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Hew., ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

BULLETIN

MISCEELANKOUS INFORMATION,

ADDITIONAL SERIES, IT.

SELECTED PAPERS

FROM THE

Aww BULLETIN.

I—VEGETABLE FIBRES.

[Reprint. ]

LONDON:
PRIN TED FOR HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY mers
Br DARLING & SON, Lro., 34-40, Bacon Srreet, E.

And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Harpine Stazet, FLEET Srrzert, E.C.,
or OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH;
or E. PONSONBY, 116, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN.

1901.
Pii ice Three Shillings and Sixpence.

Mo.Bot. Garden,
1902.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Article Subject. Page.
I. Buazé fibre Ses ies aa ms oe a ue j
II. Okro fib bre .. eee “oe oe oe ore .
II. Kanaff or Deccan m hemp : . : a sa ,
IV. Cotton in West Af Ti ‘ š P3 ae
Y: Cotton in West Af a on (Continned) he ne ee oe zs }
VI. Gambia — or native So ae oe - i )
VIL Cotton in a j m= ae
VIII, Cotton in British Central Africa * ioe sé it 3
IX, Cultivation of cotton in pt A on Ea E
X. Egyptian cotton in virze e D pey 3 = J
XI. Kapok a ee we 7
XII. Fibre from Lages ` os a aos )
XIII. Jute from the paste 3 ee ‘A pies fe wee 4
XIV. Siberian perennial flax... Hee ; gi Pe as 3
AV. The Spanish broom as a ‘fibre lant oe e es i fap 7
XVI. ee e cloth of u nda one on : “ w~ | 42
XVII. fibre “fe os os ar 4
XVIII. abies paper ... Rie § aiia Bs s. 20
XIX, anada nettle fibre... a Sis ` DE Pe
XX. Urera fibre ae. tes er z% és act W
XXI. amie .., oe = sin aie - oun jas wens OS
XXII. amie (continued) scp ae pe nS “n> šis “#1 50
XXIII. amie (continued) Hia w on Sea ns i owe 3
XXIV. amie (continued) ive ast ee nee a om ba }
XXV. amie (continued) ej ine are ie = ]
XXVI. amie as food for sillworms « ea s% ae ý ‘ee 3
XXVII, ramie a be pie ay % ie ]
XXVIII. amie or rhea in Ire Ea d tea a te mn )
XXIX. amie machine trials at New Orleans ses pi 4 sä )
XXX. hina hnn 1891 : n i 3 5 RE,
XXXI. ani see sii š a
XXXII. anila hemp in British North Borneo... a IIA So ia
XXXIII. lantain and Banana a ees se ee,
IV. lantain e Banana fibre (continued) a am - | 101
iA Manila hemp plants ws ise . | 106
XXXVI. nila hemp in British North Borneo es ee oe
X fibre ... ae an on ai ont 10
XXXVIII. tá sea ii Sss ; ii =] 20
XXXIX. owstring hem $ ja si =s f H4
XL. Sansevieria fibre from Somali-land . iis si Wee ooo | 124
XLI. ansevieria fibre from huanaland . ose oes s LERT
XLII. : G “f 1390
XLIII Fibre industry at the Bahamas Svs wos | 196
XLIV ibre industry at the Bahamas scorns aks w | 199
XLV. ibre indu at the Bahamas (con ‘ h s. | 140
XLVI. ibre productions in the Caicos cag "i ë s | 144
XLVII isal hemp at emt Turks and S. Islands “ ‘ ves | 149
XLVIII Bahamas indus oie . ; sea | 9
XLIX Sisal hemp atris “ii r zs : «1 36
L. Sisal hemp in the a i . ine e 5 «+ | 170
LI. Sisal cultivation in ven Š en ue VATS
LII. Sisal hemp aor in Yucatan a see Se $ vrs | 192
LIII. Poling in ere 3 cis nbs ce | S
LIV. Weicher’s witli machine ... ve o ees
8895—500—4/1901 Wt727 D & 5—29 A2

Article. Subject. Page.
BV: The Prieto fibre-extracting machine si see se a: | 186
LVI. Sisal hemp i prs Bahamas si use Be | 188
LVII. Sisal hemp in Bahamas (con nued) ee preg We a:
LVIII. isal cultivation $ in os Turks ie Caicos islands. oes wes frase
LIX. False Sisal of A 193
LX. ombay Aloe fibre 194
LXI. ombay Aloe fibre aa 4 “os re oe = | 199
LXII. Manila Aloe rari vie s s we ee | 200
LXIII. Mexican fibre 202
LXIV. Mexican fibre re Saas Ceontinwed) oe ih s F BOF
LXV. Mauritius hemp w ia an ise sa. | 208
LXVI. Mauritius hem p machines x : 211
LXVII Agaves and orotat Ellisoess on the Riviera ... 217
LXVIII Madagascar Piassava see bie 227
LXIX. West hes bass fibre ate oud se 228
LXX. West Africa: tinued) ses 232
LXXI Rafia from West Afri b oF 232
LXXII. Rafia from nos Atrios CE E sie 236
BASIL | ] ape goons oie = si 238
LXXIV. | Oil palm EE E AE ass 240
AN. ( siap oa from Lagos on Be aes 245
LXXVI Bahia — au ee ee 248
LXXVI Bhabur ae ii ste ve 253
LXXVIII., | Bhabur ae evans (continued) ne ess va a 256
LXXI Broom root or Mexican whisk 257
LXX Broom root or Mexican whisk (continued) ... 258
LXXXI. Chinese fibres... aR oe 258
LXXXII. | Economic plants of 2e 3 270
LXXXIII. | Notes om articles t usen: ums of the Royal 273

Gati, Kaw; ioii the Colonial and Indian Exhibition
me
LXXXIV. | Botani enterprise i in the yew" Pag, 1890-91 . | 2a
LXXXV. Cultural phen. in West Af ps Sy Ws
VI. | Indigenous plants of Yorubatacsd š - | 278
VI Botanical Station, St. Vin j ioe + -A18
LXXXVIII. | Fibres of India ... oes į | 279
XI Fibre plants of Formosa. cH =

Sse cee E NED 5 eS

ase ih

ee ee aR eh | a ee

AE Mitten at oe rs, A

Toe TEE ea, PE eee > arsi cee OE be ete, ae

PREFACE.

THE volumes of the Kew Bulletin (1887-98) contain articles
which more or less cover the whole field of commercial enterprise
as applied to the Vegetable Kingdom.

These articles are necessarily printed in a disconnected form,
in accordance with the principle laid down by the Government
that information of public interest should be published as
speedily as possible.

It will, therefore, be convenient to bring together occasionally
the whole of the papers relating to one particular subject. The
trouble of following these through a series of annual volumes
would otherwise in great measure defeat the object in view.

The present volume, which may from time to time be followed
by similar collections, deals with the subjects of Fibres. It is one
which is of first-rate importance to manufacturers at home and
also to our Planting Colonies.

In the pages of the Bulletin, as in other official publications
emanating from Kew, it has not been customary, where all
members of the staff in some degree co-operative, to assign the
authorship of any particular piece of work to any. individual
person.

