44 BULLETIN 296, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
VEGETABLE FIBERS. 
Flax. — The imports of flax fiber in 1895 were 7,233 tons, and in 
1914, 9,885 tons. During the last live years about 90 per cent of this 
product was supplied by European countries, chiefly Belgium, Russia, 
and the United Kingdom. 
Hemp. — Like flax, our supply of hemp has come chiefly from Euro- 
pean countries, mostly from Italy, during the last 20 years. The im- 
ports were 6,954 tons in 1895 and 8,822 tons in 1914. From 1870 to 
1890 the imports were larger, ranging from 22,557 tons in 1870 to 
36,591 tons in 1890. The average annual value for 1907 and sub- 
sequently has been more than $1,000,000. 
Istle or Tampico fiber.— Imports of istle or Tampico fiber (used 
for bagging, carpets, hammocks, etc.) increased from 2,956 tons in 
1885 to 15,607 tons in 1905, and decreased to 10,660 tons in 1914. 
Practically all of this fiber has been supplied by Mexico. The import 
value in 1900 was $475,090, or $83 per ton; in 1914 the value was 
$1,036,431, or $97 per ton. 
Jute and jute butts. — The quantity of imports of jute and jute 
butts (used for making carpets, bags, etc.) has remained practically 
the same for the last 30 years. The imports in 1885 were 98,343 tons 
and 106,033 tons in 1914, with slight fluctuations for intervening 
years, the range being from 50,037 tons in 1894 to 141,704 tons in 1891. 
The value, however, has shown a large increase, from 3 million 
dollars in 1885 to 11 million dollars in 1914, this being due to an in- 
crease in the import price per ton of from $31 to $105. Practically 
all of this article has been supplied by British India. 
Kapoc. — The imports of kapoc fiber (a substitute for cotton) in 
1911 amounted to 2,070 tons; in 1914, 1,827 tons. The Dutch East 
Indies supplied 84 per cent of this commodity, but a small quantity 
came from British India, Ecuador, and the Netherlands. 
Manila. — The manila fiber imported has been supplied almost ex- 
clusively by the Philippine Islands. The imports of this product 
amounted to 35,331 tons, valued at $6,218,254, or $176 per ton, in 
1891 ; increased to 93,253 tons, valued at $10,517,100, or $113 per ton, 
in 1910, the largest quantity imported for any one year ; and decreased 
to 49,688 tons, valued at $9,779,539, or $197 per ton, in 1914. 
New Zealand flax. — The imports of New Zealand flax were first 
shown in our import trade in 1910, and since that time two-thirds of 
it came directly from New Zealand, the country from which it takes 
its name. The quantity imported in 1910 wls 3,353 tons, valued at 
$362,888; in 1914, 6,171 tons, valued at $716,953. 
Sisal grass. — Imports of sisal grass (largely used for binder 
twine) have quadrupled in the last 20 years, the imports in 1895 being 
47,596 tons and 215,547 tons in 1914. The average value per ton has 
