52 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [L Jan., 1898. 
Native Hemp.—In my report for the year 1886, the following passage 
occurs:—‘“ A number of specimens of fibre obtained from indigenous plants 
were sent from Natal to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, and amongst them 
was one which at first was said to have been sent by Sir J. Bissett, and labelled 
‘Hibiscus.’ Experts at home questioned its having been obtained from an 
Hibiscus, and a specimen was sent to me to try to discover from what plant it 
was really obtained. Upon inquiry, and after receiving specimens of the 
plant from Sir J. Bissett’s manager, it proved to be Hibiscus tiliaceous, and 
was quite unlike the specimen received by me from London. It is now 
supposed that the fibre in question was not sent by Sir J. Bissett, but 
by Dr. Sutherland, and was obtained from the ‘native hemp’ plant. It 
is valued at £50 per ton, if sent home in good condition, and is said to be the 
best fibre in the exhibition. It is now, of course, quite certain that this was 
really the case. It is somewhat singular that botanically, there would seem to be no 
difference between this plant and the common hemp of commerce, but the fibre 
of the Natal variety appears to be much finer and more valuable. Dr. Suther- 
land has grown some quantity of it, and can most likely give valuable 
information about its cultivation and yield per acre, but the price above quoted 
can, I fear, not be relied on. The only objection I have yet heard made is, 
that after the plant has been cut down the sharp ends of the stems are liable 
to damage the feet of the oxen, a difficulty which could, I should say, very 
easily be surmounted. Of course this plant is an annual, requires a fairly rich 
soil, and yields a crop each season.” 
Um-Bogozembr.—Again referring to my report for 1886, I find the 
following :—‘ I received from Messrs. Christy and Co. a small sample of fibre, 
said to haye been sent to the exhibition from South Africa, but, the labels 
having been misplaced or lost, it could not be ascertained from whom it came, 
or whether it was from Natal or not. After some trouble TI believe that I 
have succeeded in identifying it as having been obtained from one of our 
indigenous plants, amember of the order Urticacex, but, as I have never seen 
flowers of the plant, I cannot do more than guess at the genus.” This was 
said to have been the second best fibre in the exhibition. I subsequently 
obtained from Inanda male and female flowers of this plant, which proved to 
be a new species of Uvera, a genus belonging to the same order, and to the 
same division of the order, as the Rheea. It was figured in the “ Icones 
Plantarum,”’ in 1888, where it is said :—“The yarn prepared from this fibre 
was of a greyish colour, bleaching easily under the ordinary treatment to a full 
white. It was remarkably soft to the touch, more nearly resembling an Angola 
yarn than flax or cotton. This fibre has been submitted to flax-spinners of 
experience, and from inspection, together with the results of laboratory investi- 
gation, they have formed a high estimate of its value.” 
Of the above-named plants, the last two appear to me to be the most 
suitable for cultivation in Natal, being both natives of the colony, and there- 
fore more likely to succeed than an imported and tropical plant such as the 
Rhea. The Urera grows readily and quickly from cuttings, which 
may be obtained in quantity from near the coast to as high as 
2,000 to 3,000 feet above the sea. It is well known to the natives, 
and a specimen may be seen in the gardens. As to the yield per acre 
and value of the product, 1 have no information at present. In a letter to me 
from Mr. T. Christy, of London, dated 9th December, 1886, he says of this 
plant :--“ This is the next most wonderful discovery of fibre for paper, perhaps 
showing 80 per cent. yield, enormous, and you will see how splendidly it looks, 
although straight from the machine. Match this raw material, and we will 
test samples for you. We have sent out to our correspondents the bast to be 
matched, for we can take any quantity, as it will cut out Esparto in every 
way.” 
The next two plants are Monocotyledons, and the fibre is obtained from 
the leaves, not from the stems as in the plants previously alluded to. 