But in this particular line of inquiry it would be only just
to state that the mass of useful and interesting information
which is now presented to the public is in great measure due
to the experience and research of the late paean Director,
Mr. D. Morris, D.Sc., C.M.G.

I cannot but take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude
to the numerous eminent commercial firms in this country who
have always, in the most courteous manner assisted this estab-
lishment in its inquiries.

W. T. THISELTON-DYER,
irector.

wide Gardens, Kew

September 1898.

Cae

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SELECTED PAPERS from the “KEW BULLETIN.”

VEGETABLE FIBRES.

I.—BUAZE FIBRE.
(Securidaca longipedunculata, Fres.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 222-225.]

Securidac a longipedu inculata, Fres., is a much branched divaricate
shrub, sometimes growing to a height "of 8 to 10 feet, belonging to the
natural order Polygalee, and distributed through Upper and Lower

stem, cross sections of which show layers of fibrous bark between
layers of wood.

Buazé fibre sems to have been first introduced to notice by Dr.
Livingstone in 1857. In his Missionary Travels and aam eches in South
Africa, published in that year, he says (p. 645) t + he submitted a
small Sealy of the fibre to Messrs. Pye Mer Pang tis London, who
reported from 80, Lombard Street, under date 20th March 1857 :—“ The
* Buaze evidently possesses a very strong and fine fibre, assimilating
“ to flax in its character, but we ae when treated in quantity by our

“ process it EAE show both a stronger and finer fibre than flax ; but,
“ being unable to apply the nollie or Sng processes with efficiency
“ to so very small a quantity, the gums are not yet so perfectly extracted
“ as they would be, nor the fibre opened out to so fine a quality as it
“ would then exhibit.”

The opinion obtained by Messrs. Pye Brothers from Messrs. Marshall,
of Leeds, was as follows :—“ The Buazé fibre appears to resemble flax,
“ and as prepared by you will be equal to flax worth 507. or 60/. per
“ ton, but we could hardly speak positively to the value unless we had
“ one cwt. or two cwt. to try on our machinery. Ont we think
“ the result is promising, and we hope further inquiry will be made as
“ to the probable supply of the material.

Dr. Livingstone adds that the plant is stated to grow in large quantities
in the ‘ Maravi country, north of the Zambesi, but it is not cultivated,
“ and that the only known use it has been put to is in making t threads
“ on which the natives string their beads. Elsewhere the split tendons
“ of animals are employed for this purpose. This seems to be o y

“ strength, for a firm thread of it feels like catgut in the hand, and
“ would rather cut the fingers than break.”

Dr. Livingstone’s original fragmentary specimen of the Buazé plant,
which consisting merely of foliage, was indeterminable at the time, exists
in the Kew Herbarium. The botanical identification is due to Sir John

Kirk, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., late Political Agent at Zanzibar, who during his
attachment to the Livingstone South African Expedition i in 1859, and to
the Zambesi aep ae in 1861, obtained an excellent series of specimens
both in flower and fruit. The Buazé plant is well figured by Richard
in his Tentamen Flora Abyssinice, t. 10, under the name of Lophostylis
angustifolia, and by Klotzsch in Peters’s Mozambique, t. 22, as Lopho-
elie pallida. Both names now give way to that at the head of this
icle.

E the comparatively favourable report on this fibre
received so far back e w nothing has since been done to further its
utilization in this country.

ote added 1894 ane the article on Shane! fibre in the Kew Bulletin,
1889, pp. 222-225, there was given an account ofa fibre used for making
fish nets forwarded to Kew by the For feign e from Mafeking on
Lake Ngami. This had been collected by Mr. James Nicolls. Further
specimens, with fresh leaves of the plant yielding the fibre, showed re
the Lake Ngami fibre was yielded by Sansevieri ja sulcata. (Art. XLI.)

II.—OKRO FIBRE.
(Hibiscus esculentus, L.)
[K. B., 1890, pp. 229-230.]

The plant variously known as okro, okra, gobbo, gonia and quim-
bombo, is widely cultivated in the tropics for its horn-like pods, or seed
vessels, which are used as a wits vegetable. They are ae
mucilaginovs, and are made into soups and sauces. The ripe seeds a
sometimes parched and used as a pubetttats for coffee. The plant is in
annual herb, with a stout hairy stem from 2 to 5 feet in height. The
leaves are large, three- to five-lobed, coarsely toothed, with paiio about
6 inches in length, more or less bristly. The flowers are yellow, with a
brown or crimson centre. The fruit is pyramidal-oblong, 6 to 10 na
long, and about į to 1 inch in diameter, with five prominent ribs a

smoot he spherical seeds are grey or greenish, obovate, and raed
with fine hairs.

The Okro (Hibiscus esculentus, L. 3 Abelmoschus esculentus, W. & A.,
is probably a native of India, but it is now naturalised or cultivated i in
all tropical countries. Vilmorin Aist niskie two varieties in culti-
vation : the long-fruited green okro. and the round-fruited okro. In the
latter the fruits are short and comparatively thick, being about 2 inches
long and nearly 2 inches in diameter, and blunt at the ends rather than
pointed. There is said to be a sub-variety of the long-fruited green
okro with pendulous pods.

The okro has long been known in India and elsewhere to yield a long
silky fibre, the breaking strain of which, according to Roxburgh, is
79 pounds dry, and 95 pounds wet. Specimens of Indian okro fibre in
the useums resemble hemp in colour and texture. It is
evidently well adapted for making ropes, iiiv, ron sacking, while the
residual eae could be utilised for paper-makin

Recent e preparation and use of okro fibre. has been revived in
both roy ia L United States, where the plant is largely grown
during the summer months, and also in Cuba, In the Report of Mr.

Consul Ramsden on the Trade, Commerce, and Agriculture of the
Province of St. Iago de Cuba for the year 1889 [F. O. Annual Series,
No. 779], the following information is furnished reapaoking the fibre of
the okro plant, known in Cuba as the quim

“ The fruit of the quimbombo (Hibiscus esculentus) is well known in
the English West Indies under the name of ‘okra,’ and is used as a

mentions the plant as being ‘ applicable to rope m unaware
that it has ae used as a fibre, and, Anse ore, are t it here. Last
year Messrs. Bosch and Tomphuy , of this city, "a an experiment

say it was much liked, ind fonnd to be worth 400. per ton, Three
crops are obtained in the year, and its preparation by mace ie gave
very little trouble. The stem producesa fibre of fine quality, and about
4 feet in length, and apparently strong. Further p will aibait? ne
nd a sample of it with this repor

a
The sample of fibre above mentioned was ed to Kew by the

Foreign Ta and is now in the Museum of Economic Botan

rd to the commercial value of this Cuban fibre, Messrs. Ide
ras Christie, of 72, Mark Lane, E.C., to whom it was referred, report as
ollows :—
“ Hibiscus esculentus. The sample shows the fibre to be only
pereme nating than J sae jag pews cleaned, ane very yellow in
o e it at 187. to 207. per ton to-day in London. It is
aeei that ai epee could. be greatly Migroved. Di more careful
preparation, and that in that case its value might be increased by 4. or
5l. per ton. We cannot gang 7 ps that fibre of this tpa could

III—KANAFF OR DECCAN HEMP.
(Hibiscus cannabinus, L.)
[K. B., 1891, pp. 204-206.]

Recently an announcement has been made of the discovery of a new
textile plant on the shores of the Caspian. The plant known as Kanaff
by the natives is said to yield a soft elastic and silky fibre, “capable
of being readily bleached or dyed in every shade of co le

ome which appeared in a Tiflis journal, it is oe t Kanatt

than hemp, and its s cific vity is le =
The Ap source specie gravity i respecting the plant yielding this fibre
is contained in an article me eats Note Ha re Sunn, le Y = a, et
ote E textiles, by MM. Jules Grisard et Max lidan Berghe.
n the Revue des Sciences Naturelles appliquées, 890, pp. 992-993.
According A e authors, Kanaff or Kanap was at one time su |
o be Apocynum sibiricum, It is, ho 1
ESEIA L, a well-known fibre plant in I

cultivated state in Persia, and other places westward. In a note in

Boissier’s Flora Orientalis, vol. i. p. 840, it is stated that Hibiseus
cannabinus, L., is calteweied i in the province a Ghilan in Spgs and
that cords and ropes are prepared from its fibre. Specime Kanaff
fibre have recently been iiair at Kew, jin me ‘authentic specimens of
the plant producing it have so far been Ther ev roba-
bility, however, that the vaes is one of the ies aici of "Bosse
cannabinus, and the utilisation of its fibre on the shores of the Caspian
is a fact of some interest. The information so far furnished is as
follows :

“The French Revue des Colonies reports the discovery of a new textile
on the shores of the Caspian. This plant, called Kanaff by the natives,
grows in the summer, and attains a height of 10 feet, with a diameter
varying from two to three centimetres. By careful cultivation and
manipulation, M. O. Blakenbourg, a chemist and engineer, who has
made a special study of Kanaff, has obtained an admirable textile

matter; it is soft, Doaa nd sil ives a thread, which is very tough,
and can be chemically bleached without losing ox value. The stuffs
e EEES out of Kanaff, and then bleached, can be successfully

yed in every shade of colour, and would sacs with any of the
furnishing materials now in use. But it is particularly for mag
cks, tarpaulin, npe &c., that this new orig from its cheapness an
its extrao rdinary res sting power, might defy all competition. Its

of hemp. Thus a cord of 5:25 mm. diameter, woven with the hand out
of three apels of Kanaff, requires a weight of 180 kilogrammes to
break it. Ac half an inch thick, manufactured at Moscow, did not
break till the haran of 625 kilogram mes was reached. When it is
considered that Russia annually consumes more than 150,000,000 of
sacks, a third of which is ee it may easily be seen that the
appearance of this new oe on Sessa market is an event of no
slight importance.” (Board of Trado Journal.)

The following more amit infor EARNAN respecting a has been
communicated to this establishment by the Foreign Office

(Copy.)
FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
SIR, Foreign Office, July 6, eee
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affai
transmit to you, to be laid before the Director of the Royal G Gardens, he
accompanying despatch, reporting on the cultivation of cotton in the

Sopan district, and transmitting some fibre of a newly discovered
p

The Assistant Director, Ge, of Trims FERGUSSON.
Royal Gardens, Kew

(Extraet.)
Mr. Vice-Consul MURRAY to FOREIGN OFFICE.

My LORD, Batoum, June 24, 1891.

*
A ae ree plant has been exciting great interest amongst

Russian traders, as it is hoped that it will t
Jute plant, 7 prove a strong rival to the

ARES
See

ie, US Ree Peal Oe Be Ny ae ag Ee A tT i. eee nays
gc St eae oh I a SL des SL Nie Re tae ee) ph fh ot Ru a BA, te eS yee ee ee Sore ete aN ae a T ae:

an eS cgay or NSE re ey Ray 5 ee
ee Gta e ee rar. (9 coset Phe, a Capea eee EAS Ane ae

It is known as the Kanaff (Kanabe or Kanaspe), and is a textile
plant found in large quantities on the Persian shores of the Caspian
sea, all the production and sale being in the hands of Persians, who do

ot know wha to put on it, rp therefore ask absurd prices,
Boifictimnes too high aia sometimes to 00

The quality of the flax, it appears, is a a and it is only fair to
skin that this will develop into a large industry when the prices
settle

At the present time the price is about the same as that of Indian jute,
which, when the high cost of local transport is added, practically puts it
out of the market.

The present price is from 13d. to 2d. per pound.

I have the honour to enclose a sample of the wis of this plant.

The Right Hon. (Signed) Saas MURRAY,
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., Lieutenant and Acting Consul.
&c. &e. &c.

A full account of Deccan or Ambasi hemp obtained in India from
Hibiscus cannabinus is given in the Dictionary of the Economie
Products of India, vol. iv., pp. 231-236. The plant is a herbaceous
shrub apparently wild in some parts east of the Northern Ghâts but
largely cultivated for its fibre throughout Irdia. The produce is chiefly
used by the agricultural classes locally. Dr. Watt, C.I.E., states that
the fibre is soft, white, and silky and eminently suitable for the coarser
textile purposes to which jute is applied. Were a demand to be created
for this fibre as distinct from that of Sunn-hemp or other fibres the

are sometimes exported from India to England as an oil-seed.

IV.—_COTTON IN WEST AFRICA.
[K. B., 1820, pp. p: 135-140.)

eg gun to receive attention. The samples of West African Cotton
received in this country have, however, been favourably received, and

iti is 5 addont that much could be done to extend the cultivation by

judicious action on the part of the local authorities and by the intro-

duction and distribution of seed of good and suitable varieties of the |
Cotton plant. If once the cultivation could be generally taken up by

the native oy Seta and especially in districts where the industry is

more or less familiar to the people, there are good grounds for believing

that West African eee would eventually become an important ae

of export. In the following correspondence attention is drawn

subject of Cotton growing generally in West ica; and an aa o

is given of an attempt which has lately been made to introduce and

cultivate experimentally the best forms of Egyptian Cotton. This

latter may or may not be suitable to the circumstances of West Africa.
The value is, however, so high that it has been thought desirable to
attempt its cultivation in West Africa, and the results of the experi-
ment, as also indeed of the general effort made to introduce West
African Cotton to commerce, will be watched with interest,

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.
[ Extract, ]

Royal Gardens, Kew.
STR, 22nd October 1889,

As agiis a man of ee of Rzyptian Cotton for West atio as
none is obtainable in this country at the present time, the best
would be to apply through the Pore Office for the assistance ‘of "the
Agent and Consul-General at Cairo in the matter. The cultivation of
Egyptian Cotton in West Africa was suggested in the first instance in
connection with Lagos, and I enclose a copy of the correspondence
addressed to Kew by Mr. Alvan Millson, in which ae advantages of

ae * ka 3 *

Tam, &e.
(Signed) D. MORRIS.
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B.

Mr. ALVAN MILLSON to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

Hotel Mca ante Victoria Street,
Westminster, S.
DEAR i 8th June 1889,
CLOSE a letter from a friend of mine who has madea special
soa of eal Cotton in its application to ring and ordinary
spinn
Fron, his remarks it would appear that the flood lands of the Niger
basin and coast lagoons of West Africa offer suitable ee for
the extension of the supply of this valuable article of c the
searcity and high ga of which render its cultivation an sescedinals
lucrative occupatio on
ieve me, &c.
(Signed) ALVAN MILLSON.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. =

[Enclosure.]
Messrs. SAMUEL WHITLEY & Co. to Mr. ALVAN MILLSON.

