Q.-No. 4.

APPENDIX TO EEPORT OF

56

8. S S in diamonds. Sold in London, June, 1870, for £30 to £30 10s. ; per Messrs. Kinross & Co., Napier. 9. Sold in London, November, 1870 ; per Messrs. Kinross & Co. 10. D & H.—No. 1, from Auckland; standard sample; value, £50 in London> November, 1869. 11. D & H.—No. 2, from Auckland; standard sample, value, £40 to £45 in London, November, 1869. 12. D & H. —No. 3, from Otago: standard sample; value, £36 to £38 in London. November, 1869.

CLASS B. Vl.—a. FOEEIGN FIBEES, &C. Museum Collection. I. —Fibees Suited fob Spinning and Manufactubing Pubposes. a. Flax (Linum usitatissimum). 1. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, from acclimatised Riga seed, Sealcote, Punjab. 2. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, Punjab. 3. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, from acclimatised seed, Lucknow. b. Rhea (Beehmeria nivea, also Tfrtica nivea and TJ. tenacissimd). Of all Indian fibres, the one which at present attracts most attention in this country is that of the Rhea. As soon as arrangements have been effected for its production, along with that of other species of nettle which abound in various parts of India, it is anticipated that fibres from this class of plants will eventually occupy a position second only in importance to that of cotton and flax. Late experiments have shown that the fibre of the Rhea can be turned to account for the manufacture of a variety of fabrics of a very valuable and useful description; and its extended cultivation in India is worthy of every attention and encouragement. The great desideratum is an efficient machine for the separation of the fibre from its parent stem. 4. Rhea, Beehmeria nivea, Gowhatty. 5. Rhea, Beehmeria nivea, softened. 6. Rhea, Boehmeria nivea, bleached. 7. Wild rhea, Assam. c. Puya (Beehmeriapuya). Although botanically a different species, the fibre of this plant is almost identical with that furnished by the Rhea. It flourishes at Darjeeling and other places in the north of India. Its commercial value is the same as that of Rhea. 8. Puya, Beehmeria puya, North-West India. d. Nilgiri Nettle (TJrtica heterophylla). This nettle abounds in the Nilgiri Hills and also in some other parts of the country. It furnishes a fibre of such a nature that the term " vegetable wool" has been applied to it. 9. Nilgiri Nettle, TJrtica heterophylla, from old wood, valued at £60 per ton. 10. Nilgiri Nettle, TJrtica heterophylla, from new wood, valued at £65 per ton. e. Mudar or Tercum (Calotropis gigantea), also Ak (C Samiltonii), The stems of these two species furnish a valuable fibre, which is, however, very difficult of extraction. 11. Mudar or Tercum, Calotropis gigantea, Madras. f. Bedolee Sutta (Paederiafadidd). This excellent fibre is the produce of a creeper which grows abundantly on grass alluvial deposits along some parts of the banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam. It is particularly worthy of attention, as its fibre is of a very valuable description. From its appearance it has been named " vegetable silk." 12. Bedolee Sutta, Paederiafstida, Upper Assam.