1 May, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 381 
at various times been unearthed in burial places. In Assam, and on the Nile, 
where it was used for enveloping mummies, many pieces of Rhea cloth found 
on the mummies are in good state of preservation. 
The Gomess process for separating the fibres and eliminating the resins 
present in the plant is at once simple and effective, and does not in any way 
affect the strength or lustre of the fibre. In a pamphlet published by the 
Rhea Fibre Treatment Company, Limited, London, they give the process as 
follows :-— 
“ After the ‘ribbons,’ or strips of bark, have been freed from dirt, they 
are placed in weak acid baths for the night. Next morning they are passed 
through a mild alkaline bath, and are then boiled in weak solutions of caustic 
soda to which lime has been added. 
“ When washed and dried by the usual mechanical means, the fibres 
emerge in a long silky filasse, entirely free from the cuticle and resinous gums 
in which they are embedded—clean, white, and ready for the comb of the 
spinner. 
Regarding the strength and weight of the Rhea thread, as compared with 
linen thread, the breaking strain is much greater, whilst 1,000 yards of Rhea’ 
canvas weigh 400 lb. less than the same quantity of linen. " 
As regards the soil and cultivation suitable for Rhea, both are of the 
simplest description. The plant will thrive in almost any description of soil 
except in absolute swamps, as the plant is rather impatient of moisture. 
Tt thrives in strong alkali soils, except such as abound in carbonate of 
soda, but in all situations it will be immensely improved by a heavy mulch 
while the plants are yet young. After the first cutting, the leaves that are 
stripped from the stems should on no account be taken off the ground, but 
should be either ploughed or hoed into the soil. The plants should be 
grown inrows from 4:to 6 feet apart and from 2 to 4: feet from plant to plant. 
The surface between the rows should be occasionally stirred either by horse 
or hand hoes or by cultivators. : 
Propagation.—Vhis is carried on by means of: seedlings, cuttings, or by 
root divisions, the latter method being the most expeditious where there are 
plenty of old ratoons to work from. It is best to plant out on slight hills 
which can be raised by the plough. A mulch of straw or other material should 
then be put on, and after the plants are well above ground, a second furrow 
should be thrown up on to the mulch. The plant is sometimes propagated by 
seed, but this process is both tedious and at all times somewhat precarious. 
Root cuttings can be transmitted for long-distances if properly packed ; there- 
fore the plant can readily be distributed. 
As regards the time of harvesting, we have the authority of Mr. J ames 
Montgomery, who has had considerable experience in the cultivation of this 
pliant in India. In his report to the Government of India, he says:—‘“ My 
own experience indicates that the stems should be gathered so soon as the 
euticle shows a clear brown colour for about one-third of the length. At this 
stage, if the plant be healthy, the stems will be clear from base to summit, and 
the branch buds in the axil of each leaf-stalk just showing.” 
It is somewhat difficult to estimate the exact yield per acre. It has been 
put down at various amounts ranging from 1,400 lb. of dried thongs or ribbons, 
to 2,800 lb., but in well-established plantations this would be nearly doubled. 
Atter cutting the stems, they should be immediately peeled either by hand 
or by the aid of mechanical decorticators, the latter being the cheaper in the 
end. The ribbons are then dried thoroughly, packed in bales, and sent to the 
market ; but on no account bale ribbons while any moisture remains, otherwise 
_the strength and lustre of the fibre will be impaired. 
A’ London syndicate recently report that they are in the demand market 
. for Rhea. They state :— be 
(a.) That they require the raw material in the shape of ribbons—that 
is, the bark stripped from the stem, and thoroughly dried and 
packed in bales; . 
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