Hansom oe rae au Halifax,
DEAR SIR, h Jun
WE venture to ape your attention to the douteability of extend-
ing the growth of that class of Cotton now onl

y produced in Egypt.
This Cotton has many vantages in length, pron ne and fineness of

Foy ae Seam raed I ake ea pi
pag Ss ieee enh yt rs ESEE S aN z ea SDRE

fibre over that grown in America, and commands a much higher price ;
at present its production is limited to the Nile valley, where there is no
room for extension to meet the increasing demand, and where the crop
is at times almost ruined by a “low Nile,” perj a large advance in
price and its consequent derangement of trade.

The price obtained, which varies from 6d. to 10d. per pound for
ordiuhes qualities, must give a large return to the aoe for Indian
Cottons are grown, ginned, shipped, and sold for 3d. per poun

The ee of the crop appear to be, an alluvial es a regular
supply of w to the roots and bright weather during ripening ;
careful visions to prevent the niet of leaf with the fibre

writer has carefully noted the conditions in Egypt, and cannot
see why this crop should not be extended to other parts of Africa.

We are, &c.
(Signed) S. WHITLEY & Co.
Mr. Alvan Millson.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEw.

SIR, Downing Street, 1st pe be 1889,

WITH reference to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, I ar dir w
by Lord Knutsford to acquaint you that the Foreign Office ave bee
requested to instruct Her Majesty’s Agent and Consul- asad. at Cairo
to obtain 40 Ibs. of Egyptian Cotton seed for transmission to the West
African Colonies.

Lord Knutsford has desired that the seed should be forwarded to
you, and he will be much obliged if you will undertake its apportoin-
ment among the parions Colonies in such amounts as you may think
most desirable.

I am further to request that you will state the exact amounts sent to
each Colony, so that the total cost may be properly divided by the
Crown Agents.

I am, &c.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
The Director, Royal Gardens, Kew.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEw, to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, January 22, 1890.

WITH reference to your letter of lst November on the subject of
ope a pelos of Egyptian Cotton seed for transmission to certain
Colonies, I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you Ythat he has
rowdy received, at the request of Sir Evelyn Baring, a supply of
Cotton seed from the British Commissioner of the Egyptian State
Domains.

2, This seed has been divided into six lots, and apportioned as
follows :—To Gambia and aago, one-fourth each ; to Sierra Leone,
Gold Coast, Windward Islands, and Leeward iad one-eighth each.

3. The small portion of ieai selected for the West Indian Colonies is
likely to prove of pie rvice in such islands as Carriacou, Antigua,
and the Virgin Islan

4, It would be daatable to furnish the Governors of all the Colonies
to whi ch 6 seed is sent with a copy of the correspondence enclosed in my
letter of the 22nd October last, in order that they may have

them the apadi! importance attached to this Egyptian Cotton seed.
The time for and the treatment of the crop, in the
absence of see ba to me contrary, should follow those which obtain
locally for ee Cotto:

5. The seed for Lagos ‘was taken out by Sir Alfred Moloney on
Saturday last. The remaining portion of the seed, contained in five
small boxes addressed to the Governors of the Gold Coast, Sierra shes
Gambia, Leeward and Windward Islands, will be forwarded to the
Crown rE for transmission to their Tserirt ani with the least
possible delay.

diga) = “Morris.
This Egyptian Cotton seed consists of two varieties, A. “ Ashmouni,”’
B. “ Bahmieh,” a portion of each variety is included in the consignments
mentioned above
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

SIR, Downing Street, March 19, 1890.

I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit ‘to you a copy of a
Despatch from the Governor of Sierra Leone, somer ge a saray of
Cotton collected at Mafweh, on the Bum River, and to s that his
Lordship would be much obliged if you would be goos Sok to obtain
the ues of an expert as to its commercial value.

am, &c.
Signed R. H. MEADE.
The Director, i )
Royal Gardens, Kew.

[Enclosure.]
Mr. ALLDRIDGE to the GOVERNOR of SIERRA LEONE.

SIR, Sulymah, February 6, 1890.

IN accordance to your Excellency’s taatuctibais to me of the
15th cient, No. 31, I have now the honour to forward to the Hon.
the Colonial Secr Secretary a sam ple bag of Cotton

This particular sample was obtained at Mafweh by
I find that this class of Cotton is notthe wild or ak Gotton, but that
it is planted. by the natives (usually between Cassada) for the manu-
facture of ee | sees it is not, however, cultivated as an article of
trade in the raw st.
s I have ailem a the honour of p egan your Excellency, the
cultivation of this Cotton is so simple, the yield so prolific, and the
wth of the crop so rapid, I am of opinion that when once it became
an a aes of local marketable value, it eye be cultivated to an
lnportant extent, and it should, I venture o think, soon become agreat
such as

ai ë wal, no aoe soc aa if the Cotton could be purchased
frem the growers as it is picked from the shrub, without being ginned,

pice ee only een Ne ey ena tee y i
LEA DES Be el pie Sic 16

which, in the absence of special creer is a laborious operation,
although it is not an insuperable diffieu

e, &e.
(Sioned) “r, Ji RIDGE,
His Excellence Trav iihi ioii
Lieut. Daloa Maltby.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to the MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SIR, Gardens, Kew, March 21, 1890.
it desired by Mr. Pa hay sad to inform E se that he has
ed from the Se Roi 5 State for the Colonies a specimen of

Cotton collected at Mafweh on the Bum River, West "Coast of Africa.

This Cotton is grown by sei. ai ii the manufacture of country
cion and it appears not to come into commerce in the raw state.

2. It would be interesting to learn the value of this cotton, and with
this w Mr. Thiselto n-Dyer would be glad if you would be good
Howe to obtain the opinion of the members of your Chamber upon it.

A sample of the Cotton is forested to your iiai to-day by parcel
post.

. At the same time I am desired to ask your opinion upon the
advisability of endeavouring to introduce the cultivation of what is
known as Egyptian Cotton into our Colonies in West Africa, and upon the
special points in regard to this Cotton which render it specially sought
for by certain buyers in the English market.

i ; I have, &c.
The Secretary, (Signed) D. MORRIS.
The Manchester Chamber of Commerce,
Manchester.

MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

Chamber of Commerce, Manchester.
SIR, ay
I THANK you for the. letters of March 21st and April 24th,
written by your direction, and pel the sample of es grown near the
Bum pavor, West Africa, you were also good enough to forward to
this Chamber. It was only vouterdag that I was able to SS the
information requisite to give a full answer to your inquiri
ste is Cotton is of good quality, and is worth to-day Guat 6d. per
pound in Liverpool. Adi about 2,300 bales per annum are imported
into "that port, and, s ir A M is it to Lancashire spinners who have

m
is now available. There is a good demand for it, and the only com-
plaints respecting it, of which I can hear, are that the supply is scanty
and “eek and SaaS occasionally it is not so clean and free from
J mack as i shoul

e question of endeavouring to introduce the culti-

vti on of iyotan C into our Colonies in = Africa, I find that
the prospect of oti | nt agente success, depends largely, if not oman de

upon the facilities which may be Smears for watering the plant.

successful cultivation of Cotton in Pexrt appears to be due (apart from
climatic considerations) chiefly t reful irrigation. The qualities
which mainly give to —- Cotton its high value as a raw material

for spinning are, the length, fineness, and strength of the staple. I
need hardly say that English spinners would be greatly pleased to have
another source of supply of Egyptian Cotton.

