268 
Boehmeria nivea, G-audichaud * 
The Eamee or Eheea. Southern Asia, as far east as J apan. 
This bush furnishes the strong and beautiful fibre woven 
into the fabric, which inappropriately is called grass-cloth. 
The bark is softened by hot water or steam, and then separa- 
ble into its tender fibres. The best is obtained from the 
young shoots ; it is glossy, tough and lasting, combining to 
some extent the appearance of silk with the strength of flax. 
The ordinary market value of the fibre is about £40 per 
ton ; but Dr. Eoyle mentions that it has realized, at times, 
£120. The seeds are sown on manured or otherwise rich 
and friable soil. In the third year, or under very favorable 
circumstances even earlier, it yields its crops, as many as 
three annually. The produce of an acre has been estimated 
at 2 tons of fibre. This latter, since Kaempfer’s time, has 
been known to be extensively used for ropes and cordage in 
Japan. Our rich and warmest forest valleys seem best 
adapted for the Eamee, as occasional irrigation can be also 
there applied. In the open grounds of Victoria it suffers 
from the night frosts, although this does not materially 
injure the plant, which sends up fresh shoots, fit for fibre, 
during the hot season. The plant has been cultivated and 
distributed since 1854, in the Botanic Garden of Melbourne, 
where it is readily propagated from cuttings, the seeds 
ripening rarely there. Cordage of this Boehmeria is three 
times as strong as that of hemp. Other species require to 
be tested, among them the one which was recently dis- 
covered in Lord Home’s Island, namely Boehmeria calo- 
phleba. 
Boronia megastigma, Hees. 
In "West Australia on margins of swamps. This remarkable 
bush is recorded here as an emblem of mourning, its ex- 
ternal blackish flowers rendering it especially eligible for 
graves. Industrially it interests us on account of its power- 
fully fragrant blossoms, for the sake of Avhich this bush Avill 
deserve to be cultivated. The scent might be extracted by 
Mr. Bosisto’s process. 
