Plagianthus sidoides.—Currajong, or Corragine.—Exogen ; shrub, 20-25 ft. This plant is a native of Australia, and is found growing plentifully on the top and upper sides of the Strzelecki Range, on the Gippsland gold-fields, and on the Dandenong Range ; it is also indigenous to Tasmania, chiefly on the southern side of the island, in ravines and shady places. It grows rapidly. The bark may be stripped off very readily, even to the points of the smallest twigs, by cutting round the stem. It is douhtful whether the fibre could be get in sufficient abundance for general rope-making, though by miners it is much prized for cordage purposes. It might be applied to the manufacture of hats, paper, and even textiles. P. pulchellus and P. betulinus also are much esteemed in New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales.
Poa sp. div.—Endogen. P. ccespitosa is common on the river-banks of Victoria, and from its leaves, the natives make excellent mats.
P. cynosuroides is a native of N.-E. Africa, and S. Asia, and has been selected as eligible for culture in Victoria. It is a harsh perennial grass, 5-6 ft. high, not serviceable for fodder, but affording useful fibre, which, in N.-W. India is used for rope-making, and in India generally, for the manufacture of coarse mats. Both species deserve attention from paper-makers.
Prionium Palmita—Palmet.—Endogen. This plant is found in great abundance over the whole or nearly the whole of the S. African peninsula. Its fibrous leaves are used for making hats, baskets, &c., and are adapted for textile manufactures, paper, cordage, stuffing, brushes, &c.
Psamma arenaria.—Bent-grass, Marrem, or Moram.—Endegen. A native of the sandy coasts of Europe, N. Africa, and middle N. America. It is very valuable for binding sandy soils. Its fibre is used for paper-making, matting, and agricultural tie-bands.
Bcehmeria nivea.
Raphia [Sagus] Ruffia.—Endogen. This palm is a native of Madagascar, and is believed to be peculiar to that island. It grows very abundantly on the coast, and more or less all over the island, reaching, in sheltered situations, to an altitude of 4000 ft. The leaves are 20-30 ft. in length, and consist of a great number of long grass-like pinnate fronds, set at right angles to the main rib. The fibre is extracted by peeling off the cuticle on each side of the leaf, leaving a thin, white fibrous substance, which is divided into different widths, by means of a kind of comb, accord ing to the intended use. This is chiefly for matting, largely employed in covering floors, and wrapping up goods. The fibre is also employed by the natives for fine textile purposes. It is exported chiefly to the Mauritius, whence considerable quantities are imported into this country, under the name of "Raffia," to be used as agricultural tie-bands, &c. The value of the article in
the London market is approximately 40-50/. a ton, though it fluctuates from 25/. to 240/. It is • imported in strips, I-I in. wide, but capable of subdivision into exceedingly flue threads. It is usually plaited in hanks of 1-2 lb. weight, made up into bales of II-51 cwt.
R. [S.] tsedigera.—About 60 ft. This species is a native of Brazil, and inhabits exclusively the tide-flooded lands of the Lower Amazon and Para rivers, being quite unknown in the interior. The leaves are often 50 ft. long and upwards. The leaf-stalk is 10-12 ft. long below the first leaflets, and yields a smooth, glossy rind, which the Indians tear off in strips, and apply to numerous purposes. The ribbons may be subdivided into very fine strips. The filaments are fine, regular, smooth, and supple. Their dimensions are :—length : max., 0.118 in.; rain., in., mean, 0.098 in.; diameter : max., 0.0008 in. ; min., 0.00048 in.; mean, in. The fibres are coloured deep-yellow by test H. The fibre is imported into England and some parts of the Continent, in strips about 7 ft. long and 1 in. wide, for the preparation of agricultural tie-bands, especially for hops. Its suppleness and strength are increased by wetting. The London market value is approximately the same as that of the preceding species.
Rheea.—See Bcehmeria nivea.
Sabal Palmetto.—Endogen. This palm is a native of Carolina and Florida. The leaves are full of tough fibre, and are manufactured into hats. Machinery has been introduced into Fernandina, Florida, for preparing the fibre for cordage and paper manufacture.
Saccharum sp. div.—Endogen. Several species of this reed are found in India, and utilized on account of their fibre. S. munja grows abundantly in almost every part of Upper India, and is a common weed nearly throughout Bengal also. The leaves have been used since time immemorial for making cordage. They are gathered after the rainy season, dried, and twisted into ropes of great strength. The fibre is occasionally exported from Kurrachi, in Scinde. It can be procured in unlimited quantity and at small cost, and deserves attention from paper-makers in this country. S. sara is a rank weed like the last, and is plentiful in Bengal. Its leaves are rudely beaten, and then twisted into rope, which is very strong and durable, even when exposed to the action of water. It would appear to bo as suitable as the preceding species for paper-making. S. spontaneum is wild and common in marshy places all over Bengal. It is perennial, and can be procured in any quantity. It is used for making mats, thatching houses, &c.