. A descriptive catalogue of useful fiber plants of the world, including the structural and economic classifications of fibers. Fibers. so long cultivated by the Chinese under the name of Tchou Ma. There are two forms of this plant. One is the China grass mentioned above, Boehmeria nivea, a tem- perate, and the other, ramie or rhea, a tropical, plant, known as /•'. nivea, var. tenacis- sinia. It would be well to preserve these distinctions in regard to the fiber also. The term ramie, or rhea, should only be applied to the variety tenacissima. This differs from the type by its more robust habit
. A descriptive catalogue of useful fiber plants of the world, including the structural and economic classifications of fibers. Fibers. so long cultivated by the Chinese under the name of Tchou Ma. There are two forms of this plant. One is the China grass mentioned above, Boehmeria nivea, a tem- perate, and the other, ramie or rhea, a tropical, plant, known as /•'. nivea, var. tenacis- sinia. It would be well to preserve these distinctions in regard to the fiber also. The term ramie, or rhea, should only be applied to the variety tenacissima. This differs from the type by its more robust habit and larger leaves, 'which are green on both sides. This character easily distinguishes it from China grass, which has leaves white-felted beneath. The distinction here suggested is an important one. Ramie or rhea is a native of Assam and the Malay Islands. It thrives only in tropical countries, and it is useless to culti- vate it elsewhere. At Kew it has been found that while ramie or rhea (/>'. nirea var. tenacissima) cannot be grown in the open air, the China grass (J>. nirea) remains in the ground all the winter, and furnishes a crop of shoots, but only once in the year. The value of the ramie or rhea liber, as compared with China grass, has not been carefully and fully investigated. Ramie from India has, however, not proved so valuable, so far, as the China grass. In the large mass of literature on China grass there is considerable con- fusion between it and ramie or rhea, and the results in consequence lose their value. (Dr. D. Morris.) Bast Fiber.—The fiber of China grass is strong and dur- able, is of all fibers least affected by moisture, and from these characteristics must take first rank in value as a textile substance. It has three times the strength of Russian hemp, while its filaments can be separated almost to the fineness of silk. In manufacture it has been spun on various forms of textile machinery, also used in connection with cotton, wool, and silk,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherwashingtongovtprin
