4. Eriophorum comosum.—

This plant is well known in North-western India, where, under the name of bhabar-ghas, it is largely used as a material for ropes. It was submitted by Dr. King to Mr. Routledge, who writes to us:—"A small quantity of bleach brings it up to a good colour. The ultimate fibre is very fine and delicate, rather more so than esparto, and of about the same strength; the yield, however, is 42 per cent. somewhat less. I think I may venture to say it will make a quality of paper equal to esparto."

Two other grasses, Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum spontancum, were also reported upon by Mr. Routledge, but they were inferior to the Eriophorum. "I do not "consider, he says, that it would pay commercially to attempt to treat any one of these fibrous materials for conversion into stock for European use, although very possibly, if procurable in abundance and at cheap rates, they might be employed for paper-making locally with advantage."