BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS. 
47 
on the banks of streams and lagoons in Victoria and other parts of Australia. 
Yields large quantities of valuable material suitable for writing, printing and 
packing paper. It is gregarious in its habit and can be gathered with great 
facility. Samples prepared at Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 17. Paper prepared from Typha augustifolia : Linnaeus. The “Native 
Bulrush.” — This plant, which is available in large quantities in many parts of 
Victoria and the other Australian colonies, furnishes a first-class paper material 
for packing purposes, and might, with proper machinery, be converted into a good 
writing paper. Samples of bleached and unbleached paper in a rough state 
prepared at Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 18. Samples of fibre prepared from the common “New Zealand Flax.” 
Phormium tenax : Forster. Ord. Liliaceae.— 1 The material furnished by this plant 
is now so well known that it needs no comment here. The samples are sent 
merely to illustrate to what perfection this valuable plant attains in Victoria, 
where it is of very quick growth and is easily propagated. A sample of paper is 
also sent prepared from this plant. Exhibits grown and prepared at Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. 
No. 19. Fibre prepared from the bark of Abutilon mollis. — Although a native 
of South America this plant is of exceedingly rapid growth in Victoria and seems 
to have thoroughly acclimatised itself. Its fibre is very strong and suitable for 
ropes, cordage matting, baskets, &c., also a good paper material. Sample pre- 
pared at Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 20. Fibre also paper prepared from the leaves of Dianella latifolia : syn. 
D. Tasmanica : Hooker. Ord. Liliacese.— This plant delights to grow on the banks 
of creeks, & c., where its leaves attain a length of from two to six feet. Yields 
fibre in large quantities, suitable for mats, baskets, ropes, cordage and paper. It 
is found in Victoria, principally in high altitudes, and in many parts of Tasmania. 
Samples prepared at Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 21. Fibre prepared from the stems of Caryota urens. The “ Jaggery 
Palm ” of India, which is found also on the north-east coast of Australia. Sample 
from plant grown in Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 22. Fibre prepared from the leaves of Cordyline indivisa. — The tall-growing 
“Palm Lily” of New Zealand. All parts of this tree are composed of a fibrous 
substance, especially the leaves, which yield a very strong elastic fibre, in almost 
incredible quantities, suitable for the manufacture of strong ropes, cordage nets, 
mats, paper, &c. The stem can also be utilised for various purposes. This plant 
is of very quick growth in Victoria, and produces abundance of seed from which 
it is easily multiplied. The preparation of the fibre is very simple. Samples 
prepared at Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 23. Fibre prepared from the leaves of Fourcroya gigantea. — “The Giant 
Lily ” of South America. This plant attains to great perfection in Victoria and is of 
moderately quick growth. Sample of fibre prepared at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 24. Fibre prepared from the “ American Aloe,” Agave Americana : 
Linnaeus. Ord. Amaryllideas. — Sample prepared from plant grown at Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. 
No. 25. Fibre prepared from the bark of Dombeya Natalensis : Sonnerat. 
Ord. SterculiaceEe. — A most beautiful flowering shrub, or small tree, native of 
Natal. It is of very quick growth in Victoria. Fibre suitable for paper making, 
ropes, cordage, & c. Sample prepared at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
