138 PROCEEDINGS OE THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
Office, London, to the Colonial Office, enclosing a report 
from the American Yice-Consnl at Bradford, stating that 
although until lately no method had been discovered for 
manufacturing the China Grass ( Boehmeria nivea ), yet that 
within the past few years some firms at Bradford have suc- 
ceeded in bringing the fibre into a state most closely resem- 
bling the best mohair or other bright worsted, and have 
worked up great quantities of the refined material as a sub- 
stitute for worsted, always in combination with cotton. And 
for many articles of this mixed kind, especially those requir- 
ing a stiff, strong, and cool texture combined with a silky 
appearance it is found that the China Grass makes the very 
best material. The market value of the raw fibre of the 
China Grass has for some years past maintained itself at the 
very high rate of £80 per ton, which price it is supposed 
cannot be much lessened for many years ; and there is a 
practically limitless market for all the raw China Grass that 
can be imported at from £70 to £80 per ton. The papers 
concluded with a letter from Dr. Hooker to the Colonial 
Office, recommending the cultivation of the Boehmeria in 
Trinidad and other colonies. 
Mr. Prestoe exhibited a specimen of the Boehmeria nivea , 
and stated that this climate was well suited to the plant, 
which would produce abundant crops here with little trouble. 
2. Note on Petroleum and Naphtha. 
By B. J. Lechmere Guppy, Esqre., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
(Abstract.) 
Public attention having been lately attracted to the pro- 
ducts of Petroleum on account of the dangerous nature of 
some of these products, the author took the opportunity of 
addressing a few words to the Association on the subject. 