On behalf of the President of this Chamber I desire to thank you for

r from yo
“shina of the efforts which you are making for the extension of Cotton
ulture in West Africa.

I am; &c:

(Signed) ELIJAH HELM,

W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., Secretary.
Director, Royal Gardens, Kew.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.

ŠIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, 5 May 1890.

I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 19th March, with a copy of a Despatch from the
Governor of Sierra Leone on the subject of a sample of Cotton grown
by natives at Mafweh, on the Bum River, West Coast of Africa

2. The sample, as received, was forwarded to the Manchester naii

f Commer sree and a copy of a report received from the secretary is
orelo for the information of the Secretary of State.

3. It appears that West psi Cotton is received at Liverpool to the
extent of 2,300 bales per ann A much larger sdp would be

readily taken up, as this i Bca is very acceptable o Lancashire
spinners. These facts are of very encouraging character, st should be

widely known in the Colonies concerned.

4. It will be within your gence aps ser aie ee of Cotton-
growing in West Africa has on several occasions been recommended by
this establishment, and in my Tanos of the "99nd cioba last it was
a also to try Egyptian Cotton, as likely to be successfully grown
there. Seed of this Cotton obtained ae the Foreign Office was
distributed to the Gambia, Gold Coast, erak — and Lagos, as

mentioned in my letter of the 22nd January las

I am, &e.
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B. (Signed) D. MORRIS.

V.—COTTON IN WEST AFRICA—(continued).
[K. B., 1891, pp. 49-51.] >

In the Kew Bulletin for June 1890 an account is given of the
attempt which has been made to improve the produce of Cotton in West
Africa by introducing the best forms of Egyptian Cotton. “ This

“ fibre over that grown in America, and commands a much highe
s price ; oe sees its production is limited to the Nile valley, where
“ there o room for extension to meet the mrna, demand, and
3 mobi the crop is = times almost ruined by a low

The present correspondence ha gg to the siperi cultivation of
Egyptian Cotton on the Gold Coast

ene ee Se E yn ee

Se ed

—— cer eae aie agen ard Papa pela pe kt vi
=p ee ee a sig ct cee, Sa apes ce
N a Stee ee BS es ce

eee

a CR
ee oP ee

se OAN
= Nee pe

WEF Er ata a a s FEN yea ie

17
CURATOR, BOTANICAL STATION, ABURI, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

[Ezxtract.]

Botanical Station, Aburi,
Gold Coast, West Africa,
SIR, Nov ember 11, 1890.

I AM ieee a his Excellency to pe! you that he is sending
to Kew a sample of the Egyptian Co ow gro at Aburi. I beg to
state that I Taai an aes of rm Cot Tt kio grown remarkably

ell, and is yielding a good crop. I aes already gathered a large
quantity, and there is still a Tata not yet ready for gathering.

am, &c.
The Assistant Director, (Signed) W. CROWTHER.
Royal Gardens, Kew.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to GOVERNOR, GOLD COAST COLONY.

SIR, Royal es Kew, December 23, 1890,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a sample o
Egypti ian Cotton which I learn from a letter from Mr. Crowther, Curator
the Botanical Station at Aburi, was grown by him there. This was
no doubt raised from seed obtained by Kew early in the ol year
from the British Commissioner of the Egyptian State Doma
2. This sample was submitted to the Manchester Oiber of Com-
merce, and I have now the pleasure of forwarding you a copy of their

aI ‘find that a sample of Cotton from Elmina was tains at this
establishment in 1882 from the Colonial Office. It was reported upon
as having for its chief fault “the large proportion of short inferior
“ wool.”

4. I trust that the station will possess in the new strain of Egyptian
cotton a staple free from this defect, and will be able to promote if@
growth throughout the Colony.

I am, &c.
(Signed) W. T. 'THISELTON-DYER.
His Excellence
Sir W. Brandford Griffith, K. “ M.G.,
Governor, &c., Gold Coas

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MANCHESTER, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

Chamber of Commerce, Manchester,
DEAR SIR, ecember 11, 1
I THANK you for your letter of the 10th instant, and for the
sample of C Cotton named therein, which has come s hand. This will be
wabmaitted to the Board of Directors in accordance with your request,
and I hope to forward a report upon them in the penne of a few days,

ours, &c.
(Signed) ELIJAH HELM,
: Secretary.
8895 B

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MANCHESTER, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEw.

Chamber of Commerce, Manchester,
DEAR SIR, December 20, 1890.

I HAVE now the pleasure to report to you upon the sample of
Egyptian vo grown at Aburi, on the Gold Coast, forwarded to me on
the —-

a is worth to-day about 54d. per pound in ibe or
Seek aces, and at that price it would find a ready sale. The growth
of it shou ld be encouraged. Can you tell me whether or not the Gold
Coast Egyptian Cotton repressnied by your sample is imported in the
ginned or unginned state? I am informed by a gentleman who used
to bring this description A Bayiand that he could not get it ginned in
Africa, because the natives were either not sufficiently intelligent or too
superstitious to use a ginning machine, although this is of the simplest
description, resembling very closely an ordinary hay-cutter. It is to be
feared that if this di fliculty still exists it will constitute a formidable, if
not an or ple eae a obstacle to the export of this Cotton from the
Gold Coa

You
(Signed) ag HELM,
Secretary.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

SIR, Downing Street, December 16, 1890.

I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you some speci-
mens of Egyptian Cotton, cleaned of seeds and unclea ati grown on the
Castle Farm, Christiansborg, Accra, which have been sent home by
ihe Governor of the Gold Coast Colony. He states that the seed was
slanted at ee end of June, and the Cotton picked between the 5th and
14th Novem

Lord Knutsford would be much obliged if you could furnish him
with a report on the commercial value of these specimens.

Iam, &e.
The Director, (Signed) R. H. MEADE.
Royal Gardens, Kew,

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, February 9, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to etA wledge the re posipi of your ‘letter of
December 16, transmitting a report on a sample of Egyptian Cotton
wn on the Castle Farm, Christiansborg, Accra, and sent home by
the papoa of the Gold Coast Colon ny.

2. In accordance with Lord Knutsford’s wish the enclosed report
upon a sample has been obtained from the Manchester Chamber o;
Commerce, which aa seg obligingly assisted this establishment on
this and other occasio

3. From the c correspondence published in the Kew Bulletin for June
1890, you will observ the production of this type of Cotton if
successful in West er kk be made the basis of a very profitable

industry. You will, eraiki no doubt also observe hiore satisfaction
that the present sample orted upon in very favourable terms.
The estimated value is the Prison which oa been me upon any
sample of cotton yet received from si shee

(Signed) ” “W. T. THISELTON-DYER.
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MANCHESTER, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

Chamber of Commerce, Manchester,
DEAR are February 4, 1891.

