204  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {AmAprn%swf  m^ 
of  the  extract,  as  that  would  be  comparatively  an  indefinite  amount  of  medi- 
cinal value. 
Joseph  Crawford,  Ph.G.,  exhibited  a  most  interesting  and  varied  assortment 
of  fibres  and  roots,  from  different  sources,  the  beautiful  silky  whiteness  of  the 
Ramie  fibre,  grown  in  Georgia,  was  commented  upon.  The  whole  collection 
elicited  much  admiration,  as  showing  how  much  might  be  done  in  the  way  of 
providing  sources  of  supply  both  abundant  and  cheap,  because  of  the  facility 
with  which  many  of  them  could  be  prepared  for  use  either  as  textile  materials 
or  paper  stock.  It  was  remarked  that  it  was  singular,  that  while  the  Govern- 
ment was  yearly  spending  considerable  sums  on  investigations  pertaining  to 
these  matters,  they  were  permitted  to  lapse  out  of  sight  and  attention. 
The  following  list  comprises  the  most  important  fibres  shown  : 
Long  leaf  Pine,  Pinus  palustris,  leaf,  coarse  and  fine  fibre,  oakum,  uphol- 
stery fibre,  colored  yarns  and  woven  materials,  chiefly  mattings. 
Saw  Palmetto,  Serenos  serrulata,  a  bundle  of  fibres,  New  Zealand  Flax, 
Phormium  tenax,  in  the  fresh  and  the  dried  leaf,  bleached  and  unbleached 
fibre.  This  Flax  was  the  chief  vegetable  constituent  of  "  Staff"  at  the  Colum- 
bian Exposition. 
Refined  Ramie  from  Boehmeria  nivea,  grown  in  Louisiana. 
Jute  from  Corchorus  Capsularis,  grown  in  Texas. 
Hemp  from  Cannabis  sativa,  grown  in  Kentucky. 
Sisal  from  Agave  sisilana,  in  Florida. 
Cocoa  nut  fibre  from  the.  outer  husk  of  Cocos  nucifera. 
Tampico  from  Agave  heterocantha,  natural  fibre,  cocoa  colored,  black  and 
also  gray.    From  Mexico. 
Rice  Root  for  brushes,  from  Oriza  sativa,  in  Mexico. 
Manilla,  Musa  textitis,  Philippine  Islands. 
Raffia,  from  a  Madagascar  Palm,  Raffia  Pteffia,  in  crude  fibre,  used  by  horti- 
culturists, and  dyed  fibres  made  up  into  curtains  of  5  yards  long  for  house 
decorations. 
The  other  fibres  that  are  being  investigated  by  the  Government  are  the  fol- 
lowing, of  which  no  sample  products  could  be  obtained  : 
Swamp  Milkweed  [Asclepias  incarnata) . 
Velvet  Leaf  (Abutilon  avicenncs). 
Swamp  Rose-Mallow  [Hibiscus  moscheutos). 
Canadian  Hemp  (Apocynum  cannabinum). 
Black  Mulberry  {3forus  nigra). 
Wood  Nettle  (Laportea  canadensis). 
Leather  wood  [Dirca  palustris). 
Cat  Tail  ( Typha  latifolia  and  angustifolia). 
Pine  Apple  (Ananassa  sativa). 
Florida  Moss  ( Tillandsia  usneoides). 
Cane  Fibre  {Arundinaria  tecta) 
Bear's  Grass  (  Yucca  filamentosa  and  baccata). 
Burdock  [Arctium  Lappa,. 
Southern  Cypress  (Taxodium  distichum). 
Century  Plant  [Agave  americana). 
The  following  Japanese  Papers  and  Fibres  are  of  these  peculiar  origins  : 
Finest  quality  writing  paper  and  also  their  paper  for  currency  is  obtained 
