The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-08-17
BAST FIBERS.
yHE UHcUL TIWTsO OWES or THE UHfTE6
STATES.
The U. S. Department of Agriculture issue
Something Very Interesting on F6er
Culture.
SIDA FIBER.

plants found in both hemisphcrcs, their
bast being rich III fiber. A beautiful
example OF the fiber of .Sida retusa,
known as "Queesland hemp" was re-
received by the Department in 1876
from the Queensland collection (Phil.
adelphia Exhibition), accompanied by
,Sida rhonbJOiio. Tho first named
was prepared by DIR. Guilfoyle, who
states that the plant has established
itself in Melbourne, and is of very
quick growth, seeding freely. He re-
CARDS the fiber rs suitable for fine
paper and for tho manufacture of
cordage.
The sample Of s. rhombifoiia is very
white and lustrous, the filamcnts fine
and even. In portion of tho sample
the ribbon-liko character of the bark
is retained, filled with delicate in
donations, giving it lacclikc appear
ance. These ribbons of fiber break
easily, but twisted card of the finer
prepared fiber, tho size ufcotton wrap
ping -twine of the shops, broke only
after repeated trials with the hands.
The fiber was prepared by Alexander
Mcpherson. This spccics grows in
Indin md thc !arh yields abundance
of very delicate fax-likc iibers," which
Dr. Roxburgh though might be ad-
vnntnScously used for many purposes.
Forbes Watson, in the Descriptive
Catalogue of the East Indian Depart
mcnt, International Exhibitionnl, 1862,
pronounccs the fiber similar to jutc
A.. T.
intrinsically so superior that il is worth
from So to So more per ton, and he
places it next that fiber" in order to
attract to it the attention which it
deserves.
IS. rhOmbi(Ohd nbounds in many
portions of South America. In Ven
czucla it il called EScoba. Dr. Ernst
states that it is very common in that
country, growing wild in all localities.
'The fiber is readily extracted and is
fine and strong"
Experiments with the fiber Of s.
rhombifoiid demonstrated the fact that
n card onc-half inch in circumference
would sustain n weight of 400 pounds.
In speaking of DR.. Roxbourgh's spcci-
mcnts, Roylc says "the fibcrs nrc from
to feet in length, and display fine,
soft, aud silky fiber, as well adapted
for spinning NJ jutc, but ips,nitc.y
superior" The specimcnts of Queens
land hemp in the Department collcc-
ton are very well prepared, and quite
strong; the fiber, in color is grayish-
white. Tho Victorian sample, while
strong, is dark colorcd, and has been
poorly cleaned.
AS far back rs 1889, the Officer of
Fiber Investigation received from
South Carolina statements regarding
s. rhrmbifoiia, which, on the author
ity of j. p. Porchcr, Of Entawvile,
III that State, had been known as Il
weed throughout that region for many
years, ut least since 1880. Inter, when
visiting Charleston, my attention was
called to the plant by DIR. Panknin,
who stated that it had made it's appear
ance in comparatively recent years,
and was now II common roadside weed.
AS it was early in June, the stalks had
not sufficiently matuycd to give par
ticular evidence of value rs n fiber
plant, although later some good hand
prepared samples OF the fiber were
secured
Learning that Hon. G. ID. Tillman,
OF Charles Hill, S. c., had cultivated
the species as II forage plant, | wrote
to him for statements regarding it,and
in time received reply, dated Oc-
tobcr 10, 1890, from which brief eX-
tracts have been taken, us follows:
l have several acres of this plant
growing for pasture only. 1t is
neither fit for hay nor for soiling. hut
it is good pasture plant for cattle,
sheep, and hogs. Horses do not seem
to relish it much, while cattle in par
ticulnr appear to like it and thrive on
it almost rs well rs upon Japan clover
tLc&pcd":a shiata). The plant has
n wonderful top root and large leaf,
besides the habit, where left to rcsccd
itself, of standing very thick on the
land md shading almost every inch of
the surface of the soil. For these
reasons | have thought it must he IN
excellent green manure plant, and am
trying some experiments to test it as
such. 1t looks very much like Les
pcdcza when young, comes up early
HI tllt Slpl Bltth VII
frost. 1t spreads rapidly in waste
clay land along fence rows, in brier
patches, etc, but on account of the
seed being much larger it does not
spread nearly so fast Ms Lcspedczn. L
never have seen 1T growing on sandy
soil. 1t affects hardpan altogether,
either clay or compact gravel.
l do not remember seeing n sprig of
S. rhOmbifOiio until about four years
ago, when n small patch of it first APP
peared in the back yard Of my resi-
dence, whence it hns spread over the
yard, covering mn acre or more land,
and scattering spriSs Of it are appear
ing here and there at numerous local
tiles over the large plantation. Inst
summer | saved } or bushels of
seed, and in the fall scattered them
about in waste places and in my pas
ture, with what result | can not tell,
ns l have had no opportunity to make
nm examination on account of having
been detained at Washington all the
year. | was SO much interested in the
plant for pasture and green manure
thnt when / came on at the opening
of the present session, last December,
| bought sprig Of Sidn with me to