Abstract: | Unretted and retted bark and stem of Corchorus olitorius L and retted stem of C capsularis L, two species of jute, were analysed for ash, lignin, low molecular weight carbohydrates and polysaccharides. The results are compared with those from C capsularis published earlier. The unretted bark and stem of C olitorius contained less low molecular weight carbohydrates than the corresponding fractions of C capsularis. C olitorius bark contained less cellulose and more hemicellulose than C capsularis, particularly after retting. Xylans isolated from the retted fibre and stem of C olitorius were found to have a similar composition to those from C capsularis. |