915 
Hindu poets for the whiteness of its blossoms, which give 
a large plain, at some distance, the appearance of a broad 
river. Both plants are extremely useful to the Indians, 
who harden the internodal parts of the culm, cut them Into 
implements for writing on their polished paper. From the 
munji, or culm, of the sara was made the maunjl, or holy 
thread, ordained by Menu to form the sacerdotal girdle, In 
preference even to the cusa-grass.' Munji fiber is obtain- 
ed from the leaf -sheaths ; the blades are the sar or sara 
used in thatching houses and as a paper material; the con- 
tained flowering stem Is the bind or vind ; the panicle or 
flowering stem is the sirki, til or thill, used in thatching 
boats, carts, etc.; sentha or kana is the lower, stronger 
portion of the flowering stem, used in the manufacture of 
chairs, stools, tables, baskets and screens; and tllak, 
tilon or ghua are names that denote the flowers. Some of 
these names, Buch as munji and sara, have been supposed to 
denote the products of different species, instead of dif- 
ferent parts of one and the same plant, hence has origi- 
nated much of the confusion that prevails. Sara is used 
in papers-making and munjl as a textile fibre. The much 
prized munji Is strong, elastic and has a wonderful power 
of enduring moisture without decaying. It is extensively 
employed in the manufacture of cordage, ropes, the famed 
Delhi mats, and in the preparation of baskets, etc. Munjl 
mats are reported to be proof against white ants, but are 
hard on shoe leather, harsh to the foot and fatiguing when 
walked on for any length of time. These are largely pro- 
duced in Allahabad, Agra, Delhi, and are traded in all 
over India, and within recent years have begun to find 
their way to Europe. In the early spring the old grass is 
often fired when shortly after a crop of young" leaves is 
produced from the stools, which is much valued as fodder." 
(Watt's Commercial Products of India, p. 929.) 
Ulmus pumila L. (Ulmaceae.) 40898. Seeds from China. 
Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for 
this Department. "The Chinese elm, used all over northern 
China and Manchuria as an avenue, shade and timber tree. 
Resists droughts, extremes of heat and cold, and neglect 
remarkably well; will be a good shade tree for the semi- 
arid northern regions of the United States. The Chinese 
carts are mainly constructed from the wood of this tree. 
Has proven itself to be adapted as an ornamental tree over 
a very extended territory in the United States." (Meyer.) 
