Dec. 1, 1S9&.] 
THE TROPICAL AaPJCULTURIST. 
RHBA: 
HISTORICALLY AND PRACTICALLY 
CONSIDERED. 
I think it higlily probajjle that there is no plant in 
the -vegetable liingdom to-day around which centres 
Buch a wealth of failure, historical and abiding in- 
terest as that commonly termed rhea. Probaply 
many are not aware of its hoary-headed antiquity 
as disclosed by Chinese classics. 
It should, however, be understood at the outset, 
there is probably no more difference between so-called 
China grass and rhea than there is between the 
China form of the tea-piant and that of Assam. 
The so-called China grass is of itself a singularly 
unfortHuate and misleading term, as the CIiii 3Ia of 
the Chinese, or Boehmeria nivea of the botanist, has 
no more to do with a grass plant than has the ap- 
ple with the pear for example. Those acquainted 
with original tea literature will remember how even 
so distinguished a botanist as Sir William Hooker 
pronounced in favour of a rliea viridis, that it to say 
a plant exclusively used for green tea as distinct 
from black. 
And to-day we have a past president of the Society 
of Engineers setting out the misleading distinction 
of terming Boehmeria nivca a species of nettle in- 
digenous toOhiuaand India, and Boelnneriatenacissima 
as a valuable textile plant. As though both were not 
texile plants, both Bhehmena s both very closely allied so 
much so in fact as to probably constitute no other 
difference than the temperate and tropical form of 
one and the same thing. 
The distinction, however, between the tropical and 
temperate form, otherwise China grass so-called, and 
ramie or rhea, is a material one practically, and 
demands the careful consideration of the planter. 
Dr. Watt has endeavoured to show that the hot 
plains of India are no place for the temperate China 
type. And this may be, and probably is quite true, 
although it by no means always follows. For ins- 
tance, a mountain home was supposed to be neces- 
sary for tea originally obtained from the China 
mountain districts, but subsequent history has abun- 
dantly proved the tea-plant will thrive in all elevat- 
ions from 7,000 feet down to sea level. Flacnix dactyli- 
fera otherwise the date palm is another case iu point 
of a plant that vsill thrive abundantly in tropical and 
subtropical regions, even up to some frost and snow. 
Very few plants, however, will do this , for instance, 
the Assam so-called hybrid tea-plant is a sorry thing 
at high elevations, and there is not wanting evidence 
that Boclimeria nivea demands its own climate. From 
a persual of the literature of the subject and the 
undoubted fact that in years gone by direct imports 
have been made from China and elsewhere, there 
can bo little doubt the China and tropical forms of 
rhea have got confused until many mix up the 
two indiscriminately, and this will be a source of 
disappointment and failure to experimenters if not 
understood, and a clear distinction drawn between 
the tropical and temperate form or type. 
It is a fair inference in nine cases out of ten that 
a plant that has grown for untold centuries in tem- 
perate China with its comparative dry climate will 
be certain to fail in many places iu India and con- 
versely the tropical form under oppsite conditions; 
tho practical man and planter should therefore ascer- 
tain for certain which form he is dealing with — the 
China type or the tropical type termed Bohcmcria 
tenacissiua. In 1848 a reference was made to Dr. 
MacGowan, then resident atNingpo, as to the identity 
of the Rungpore plant with the China kind, where- 
upon Dr. MacGowan provisionally named the China 
plant Canahis sinensis. This however was entirely 
wrong, and shows how easily a learned man like Dr. 
MacGowan may go astray in putting down Boehmeria 
nivea as a Cannabis. We are less concerned, however with 
the doctor's mistake than his exceedingly interesting 
and comprehensive note on the plant in general. 
In this note the doctor goes onto say the "C//!i 
Ma is found from Cochin China to the yellow River, 
and from Chusan to the farthest west that researches 
can at present go, it is cultivated in many places, 
visited by the author, and grows even on the walla 
of Ningpo ; it is mentioned m the Chinese classics 
and was undoubtedly cultivated a thousand years 
before our era, it is mentioned in the Shu King as 
an article of tribute from the central part of China 
in the time of Yii, B. 0. 2205." 
Here then we come face to face with a plant with a 
mighty record in time, but as if '2205 B. C. were 
nothing. Dr. IMacGowan goes on to say : " — Doubtless 
it came into use in far more remote times," — tho 
Cfiinese Herbal says its origin is unknown. 
Hence it will be seen in rhea wo have a plant 
with one of the oldest records extent. 
Leaving classical China on the subject, we come to 
India and Roxburgh — that Farther of Indian Botany 
as Dr. Watt very fittingly terms the learned and withal 
very practical Rosburg. In 1809 we find Roxburgh 
writing to the Secretary to the Board of Trade:— 
"From the receipt of the first sample sent to me by 
Mr. Ewer of Bencoolen, I saw its quality was nn* 
commonly interesting, and promised to be superior 
to every other vegetable fibre I had seen. I was there- 
fore, more than usually solicitous to obtain the plant, 
and in 1803 four plants were received into this garden, 
since which period a thousand plants have been, 
raised. " 
Then the doctor adds this significant remark: 
• — ''But to this day I have not discovered a ready 
way to clean the fibres." Herein a nutshell, after 96 
yearSj is still the central difficulty — an expeditious, 
cheap, effective and satisfactory cleaning machine.. 
We imagine the century cannot produce the equal of 
so long and deplorable a failure of mechanical geniiiff 
than is illustrated in the failure of at least thirty 
years of intermittent effort to produce a satisfactory 
decorticating and cleaning machine for rhea. 
Roxburgh strongly recomended cultivation to the 
fullest extent, but remarked that this would ha 
limited for a long time, as no good seed has yet been 
produced in India. 
In 1833 Major Jenkins sent samples of the fibre 
from Cachar to Calcutta and subsequently from 
Assam. 
Colonel Burney sent samples from the Shan Provincefl 
of Pevela and Youkzouk, while Resident at Avai 
Major Macfarqubar sent samples from Tavoy on the 
Tenasserim Coast. In 1836 Colonel Burney remarked 
it was cultivated by the Shans, the Siamese, and 
Chinese all of whom were loud in its praise for 
its fine texture and durability both as cloth andl 
cordage. Jilr. Landers, travelling amongst the Shanflr 
also observed the same thing. 
In 1847 we find Dr. Campbell, superintendent of 
Darjeeliug, lighting on the plant at Rungpore in Ben» 
gal. "Here" says Dr. Campbell "it was cultivated with 
much care along the banks of the Teeshta River under 
the name of /;i(jj/l7i.!{i-a." He goes on to say, ''I never 
saw the plant before and as winter crops are rara 
in that part of the country, it was an object of addi* 
tional interest." 
Subsequently samples were sent to Calcutta, and A 
Mr. Henley visited Rungpore and endeavoured to pur» 
chase a quantity, but could only get a small bale, for 
sending home for sample, and Dr. Campbell says 
'' The natives would not sell, and cultivated it for the 
manufacture of towing lines and fishing nets : on ac" 
count of its proved superiority for fishing nets and for 
enduring water without injury longer than any 
known substance. 
Mr. Henley expressed the opinion that machinery, 
could be produced for the separation and cleaning of 
the fibre with great facility and economy; until 
then it was hopeless to expect the fibre to be pro- 
duced at a low price. It is a curious commentary, 
after practically half a century, that the same opi- 
nion holds good to-day. Here briefly stated is the first 
half-century of rhea under European observation. 
There was a unanimous verdict of its great strength 
durability, and find texture and sutability to with- 
stand water longer without injury than any other 
kn9wn substance during tliis period, Samples were 
