B[oe]hmeria Nivea

A plant of the nettle family, which yields the

fiber known as Chinese grass. The beautiful fabric called

grasscloth, which rivals the best French cambric in softness and

fineness of texture, is manufactured from the fiber of this plant.

The fiber is also variously known in commerce as rheea, ramie, and

in China as Tchow-ma. It is a plant of the easiest culture, and

has been introduced into the Southern States, where it grows

freely. When once machinery is perfected so as to enable its being

cheaply prepared for the manufacturer, a great demand will arise

for this fiber.