i57 
usually to about 6 feet, but in other parts of the world in good soil 
8 to io feet. It will grow on poor soil, but does better on richer 
ground. Being practically an annual, it grows fast, and can be 
taken up altogether when full grown. The fibre is obtained by 
retting when the plant is in flower. The fibre is said to be equal 
or superior to jute and fine and silky. 
Hibiscus Abelmoschus , L. ( Kapas Hantu). 
Kapas Hantu, the musk seed, is more frequently to be found in 
waste ground than H . sabdartffa , and is more or less cultivated for 
its musk scented seed. It is a tall herb, about 6 feet tall, with pal- 
mate leaves, and conical hairy pods, the flowers large yellow with 
a maroon eye. It has been experimented with in India and gave a 
good return of fibre, 8oo lbs. to the acre, but the Agricultural Horti- 
cultural Society of India came to the conclusion that it was not 
better than jute. 
It can hardly be said to be cultivated in the Malay Peninsula, but 
a few plants occur in the Gardens here and there and the seeds are 
collected and sold at 75 cents a catty for use medicinally. The 
Malays do not seem to do anything with tin fibre. 
Hibiscus esculentus , Okra, Ladys' Fingers, Kachang Bendi, 
Kachang Lindir. 
This well known vegetable is cultivated everywhere, and needs no 
description. Some years ago, in India and America, attempts were 
made to cultivate it for its fibre to replace jute. It, however, proved 
to be very inferior and on comparison with other mallow fibres was 
found to be about the poorest of those tried. The fibre is white 
pliant and lustrous, but brittle. It is, therefore, hardly worth trying 
when the other mallows which give a better fibre are as easy to 
cultivate. 
H. Surattensisy L. 
Asam Susor is a common scrambling prickly plant in hedges and 
waste ground, with handsome but fugacious flowers, yellow with a 
large purple-brown centre. It has been experimented on as a fibre 
plant, but no information as to the quality of its fibre is to hand. 
Urcna iobata ( Malvacece ). 
The Perpulut of the Malays, also called Pulut-pulut, Pepulut and 
Poko Kelulut, is a very common weed in dry sandy places all over 
the tropics. It is generally 3 or 4 feet tall, with lobed leaves and 
rose pink flowers. The fruit consists of small adhesive burrs. The 
chief use of the plant here is for adulterating patchouli leaves, those 
of the Perpulut bearing some resemblance to the patchouli leaves. 
The fibre is said to be very fine, white, and a metre in length and to 
take colour well. It is very strong and makes good cordage. It 
has been experimented with also as a paper stuff and was found to 
be almost twice as strong as Bank of England note pulp. It does 
not seem, however, that it ever has been put under cultivation and 
it is doubtful if it would pay if it was. 
