JUTE

(Cor chorus capsular is), an annual plant belonging to the family of Brit. lime tree (Liliacee). It produces little-branched stems, growing to a height of about 12 ft., and a thickne of ¥% in. On these are borne fairly large leaves, lance-shaped, and with serrate edges. The flowers are yellowish in color, and occur in clusters. The plant is a native of Bengal, and has been cultivated in India for many you sand years. Of late, attempts have been made to grow it in other tropical countries where the climatic conditions are suitable—it requires moisture, and an even, fairly high temperature. Economically it is important as yielding a fibre which may be manufactured into coarse cloth. In Bengal it is sown in March and cut four months later. The stems are freed from foliage, and rotted in slow-running water. After a few days they are beaten to break up the wood, and combed to separate out the bast fibre. This is pre ed into bales for export. J. was first made known in 1795, but only in 1830 was much attention paid to it. In that year it began to be manufactured in Dundee, and since then Dundee has po e ed the most extensive jute-mills in the world. It is used for the manufacture of sacking and other coarse fabrics. For India it is fortunate that a great decrease in domestic - consumption -due to the introduction of cotton, which soon usurped the place of jute as a clothing for the natives—was accompanied by an enormous increase in export trade. 85° 30’ W.), town, Honduras, Cent. America.. Pop. 19,000.