APPENDIX TO REPOUT OE

a.—No. 4.

58

c. Agave or Aloe Fibres (Agave americana, also Agave vivipara or Fourcroya gigantea). Although neither of these plants is indigenous, both are now cultivated in many parts of the country. After suitable preparation, the agave fibre is usually employed for the manufacture, amongst other things, of an imitation " horsehair cloth. 29. Agave, Agave americana, Meerut. 30. Agave, Agave americana, Madras. d. Adam's needle (Yuccagloriosa). This plant, although not yet cultivated for economic purposes, produces fibre of very considerable value when properly prepared. 31. Adam's needle, Yucca gloriosa, Madras. e. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca and other species). Universally cultivated for its fruit. Its leaves afford a fibre suited for certain purposes. Ordinarily it is inferior to Manilla hemp (Musa textilis) in point of strength. 32. Plantain, Musa paradisiaca, Madras. 33. Manilla hemp, Musa textilis, Madras. f. Screw-pine, (Pandanus odoratissimus). The leaves of this plant furnish a fibre which can be turned to account for the manufacture of paper and some common purposes. It is, however, in every respect inferior to those in this group above entered. 34. Screw-pine Pandanus odoratissimus, valued at £4 per ton, Madras. V. —Fibees Suited foe the Manufactube of Mats, Beushes, Coaese Coedage, Imitation Hoesehaie foe Stuffing Pueposes, etc. a. Coir. This well-known material is furnished by the fibrous envelope of the nut of the cocoa palm (Cocos nucifera). It is exported from India in considerable quantities. 35. Coir, Cocos nucifera, Madras. b. Gomuti (Arenga saccharifera). This fibre is considered superior to all others yet made use of for'the manufacture of artificial bristles for brushes, imitation horse-hair for stuffing, and such like purposes. 36. Gomuti, Arenga saccharifera, Singapore. c. Moonj (Saccharum munja). This grass supplies a strong good fibre, which is beginning to attract attention in this country, and is now being exported from Kurachi, in Sinde. 37. Moonj, Saccharum munja, Lahore. 38. Palmyra, Borassusflabelliformis, Madras. Fibees fbom Kew Museum. 39. Musa sapientum. Mauritius. 40. Kydia calycina. Jamaica. 41. Selicteres pulchella. Mauritius. 42. Crotalaria juncea. Jubblepore hemp. East Indies. 43. Malvaviscus arborea. Jamaica. 44. Paritium elatum. Jamaica. 45. Fourcroya tuberosa. Mauritius. 46. Ayave angustifolia. Mauritius. 47. Abutilon bedfordiana. Mauritius. 48. Lecythis idatimon. Guatecare tree fibre. Trinidad. 49. Agave americana. Alves. 50. Fourcroya tuberosa. Mauritius. 51. Musa textilis. Manilla. 52. Fourcroya gigantea. Mauritius.