HAVE pleasure in reporting to you upon the sample of Egyptian
ein nad and unginned, oan at Castle Farm, Christiansborg,
Ace To rded by you on the 19th December. lt has
are to the judgment of it members of this Chamber, and is
zma as good, clean, and very desirable cotton, worth to-day about
63d. per pound in Liverpool. Can you inform me whether the sample
was ginned in Africa or in this Cona e

Yours, &c.
(Signed) ELIJAH HELM,
Secretary.

VI.—GAMBIA PAGNS OR NATIVE CLOTHS.
[K. B., 1894, pp. 191-192.]

Next to the cultivation of the ground nut en hypogaea, L. )»
shipped to Europe for the manufacture of oil, ost im

industry of the settlement of the Gambia on the West Coast of Africa
is the cultivation and manufacture of cotton. peer p oR is made

the native “ pagns” or country cloths which n great request in
that part of the world. Sir Alfred Moloney (Forestry of West Africa,
p. nt ono that i in oe to supplying cloths ome consump-

“ pagn ” industry of the Gambia exported Moths of the value

a P80 in 1883 thd of 2 TAI. in 1884. “Pagns” are also made at
hr and some of them are exported even to Brazil for the use of the
African negroes who have emigrated to that country. The whole
names is a singularly interesting one. The cotton is gathered, ginned,
and spun ci thread by the ore ee entirely by hand. The
loom for aving the cloth i very crude contrivance. “This
« pisilin e hots loom,” says Sir “Alfred Moloney, “in use amongst the
" Parier is what has come down through centuries to them from their
ncestors, and, it is needless to add, it is capable of improvement to

s ‘chen advantage. It certainly deserves attention.” ch frame

na
The native en pai ” are regarded i extremely durable, and they are
in greater request fee any similar article of European manufacture.
At the request of Kew, his Honour R. B. Llewelyn, C.M.G., Adminis-
trator of the Gambia, was good enough to forward, in January last, the

8895 , B2

| report on the aie cotton industry, prepared by Mr. J. H.
e, the Travelling Commissioner on the north bank of the River
rabies

CULTIVATION OF COTTON. NORTH BANK, GAMBIA.

Seed is planted as soon as the rains begin. It is planted in rows from
3 to 6 feet apart; the plants are from 2 to 5 feet from one another.
reat care is taken in me the seed, as it is liable to be attacked
by small worms. Corn is planted between the rows, which is reaped
- in August. By aac he cotton plant is 3 feet high, and picking
commences .and Cag nests until the end of April. There are two sorts
of cotton grown in the district, one giving a perfectly white thread, the
other pereaiae moins like faded ink. The quality of both seems to
be the same, but the white cotton yields more. The flower aad leaf
of both appear exactly the same. The cotton that is grown is not of
the best, and would hardly stand the test required by an English
ye but the genre has the advantage of being able to stand
d

comes across a row of cotton-spin sheds, each containing a
machine. There are gelierally Rare doien of these at work in each
town, and the creaking of the machine is heard from morning till night,
sometimes even late at night. The cotton is hae by bate women
clear of seeds, and is beautifully white and clea The women then
take a bundle, mix a little lime or chalk and ao on a fingers of
the left hand through which the cotton passes, and spin the cotton out
on to threads on a spindle which they work with the finger and thum
of the right hand. They do this very quickly, and it looks very easy,
but it is not, for when I tried to do it, the threads broke. When they
have spun a sufficient quantity of thread, the men choose a flat spot, and
place forked sticks about 3 feet high, 40 feet apart, forming three sides
of a square, each side being about 150 feet long; the threads are then
run from one end to the other, and returned, until there are sufficient
rows of thread to be woven into a strip of cotton 6 inches broad.
These rolls of thread, 450 feet in pehea are now handed over to the
owner of the little machine, who so arranges them on two little frames,
each about 6 inches wide, that every alternate ae az fastened to a
wire of one or the other of the frames. These fra e then set in
motion by the workman’s foot, and either raise or ela aire aieri
thread at every stroke. The workman then tosses his shuttle of thread
from one hand to the ans between the rows of thread. By these
means the cross threads are interwoven Aoig the long ones, and to
press them tightly tageihar. a third little frame, with wires separating
the long threads, is pressed against the cross threads. It is difficult to
daib this native machine, which should be seen to be aprene
These strips of cotton are then sewn into long broad pieces which a
called “ pagns.
J. H. OZANNE.

E EA E a

rf eee
S OTE tts reais et See T

VII.—COTTON IN INDIA.
[K. B., 1894, pp. 318-321.]
EXTRACT from MEMORANDUM by Dr. GEORGE WATT, ©. L E.

Little more than a century ago it was felt in England that the time
might arrive when India would have to ve ae arded, from political
reasons, as the chief source of supply for on. A Polish botanist
[Dr. Anthony Pantaleon piel employed nlp a rer yon for Kew in the
last century ], was sent out by the then British Government to staat the
indigenous cotton plants of India. His report, though not published
until many years after his death, is full of interest. It shows that the

rops grown in Western India a century ago were very different from

this century the Honourable the East India Company entertained the
somewhat unfortunate opinion that wE true way to enable India to par-
ticipate in the greatly pe bone British traffic in raw cotton would be
to acclimatise the most highly pri Beaty Sein of America. Large sums of
money were accordingly spent in Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, that
might (as we now learn) have been used to better advantage in an effort
to improve and develop the indigenous crops. Year by year America
steadily improved the quality and increased the length of her staple, and
the demand for Indian cotton accordingly declined. Ultimately, how-
ever, India succeeded in producing New Orleans cotton at Dharwar—a

frauds perpetrated, but this, while being wholly ineffectual in its main
object, Mele frequently poe the wrong persons, and accordingly did
great harm to the industry. It was in consequence repealed, and the
Indian aktión tate was thus left to take care of itself. The effort to
participate in the British traffic had practically to be abandoned, and not
because India had been proved incapable of producing a staple of the
kind required. But this is not all. The ri pe of India for its
once famous indigenous cottons had at the me been completely
destroyed, and its American crop having fallen fee disfavour, rapidly
degenerated in quality, until at the present day it might almost be
described as inferior to many of the indigenous cottons. Unskilled and

impecuni e
enlightened agriculture of America—unskilled because ignorant of the
principles by which they might have developed the produce to meet
the best market, instead of being content to allow it to drift into an

inferior position. As matters stand, they may now be said to glory in
ar Sore are able to dispose of a worthless staple at remunerative

Tia improvement towards a higher and better-paid standard is

ossible may be accepted as fully demonstrated by past experience and
by the fact of superior races of cotton being found where attention is
given to the crop, and still more so by the further fact that within the
regions of superior production the cultivators are fully aware that
degeneration occurs with neglect and with the prolonged continuance of
cultivation of any. particular form on the same soil. Selection bss
seed and the cultivation of specially selected plants for the ae

of seed might easily improve the Indian crop of any district by 50 per
cent.

