SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
veins. They break off transversely, leaving the lower part sheathing 
the stem. The plant flowers and produces seed from which new plants 
are propagated, and these grow in the deposit of loose calcareous sand 
and ooze covering the old plants. When the plant dies the flesh parts 
are retted out and a small residue of fibre is left. This falls to the 
bottom and adds to the deposit already formed. How long these deposits 
have been forming it is impossible to say, but it has probably taken 
centuries, when we consider the thickness of the deposits and the amount 
of fibre that is produced from present living plants. The workable 
deposits are contained in flats which run out from the foreshore from 3 to 
5 miles, and the fibre is found down to a depth of 7 feet or more. At low 
POSIDONIA FIBRE. 
As dredged up, washed, and prepared for market at Port Broughton, South 
Australia. One-sixth natural size. 
tide these flats are exposed, and the surface is covered with the growth of 
living Posidonia mixed with other weeds. In working the deposit this top 
material is rejected, and the fibre is obtained from the underlying mass. 
The quantity of air-dried fibre obtained averages about 6 lbs. per cubic 
yard of deposit. This is a small amount, but it is easily recovered. 
For raising the deposit from the seabed all the well known types of 
dredges have been tried—Priestman’s crane with grab bucket, the bucket 
dredge, and the suction dredge. The best success has been achieved 
BH 
