while to 

 take the fibre out. The weed known here as Perpulur, and in 

 America as Cesar-weed ( Urena lobata ) has an excellent fibre useful 

 as a substitute for jute. Unfortunately it is apt to be too short, a 

 tall variety would be very useful, as the plant is a very common 

 village weed and grows anywhere. 



Another common weed produces a fibre which is even more 

 valuable, that is Sida -rhombi folia a common roadside mallow. This 

 fibre is silky and considered suitable for mixing with silk and was 

 valued at from £25 to £30 per ton, and its cultivation recommended. 

 The Indian textile journal for November IQ08 discusses the possibility 

 of its becoming a substitute for jute. The difficulties in its cultivation 

 are said to be the hardness of the seed coat, which prevents rapid 

 germination and the tendency of the plant to branch. The former 

 difficulty is obviated by soaking the seed in hot water, and it is 

 reported that a straight growing variety has been found in Burmah. 



The fibre is actually more valuable that jute, its cellulose content 

 and therefore its durability being higher. Its texture too is finer, 

 and it could be used for special purposes for which jute is unsuitable. 

 As the plant is a very common village weed it is possible that in the 

 near future it may be placed on the market as a fibre plant. 



Manila hemp has been grown with very fair success in the 

 Nilgiris and Trinidad, the sample from the latter colony valued at 

 £30 ton. 



Sisal hemp of good quality was sent from the Sudan, British 

 East Africa, the Andamans and Fiji. The samples of Sanseviera 

 seem mostly to have been too short, and Ipoorly prepared. It should 

 be at least three feet long. New Zealand flax ( Phormium tenax ) 

 from St. Helena is an interesting new shipment. The samples 

 were not equal to the best New Zealand product, but this is a matter 

 which may be improved. Of the samples of Rubber sent for 

 examination three only were Para rubber, and three from Zanzibar, 

 the Nilgiris and the Seychelles. Those from the two latter places 

 were good but too young, that from Zanzibar dirty and more resinous 

 than usual. It is probable that the first two colonies will come into 

 the market as rubber producers in time as the reports of cultivation 

 there seem good. 



