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and CHAPTER VI.

HEMP, CHINESE GRASS, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBRES.

i of 1 LTEMP is the fibre of an annual plant known as Cannabis sativa , originally

iove found in Asia. It has, however, been cultivated in Europe for many

inse centuries. This plant attains a height of from 1*3 to 2‘6 metres, and, as in

flax, the fibre runs through the entire length of the stem. It is both separatedfrom the plant and bleached in a similar manner to flax, but the bleaching is. 0 f more difficult on account of the greater quantity of incrustating matter that

ish. surrounds the fibre. Seen through the microscope, the hempen fibres exhibit

and hollow cylindrical tubes, quite smooth externally, and provided at regular

intervals with septa or knots, surrounded by small hairy appendices. Hempfibre averages to ^ of a millimetre in diameter. It is chiefly employedin making rope, twine, and sail-cloth, and consequently is rarely dyed orn 0 f bleached.

u gh The other fibrous materials known to us may be divided into three kinds,

of viz., those obtained from the stems of plants, those from the leaves, and

t he those from the nutshell.

ded To fi rst division belongs the so-called Chinese grass, the fibre of a plant

p re - included in the natural order of the Urticacece, more particularly the Boehmeria

will nwea, cultivated to some extent in China. The fibre when woven to tissue

constitutes the China grass cloth, but it is not used to any great extent eitherin Europe or Asia.

Ramee hemp is made from the fibres of the Urtica utilis , a native of Borneo,Sumatra, Java, and some of the smaller Sunda Islands. These fibres averageabout 1*5 to 2'2 metres in length. They are naturally of a bright yellow-white colour, readily bleached to a very perfedt white, but are not much usedon account of an inherent stiffness, which, as far as present experience goes,cannot be removed. The natives make cordage of the fibre, but it is of inferiorstrength, and does not well resist the adtion of sea-water.

Rhea hemp from the Rhea tenacissima, East Indies, is used very little evenfiy the natives.

Jute, the fibre of the Corchorus olitorius , together with the other species ofthe same family, is, with the exception of hemp, used more largely than anyof the fibres referred to ; it is not, however, suitable for making cordage, as itr eaks too readily, and rots under water, but it is extensively used for sail andother coarse cloth. Its finer fibres are, it is stated, woven into such fabricsas poplins and mixed reps. Jute is also used by hatters, as it will take agood black dye.