For many years past the Indian cotton trade has been drifting into a
restricted groove. Our produce goes to mills that do not wish fora
superior or long staple, but only a pure one (that is, not a mixture of
several lengths of staple), so that it may fairly be said many of our
largest buyers discourage improvement. The angers of a one-sided

rade of this nature need scarcely be mentioned. India is thus destroyed

as a possible country of supply for the English mills. The Indian mills
are at the same time compelled to look to foreign countries for their
present or future supplies of S ae and are thus more or less
confined in their operations to one class of goods. It might almost be
said that gied is par pans stultified, the labours of centuries
ruthlessly thrown away, and a large and impo ortant industry practically
cornered or cnet in its possible development by interested parties,
who advance the plausible axiom that demand is the controlling power
of production. Hence improvement of the staple may be emphatically
affirmed as the rational direction in which an extension of our produc-
tion of cotton should be looked for, since the sats traffic is aimed at
the destruction of all the good features of the indigenous fibre, if not of
the morality of both grower and trader. It is essentially a retrograde
traffic, as at present constituted, and one in which the aims and objects
of most of those concerned are directed towards the attainment of a high
yield of a worthless staple.

What is true of cotton is, however, equally applicable to sugar, wheat,
wool—in fact, to almost all the articles of Indian trade. Little or no
effort has been put forward towards palena on scientific | Sr ag
the quality of the articles of Indian comm Past endeavou
for the most part been concerned with sanae the ri of
other countries, with the result, as already shown, that India has
obtained many of her most st widely men crops from fore en sources.

The cottons of India may be referred approximately to two great
sections, the early and the get crops. The former comes into market

fr nuary.
The latter does not commence to come into market much before February,
and is, as a rule, over by April, oe exceptional crops are not ripe
before June. The early crops are represented by the “ Bengals” (such
as the cottons of the Punjab, the North-West Provinces, Oudh, and
Bengal), the ““Oomras” (the chief cottons of Khandesh, Berar, e)
the “ Hinganghats ” (of the Central Provinces, &c.), and many of the
Sind cottons. The late crops are represented by the “ Dholeras”’
Gappopient crops of Kathiawar, neh, and Guzerat), by the “ Heonels
d. Surats,” by the “ Coompta ” (indigen ous cottons of Dhar
a Aen pa hA &c.), and by the * Cocondas”’ and e * Tinnevellys? ”
This purposely leaven one m. S ms American cottons,
such as “the saw-ghinn arwar,” “Verawal,” “ P Salone.” and
“ Ooimbatores,” whic are ee poe ever, all late crops. While we have
thus a comparative y easy classification according to-season, this is at
once revealed as more or less the expression of meteorological conditions,
since within almost any of the regions of these crops widely different
forms are separately classed in the trade under the names of the districts

vey an i
PASE than a tour through Guzerat during the months of January,

sei > Se ei waka MOE SEIE Gas da een hy CO ae tale N z ee VERASE EN o D A ae mae ele i eT ei ana er oa he OAT A tab EREE N oP de rene RB Pee E AE A i lok Sa 1 EN AE el ys oh lene a a a

February, and March. At Surat and Broach (more especially in the
latter Ary a oe cultivation on a rich black cotton soil is found to
yield one of the finest of all Indian PA eE cóttons. During the
months mentioneil sees the soil is split into great blocks, the cracks

miles off, the lighter soils of large s of Baroda are able to
support perennial cottons, trees radis frequen „and hedges universal,
Here, then, are two cotton crops of the late series growing side by side,
but which practically cannot be interchanged from district to district,

staples afforded are as different as the two plants are from each other.
They are ray sean. agrieulturally, and commercially different eyar
and have to be treated as such, whether the object desired be to extend
the area o cultivation or improve the quality of the staple. A Kitle to

These are f

cottons than are the Dholeras of the southern division of Kathiawar.
Indeed one of thechief sien of Broach has undoubt i been derived from
Kathiawar, 80 that the trade distinction of “ Dholeras” from “ Broach
and Surats”’ cannot be upheld botanically. What is pate curious, the
once famous Laberkhuva cotton of Mongrol was found on inquiry to be
Broach cotton raised from seed imported fresh every fourth or fifth
year. And these il

E carried without destroying completely all the special properties of the

rop.

othe total area in cultivation under cotton in British India in poe
was nearly 9,000, acres. e largest areas ;were in
Bombay, and the North-West Provinces. -The highest export of previa

value of Rs. 187,000,000 was shipped from India. e export in
1892-93 was slightly less, bree gs =i m ion of Rs. 127,000,000.
Besides cotton, there was exported India cotton seed in 1888-89

to the value of Rs. 301,577 ; in ise 98 this ea fallen to a value of
Rs. 61,708.

VIII.—COTTON IN BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA.
[K. B., 1896, pp. 118-119.]

Cotton has long been cultivated in Central Africa. On the Zambesi
and elsewhere it is now sS

The following eR Ai PR relates to a sample of the produce sent
to Kew by Her Majesty’s Commissioner in British Central Africa :—

HER MAJESTY’s COMMISSIONER AND CONSUL-GENERAL, BRITISH

CENTRAL AFRICA, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
Zomba, British Central Africa,
DEAR Eat te abet UN Oct ober 19, 1895.
I you by this post in a small canvas bag a specimen of the

half-wild slob of this country. It is ivit by the natives in an

Flak manner since some 15 years ago, when they ceased weaving
cloth from their own cotton, preferring to buy the European
manatan goods.

This cotton is sent to me by a planter in the vicinity who states that
he believes it to be of very good quality. Could you have it reported on,
and let me know whether it TA is a cotton which noe apna a pe
price ? g eee are divided as to whether it is or it is not worth o
while to cultivate cotton. It grows half wild about the obits but ‘it
is said that the transport to the coast, which would cost about an average
of 6/. a ton, would leave little or no profit to the planter.

Believe me, &c.
(Signed) H. H. JOHNSTON
Her Majesty’s Commissioner and Consul-General.

SECRETARY, MANCHESTER oe ee OF TANT to ROYAL
GAR 8, KEW

Chamber of E Ookihane, Manchester,
DEAR SIR, January 9, ete
I obtained an expert opinion upon the sample of Central
African polion referred to in your letter of the 6th aitak, and have
pleasure in reporting thereupon.
The fibre is of a woolly character, but it is clean and bright, rhs
a good deal me coloured į ar what appear to be insect stains. The length
of the staple is 14 inch to 1,3, inch, varying considerably in ee
but it is mie? very tender. It could probably be sold here at about
. per lb. at the present time.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) ELIJAH HELM,
John R. Jackson, Esq., Secretary.
Kew Museum, Kew.

