Saha sp. The many varieties of osier are very widely distributed in temperate regions. They are cultivated in beds chiefly for the manufacture of baskets. Their utilization for this purpose usually necessitates the removal of the bark from the woody stem. This is performed in France in the following way. The stems are cut when the sap has risen, and are soaked in water for some time. Each stem is then placed between two sharp teeth of hard wood ; ou drawing the stem through, the bark is peeled off in ribbons or strips. These strips are used by gardeners, as tie-bands, but they are admirably adapted for paper-making, if procurable in sufficient quantity. A section of the stem of S. alba is shown in Fig. 701: b, lignose; e, cambium ; e, epidermis ; f, bast fibres, coloured yellow by test H ; mag. 100. The dimensions of the fibres are :—longth : max., 0.118 in. ; mean, in.; diameter : max., 0.0012 in. ; min., 0.00068 in.; mean, 0'00088 in. S. cordata on the Peel's River (N. America), and S. arctica on the Mackenzie, afford the native tribes fibre for their nets. S. japonica occurs in Japan.
Saneeviera zeylanica — Bowstring - hemp. — Endogen. This plant is found in abundance all round the coast of Ceylon ; it also occurs in the Bay of Bengal, and extends thence to the Japanese and Chinese coasts. It frequents the jungly salt soils of the sea shore, growing under bushes; it is easily propagated, on almost any soil, from the slips which issue in great abundance from the roots; it requires little or no care, and, being perennial, seldom needs renewing. The wild leaves are about 12-16 in. long ; but under cultivation, they attain a length of 3-4 ft. They contain an abundance of fibre extending throughout their whole length. The natives practise several methods of extracting this fibre. In some cases, the leaves are retted for 5-15 days, which process is effectual in separating the fibre from the pulpy matter, but causes a deterioration in tho strength and colour of the fibre. A preferable plan is that of beating the leaves, and then placing them on a smooth board, and scraping them carefully, in order to remove the pulp from the fibre. For commercial purposes, neither system would be remunerative : probably a slightly modified form of the machinery used for preparing the fibre of Agave, Ananassa, or Phormisim, described above, would be found efficient. Full-grown leaves 3-37j ft. long yield at the rate of about 1 lb. of clean fibre for every 40 lb. of the green leaves. Dr. Roxburgh estimated that an acre of land would afford 1613 lb. of clean fibre at a gathering, and reckoned that in good soil and with suitable weather, two crops might be taken annually, after the plants are advanced enough.
The fibre is as soft and fine as human hair, yet possesses extraordinary strength and tenacity.
When made up in hanks, it has a close resemblance to silk. It is, in most respects, more like pine-apple fibre than any other. A section of the leaf is shown in Fig. 702: f, fibro-vascular bnndles, coloured yellow by test H; p, parenchyma ; mag. 100. The dimensions of the filaments are :—length: max., 0.236 in. ; min., in. ; mean, 0.118 in. ; diameter ; max., in., min., 0.0006 in.; mean, 0.0008 in. In point of strength, the fibre seems capable of competing successfully with Manilla hemp. The coast natives employ it largely for making bow-strings, and it is generally in nse for cordage purposes. Samples of the fibre exposed for 2 hours to steam at 2 atmos., then boiled for 3 hours, and again steamed for 4 hours, lost only 5.55 per cent. by weight, as against Manilla hemp, phormium, 6.14 ; hemp, 6.18-8-44. Properly prepared, much of it might be employed with advantage for fine textiles ; and the tow has long been known as pro ducing an excellent paper. The wide diffusion and easy cultivation of the plant, and the proved valuable qualities of its fibre, especially recommend it to the attention of agriculturists in India and in those colonies where the climate is suitable; and regular shipments of the fibre, uniform in quality, would soon procure it a place in our markets.
Other species are S. lanugiiwsa and S. cylindrica, indigenous to the E. Indies ; and in addition, S. guineensis, S. angolensis and S. longifolia, in Africa.
Scirpus Thie rush is common , ommon in Britain, and i generally in the north temperate zone, in boggy places. In America, it is known as the Ca 1 fornian tule." It is used for making baskets, has socks, bottle-covers, bee hives, &c. It has recently been proposed as a paper material, being said to yield at least 50-60 per cent. of pulp, suitable for the best writing and printing papers.
Sesbania aculeata —Dhunchee. — Exo gen ; annual, 6-10 ft. This plant is found in tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Africa, and Aus tralia. It is very com mon in all parts of India, springing up in rice-fields, and other wet cultivated land, during the rainy season. It is also culti vated by the natives in low, wet soils ; it requires little attention, is rapid in growth, and is con sidered advantageous to the soil as a rotation crop. Sowing takes place when the soil has been moistened by the first showers of April-May ; about 30 lb. of seed is allowed to an acre ; and less weeding is necessary than for jute. The crop is ready for cutting in September-October, though the fibre does not suffer if the plants are left standing till the seed is ripe, in November. The produce varies from 100 lb. to 1000 lb. of partially cleaned fibre from an acre. Europeans have obtained an average of 500 lb. clean fibre, and 275 lb. seed from an acre.