46 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
No. 8. Fibre prepared from tbe bark of Abutilon venosum : One of the “ Lan- 
tern flower’’ trees. Ord. Malvaceae.— A native of Brazil. Fibre of a fine texture 
suitable for whipcord, fishing lines and textile fabrics, also for paper. Sample 
prepared from plant grown at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 9. Fibre also paper prepared from bark of the “ Cow-itch-tree” of Norfolk 
Island. Lagunaria Patersonii : Aiton. Ord. Malvaceae.— Fine, strong and glossy 
suitable for paper, of superior quality, ropes, strong cordage, fine matting and 
basket work. Indigenous to Queensland and Norfolk Island. Sample prepared 
from plant growing in Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 10. Samples of fibre prepared in various ways from bark, also paper pre- 
pared from the leaves of the Chinese “ Grass-cloth” plant. Boehmeria nivca. — 
This plant is of rapid growth and attairfs to great perfection in Victoria. Samples 
prepared at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 11. Samples of fibre prepared from the green and also from the dead bark 
of Sparmannia Africana. — Though a native of South Africa this plant is of very 
quick growth in Victoria, where it attains a height of at least ten feet. The fibre, 
which is produced in very large quantities, is of the finest silky texture and of a 
beautiful silvery white color; it is very easily prepared and is suitable for textile 
fabrics. The sample prepared from the dead bark is also very strong and would 
no doubt make good ropes, cordage, & c. This plant will produce two crops of 
canes in a season, and in my opinion is equal if not superior to the Chinese 
grass-cloth plant as a fibre producing material. Samples prepared at Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. 
No. 12. Fibre prepared from the bark of Laportea Gigas : Wedd. Ord. 
Urticeae. — The “Tree Nettle” of Queensland and New South Wales, where it 
attains a height of from 80 to a 100 feet. The wood is soft and fibrous and might 
be pulped-up for paper. The bark furnishes a very strong and fine fibre suitable 
for whipcord, fishing lines, &c. The natives avail themselves of this bark for 
fishing lines and nets, but the fibre obtained from the roots is most prized by 
them for this purpose. Sample prepared from plant growing in Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. 
No. 13. Fibre prepared from bark of Sida retusa: Linnceus. Ord. Malvaceae. 
The “ Queensland Hemp.” This plant has established itself at Melbourne and 
has become very plentiful in the Botanic Gardens, where the samples have been 
prepared. The bark is suitable for fine paper twine, & c. It is of quick growth 
in Victoria and seeds very freely by which means it is easily propagated. 
No. 14. Samples of fibre prepared from both the green and dead leaves of the 
“ Spear Lily” of East Australia. Doryanthes excelsa : Correa de Serra. Ord. 
Amaryllidese. — This plant is of moderately quick growth in Victoria. Its leaves 
are one mass of fibre of great strength, suitable for strong ropes, cordage, mats, 
baskets, brushes, & c.; also a good paper material. The plant somewhat resembles 
the Fourcroya gigantea of South America in habit and appearance. Samples 
prepared from plants growing in Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 15. Paper made from leaves of Marica Northiana: Ord. Irideae. — This 
plant, a native of Brazil, thrives well in Victoria and furnishes a valuable paper 
of good texture and of a fine rich yellow color. It is easily propagated by 
division of the roots. Sample prepared at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 16. Paper prepared from the stems and leaves of Scirpus fluveatilis : A. 
GraiJ . Ord. Cyperacea3.— A species of “club rush” found growing plentifully 
