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THE LEAF-FIBRE OF NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 43
late Mr. Oklliam, though the perigone-lobes in the only ripe fruit
seem somewhat deeper cut and more involute ; but in all I possess,
while the bracts are very long, the relative length of the bracteoles is
subject to considerable variation, even on the same specimens. In
none that I have examined, however, can I find a quinquefid perigone,
the lower free portion in all cases equalling, or nearly so the lobes.
And if the ditferences in this respect relied on by Miquel are incon-
stant, and there seems little or nothing else in the diagnosis of Alph.
De CandoUe to distinguish the two species, though he makes the
depth of division of perigone-lobes a sub-paragrapliie character, it may
be open to question whether they should not be united. If the plant
taken by Miqiiel for T. decnrrens, be really identical with that of A.
De Candolle, I cannot doubt that such must be done.
OX THE ECONOMICAL VALUE AND APPLICATIONS OF
THE LEAF-EIBRE OF NEW ZEALAND FLAX (^PHOR-
MIUM TENAX, Fursi.).
By W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.Il.S.E., F.L.S., etc.
{Concludedfrom p. 31.)
Some years ago, at a time when there was considerable agitation in
Britain, on the subject of scarcity and dearness of paper in the
European market, and when the ' Times ' had offered a premium of
£1000 to any enterprising experimentalist, who should introduce a
new marketable material,— a successful competitor (especially as re-
gards price) to rags, I was led to study the subject of " substitutes for
paper material." My inquiries brought me into correspondence with
Charles Cowan, M.P., of Valleyfield Paper Mills, and Robert Craig,
of Newbattle Paper Mills, both near Edinburgh ; E. M. Cameron,
editor of the ' Paper Trade Review;' Thomas Routledge, of the Ford
Paper Works, near Sunderland,—the introducer of " esparto ;"* P.
L. Simmonds, author of works on ' Waste Products,' and the ' Com-
mercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom ;
' the late Professor
* Mr. Routledge writes me (March, 1866), that liis sales of "esparto,"
during the preceding year, liad been over 30,000 tons. No other material is
used in the Ford Works, and it is now also largely used by almost every paper
manufacturer in Scotland.