10 
XXVI. — Astp:lia Banksii. (A. Cunningliam). Otago 
Cotton Plant ” or “ Kowhara-whara/’ Order TAliacece. New 
Zealand. 
A coarse tufted perennial, leaves from 3 to 5 feet long, ^ to 
1 inch broad, covered with a silky down. It is usually found 
growing on the branches of trees at their junction with the trunk, 
or on old stumps, &c., but will grow freely when planted in the 
ground. The leaves are traversed longitudinally by stout nerves, 
which furnish a coarse fibre of considerable strength. Prepared 
by boiling or steaming for about ten hours. “It is rich in fibre 
suitable for ropes, paper,” &c. “ The fibre is of a dirty yellow 
colour, the ‘ filaments ’ exceedingly coarse and wiry, rather 
brittle when bent sharply, but of considerable strength when 
tested with a lateral strain.” The specimen in the collection of 
the Department of Agriculture, Washington, was also prepared 
by me. {Useful Fibre Plants of the Worlds Professor C. R. 
Dodge.) 
XXVII.— Beaucarnea glauca. (Lehmann). “ Sea-green- 
leaved Beaucarnea.” Order Liliacece, South America. 
Produces a fibre of good quality. Prepared by boiling for six 
hours, and then scraping. 
XXVIII. — Bcehmeria nivea (Gaudichaud). “ Chinese 
Grass-cloth Plant.” Order Urticacece. Tropical Asia. 
From this is produced that beautiful creamy Avhite fabric, 
known as “ China Grass-cloth,” which is frequently mistaken for 
silk, indeed the better qualities of it are often sold as such in 
England and many parts of the Continent. 
The Kew Bulletin^ treating of the “ Ramie (said to be a 
variety of the above) industry, says : — “ Few practical problems 
have consumed so much time and energy as the attempt to 
bring ‘China-grass^ and ‘Ramie’ into use for manufacturing 
purposes. 
“ Notwithstanding all the expenditure of mechanical skill and 
inventive ability, the conclusion cannot be evaded that we are 
still as far off as ever from being able to place upon the market 
a finished product which will effectually compete with silk, flax, 
and the better qualities of cotton. 
“The plants can be grown with the greatest ease. But when 
the problem of treatment is solved, the supply of the raw material 
will be limited to warm countries. The cultivation of ‘ China- 
grass ’ in temperate regions will never be able to compete 
successfully with that of ‘Ramie ^ (or perhaps of China-grass) 
in the tropics. It is known that when ribbons can be produced 
sufficiently cheaply, these can be degummed and turned into 
