U. argentea in the South Sea Islands, U. cannabina in Siberia, and U. japonica in Japan, are utilized locally. Other nettles will be found under Bwhmeria and Laportea.
Xerotes or Found over almost the whole colony of Victoria, especially on dry, open, sandy country, such as that between Melbourne and Frankston, where, with Lepidosperma gladiata, it covers miles, to the exclusion of almost every other plant. It grows 18-24 in. high, attaining 6 ft. and more when near water, but the fibre is then much weaker. It is reckoned the best indigenous substitute for esparto for paper-making. The best samples come from the driest localities.
Other species, indigenous to Australia, are X. filiformis, tenuifolia, X. glauca, X. rigida.
Xylopia sp. The fibres of X. frutescens and X. sericea, in Brazil, are locally employed for cordage.
Yucca sp. These plants are indigenous to the southern portions of the United States, and some of them have been widely distributed. Y. brcvifolia, the mis-called " Cali fornian cactus," grows abundantly in the Mojave desert, between the 34th° and 35th° N. hit., and between the stations of Mojave and Ravena, in California. There are many square miles of ground occupied by this plant. The height attained is 10-20 ft., and the diameter of the trunk, 18-30 in.
The habit of growth varies much. The soil is a fine, warm sand, very dry for a depth of 2 ft., but moister below. Existing supplies of the plant are being rapidly consumed for paper-making.
Y. gloriosa, or Adam's needle, is found in America, from Carolina and Florida, to Texas and Mexico. In India also, it is met with growing wild in Bengal, and other places. These are, perhaps, the best-known species. The whole genus bas been utterly neglected from an industrial point of view, no real attempt having ever been made to grow the plants on a commercial scale, though their hardiness, their preference for arid barren sands, and the quality of their fibre, would seem to be special recommendations. The fibre resembles in many respects that of the agaves, and is applicable to similar purposes.
Zizania ; grass, 7-14 ft. A native of N. America ; found especially iu Canada, on the shores of Lakes Erie, St. Clair, Ontario, Fic. It is an aunual, frequenting only swampy ground. It seems to be available in immense quantity. It makes admirable paper, pos sessing the advantage of being almost free from silica.