12 
and the price obtainable in New York was 2o0 dollars (£25) per 
ton. The total cost of cultivation and laying down in New York, 
including £5,550 (nearly £3 per ton) for carriage and insurance, 
amounted to 203,007 dollars (Mexican), and the working capital 
was increased to 233,007 dollars, by 30,000 dollars expended on 
machinery. After deducting 27,830 dollars for commissions, the 
net profit reached 326,692 dollars, or 145 per cent, on the work- 
ing capital. Such results leave ample margin for repayment of 
interest upon cost of land, and actually make it possible to repay 
the purchase money Avithin a very short time, and still have left 
an estate bringing in a handsome profit, especially in countries 
where land is cheap.” 
The simple method adopted in preparing the present sample 
Avas as folloAvs : — Bark stripped olf the “ canes,” scraped at once, 
and soakedfor 24 hours in water, Avitli a fair quantity of Sapo 
mollis Avoll dissolved in it. I have found this treatment most 
effective in quickly getting rid of the gummy matter. This 
mode is worthy of further experiment. 
XXIX. — BtEiiMKUiA MACROriiYLLA (D. Dou). “ Large-lcavcd 
Grass-cloth Plant.” Order Urticacece, Himalayas and Burinah. 
The plant is of far more robust habit than the preceding, and 
has frequently reached a height of 6 to 7 feet in our gardens. 
Preparation same as above. 
XXX. — Carex PANicuLATA (Liuiimus) syn. C. adpressa (R. 
BroAvn). “ Close-spiked Sedge Grass ” or ‘‘ Hassock Grass.” 
Order Cyperaceoe. Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia, 
This species of Sedge is very common throughout Victoria in 
low-lying SAvampy grounds, and along river and creek courses. 
It yields a strong fibre, Avhich is prepared by boiling for tAvelve 
hours, and aftei’Avards scraping the leaves. 
XXXI. — Carex tereticaults (F. v, Mueller). “ Round- 
stemmed Sedge Grass.” Order Cyperacem. Victoria, Ngav 
S outh Wales, South and West Australia, and Tasmania. 
Produces a very strong fibre, Avhich is easily prepared, like the 
preceding species. 
XXXII. — CoMMERSONiA Fraseri ( J. Gay). Blackfellow^s 
Hemp ” or “ Tie Plant ” of Australia. Order SterculiacecB, 
Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. 
A good fibre Avheii properly prepared. The blacks of northern 
New South Wales and Queensland prepare fishing lines and nets 
from the bast of this shrub, which is torn from the young 
branches in a green state, and scraped with sea shells. 
