28 
into cloth, and raaj also be converted into ropes, cordage, twine, 
&c. The present sample was obtained by maceration for nine 
days. 
Professor C. R. Dodge, in his Useful Fibre Plants of the 
Worlds refers to it thus : — “ The hark is of a beautiful lace-like 
texture, tearing into shreds with greatest ease, but flexible and 
strong. According to the Treasury of Botany the tree is 
called Akaroa by the New Zealanders, who extract a fibrous 
material from the young branches, known as New Zealand 
cotton, which is not only fine, but exceedingly strong, though 
resembling flax or hemp rather than cotton. The fibre of the 
ribbon tree is utilized in the manufacture of fishing lines and nets, 
and to some extent for cordage and paper.’* 
C. — PoA CAiSPiTOSA (Forster) syn. P. australis (R. Brown). 
‘‘Australian MeadoAv-Grass ” or “ Wiry Grass. Order Gra- 
minecE, Victoria, New South Whales, Queensland, &c. 
A coarse perennial grass, Avhich aUords a fibre of fair quality 
by boiling for a period of six to eight hours. It is an excellent 
paper-stock, and Avith proper appliances might rival the “Esparto” 
or “ Atocha Grass ” (Stipa tenacissima) of the Spanish Peninsula. 
It is very plentiful on the rich alluvial flats bordering on rivers, 
creeks, and tea-tree (Melaleuca) SAvamps, Avhere it grows in largo 
tussocks, and, when not eaten doAvn by stock, attains a height of 
nearly 4 feet. 
Cl. — SciiOENUS BREViFOLius (R. BroAvn). “ Cord Rush of 
Victoria.” Order Cyperacem, Victoria, New South Wales, 
Queensland, South and West Australia. 
A wiry tufted rush-like perennial, very plentiful along the 
coast and for some distance inland, especially in the south-east 
portions of our colony. It furnishes a fine fibre of considerable 
strength, not unlike that obtained from seA^eral species of San- 
seAueria, known as “ BoAvstring Hemp,” and is also a valuable 
paper-plant. The mode of preparation is by boiling for about 
nine hours, after Avhich the pulpy matter may be separated from 
the filaments either by washing or by pressure. 
CII- — Scmi^us NODOSUS (Rottboell) syn. Isolepis nodosa. 
(R. Brown). “ Knotted Club Rush ” or “ Wiwi.” Order 
Cyperacece, Australia, Tasmania, Ncav Zealand, &c. 
A rush-like tufted perennial, plentifully distributed through- 
out Australia, usually along the coast line, and adjacent to water 
on rather poor sandy soils. It forms a good paper-stock, ^but as a 
fibre-plant for other purposes is comparatively useless. Prepared 
by boiling for tAvelve hours, then scraped, dried, and heckled. 
