Economic botany [of the Himálayan district / by Edwin T. Atkinson].

  • Atkinson, Edwin T. (Edwin Thomas), 1840-1890.
Date:
[1882?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Economic botany [of the Himálayan district / by Edwin T. Atkinson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    oxp'^ndltnro of all forests for as far back as the records appear accurate enoiigli for reproduction. Rheea. Boehmeria tlivea, Hook, et Am. ; Urtica nirea, Linn. ; fb teva- cif<mna, lloxb.—China grass, rhea, rhepa, ramie (IMalay). Brandis, 402. The rheea is indigenous in China, Japan, the Philli])ine Islands, Java, Suinatra, the Indian Archipelago, Siam, Burma, Singapur, Penang, Asam, and Rang[)ur and Dinajpur in Eastern Bengal. It is cultivated in Cdiina, Japan, and the Indian Archipelago, where it is stated to like a moist soil, and flourishes best in alluvial dej)osits along the banks of rivers and generally in the fertile flats such as are found in its native haunts in China and Sumatra. The cultiva- tion of the rheea in these provinces dates from the year 18()J, and in 18(15 there were several small plantations in the Dehra Dun. The Government plantations were begun in 1867 by devoting a small [)ortion of the Chandwiila garden in the Dun to the propaga- tion of the plant foi’ distribution to those who desired to embark in its cultivation. In 1870, the regular cycle of inquiries as to the value of the economic products of India brought rheea prominently to notice, and orders were issued for the extension of the existing Government plantations both in the Dhn and at Saharanpur. In 1871, a prize of £5,000 was offered to the inventor of the best machine or process for the preparation of the fibre, and in the same year, instructions were issued for the su))ply of stems for a trial between competitors for the prize and for distribution for prelimi- nary experiments to all who were likely to make use of them both in this country and iji England. During tlie year 1871-72, the nrea under rheea in the Diin and at Saharanpur exceeded 37 acres, and upwards of nine tons of stems were forwarded to England for the use of intending competitors. The first trial for the ]irize took place at Saharanpur in August, First competition. niaehine, the property of Mr. J. Greig of Edinburgh, was entered for com- petition. The following extract from the official report of the trial will show what degree of success was obtained : “The machine, as a piece of mechanism, is (rood ; it is well-made and well-pro- portioned, the relative strength of the various parts having been well considered.