IX.—_CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN EGYPT.
(Gossypium barbadense, L.)
[K. B., 1897, pp. 102-104.}-

Next to the United States and India, Egypt is one of the important
cotton-producing countries of the The iea bee Egyptian
n

ut 2,000,000 ewts. annually. The
quality is eis! oo good, sae Tanks next to a celebrated
Sea-island cotton of Am
The silted mean oe the history of cotton cultivation in Egypt
lately appeared in Jowrnal of the Society of Arts (December 25th,
1896, PP. 98, 99):

* Some interesting information is given in a recent issue of the
Bana du Ministère de VAgriculture respecting the different
descriptions of cotton which have been successively cultivated in Egypt.
The fibre cotton cultivated in the delta of the Nile was iE Jumel,

295

after the name of the person who introduced its cultivation, in the
reign of Mehemet Ali, in 1820. M. Jumel, who was a Frenchman, had
remarked in the garden of one of his friends living near Cairo, certain
cotton plants, of which the seeds had been imported from the Soudan.

present
sources of wealth that the cotton might assure to the country, placed at
the disposal of Jumel vast extents of territory, and gave him every
facility in his enterprise. This cotton was also known by the name of
Mako, after a Bey in whose gardens Jumel had originally found the
y he only

abandoned for Mit Afifi, which at the present time is most largely
cultivated in Egypt. ae Afifi is a very strong variety of cotton,
easy to grow, and does not require any very excessive irrigation,

The colour is slightly Gallows and is much te ges — d ave spinners.
Another kind of cotton called Bahmieh* is a limited
extent, and this is a delicate variety requiring j aiT soil. It
yields a whitish cotton, which is particularly used for certain articles

of t

Their total annual production hardly exceeds from 60,000 to 70,000
quintals. Man er varieties, such as Zafivi, Abbassi, &c., have
been experimented with by many growers, but up to the present the
results have not been copie ried advanced to enable an accurate opinion

to be formed as to their merits. Egyptian cotton, whatever its variety,
preserves its a qualities, which causes it to be much sought after
uropean and A m: arers s a matter of fact, no

its at and universal consumption, has the fineness, the strength,
and brilliancy kamier for the manufacture pipet) ood conditions
of a large number of special articles. Egyptia EPEAN are used in

making threads of the numbers 60 to 150, while. Indian cotton makes
threads of numbers 5 to 18, and American cotton threads from 20 to
50. The a of Egyptian cotton are such that it finds a ready
utlet on Eur markets, no matter what may be the production and `
prices of Soitan oF other origins.”
The following further information respecting Egyptian cotton is
en from the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vii. 627,
and contains Hotes on the use of manures for increasing cotton crops in
the Nile Valley
“Tt is to ret isons crop of the Delta that Egypt owes its present

ancial prosp It covers between a third and a half area,
the remainder being uncropped in the summer, but cro} with maize
in flood-time uring the winter th try is an uninterrupted
expanse of wheat, barley, and clov cotton is sown i

t
rings, of which nine are given during the hot weather by lift with
alloskwheel or steam-pump. Its produce is at least eight times that

* An account of Bahmieh or Bamia Cotton is given in the Kew Report for 1877,
pp. 26, 27.

of Indian cotton, ind an average of about 500 Ib. of lint per acre.
Clover or wheat follow
“The clover is sown amongst the cotton plants before they are cut,
and gives five cuttings between November and June, requiring eight
waterings. Maize follows during the flood, and, after the maize, wheat.
During the next flood maize is again sown, and is followed by clover,
which, after two cuttings, is ploughed up to make way for cotton.
Thus, in three years the cultivator gets a cab of cotton, two crops of
maize, a crop of wheat, and seven gece of clover. In some ae
cotton is grown every other year, the intermediate crops bein ;
maize, and clover. On the large estate which formed the ‘ Domains of
Ismail P asha, and is now managed by a board on behalf of his creditors,
the maize cropping is generally omitted, and the land is given two
fallows in flood-time in the course of three years. Maize is almost
invariably man ad. Cotton follows clover and is commonly unmanured.
ut the Domains administration has found that, by the use of manure,
at yie 200 Ib. can be added to the produce per acre, and the practice
of top-dressing is "abMading, It may be safely concluded that two-thirds
of the Delta—or one and three-quarters million acres—receive manure
annually.”

X.—EGYPTIAN COTTON IN SIERRA LEONE.
[K. B., 1897, pp. 304-305.]
| [ EXTRACT. }

Another promising economic plant in Sierra Leone is the nativ
cotton, Pay ai: ha cath ar aes ta L. In order to supplement this
an effo de e years ago to introduce the cultivation of the
Egyptian "potton in the odia: The following letter affords particulars
on these points :—

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Royal Gardens, Kew,
SIR, 21st t January, 1893.

I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 2nd instant forwarding a copy of a despatch from
the Governor of Sierra Leone regarding the experiments made in the
colony to cultivate Egyptian sae ing

. Thiselton-Dyer has noticed with regret that these experiments
have not proved successful in Sierra Leone, and that the Governor does
not consider that there would be any good in forwarding more seeds to
the colony.

3. It will be within your recollection that in 1890, at the request of
the Government of Sierra Leone, Kew undertook to obtain a com-

n the Bum Rive
copy of k very favourable ries Fadia by the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce was enclosed,

4. The Sierra Leone cotton was stated to be of good quality, and
valued at sixpence per pound in Liverpool. There was said to be a
good demand for it, and Lancashire buyers “ would gladly welcome a
“ very much larger supply than is now available.” A copy of the cor-
respondence was afterwards published as a Government notice (No. 56,
se the 26th May 1890), in the local gazette, and the Governor, Sir
James Hay, K.C.M.G., invited “the special attention of the public to
~ the ‘importance of = aunoa z

5. It was evident that a very favourable opening existed in spa
Colony of Sierra oes for. extending a valuable industry. Ther
few West African products in the present day that offer a geomet
e es this subject of cotton-growing was of peculiar
impor

6. at was ‘thought desirable not only to encourage and extend the cul-
tivation of the cotton already in the hands of the natives, but to introduce
the more valuable Egyptian cotton, which is in great demand “for the
“ length, firmness, and strength of the staple

If owing to local circumstances the cultivation of Egyptian cotton

that are now believed ‘tapvoastible: The success attained at tae
stations already established in West Africa at Lagos and Aburi, ae
that they fulfil a most useful mission in regard to developing local
industries.

I am, &e.
(Signed) D. MORRIS.
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B.
Colonial Office.

XI—KAPOK. —
(Eriodendron anfractuosum, DC.)
[K. B., 1896, pp. 204-207. ]

Kapok is the Dutch name for the seed hairs of the white silk-cotton
tree of the East Indies (Hviodendron eiee Une aucune kapok of

Java is regarded as the best. It is, howeve n the staple.
too smooth, and too soft to be spun into chief use is for

sm0o yan
stuffing pillows, mattresses, and sofas, where its fightness, immunity from
moth, softness, and elasticity, render it superior to all but the best
qualities of feathers, wool, and hair.

Erivdendron anfractuosum is a lofty forest tree with a large straight
trunk covered with prickles when yonng. The branches are horizontal
and arranged in whorls. The rather large flowers are white, and are
followed by a dry, green capsule, in shape like a short cucumber, filled
with black seeds embedded in silky hairs. The seeds are sometimes
eaten and wee a bland, fatty oil. The residual cake makes an excellent
food or cattle. The tree occurs in the forest throughout the hotter

dia and pars and extends to Sumatra, Java, and the
Phili fart e Islands. It is also distributed to Scuth America, the West
Indies te tropical Africa, The habit of the tree is a very striking

one. This is well shown in the ee of it in the North
Gallery, Nos. 129, 176, and 632. It is majestic in size, and generally
towers above all other trees in the dry forests where it Tohea. It
sends out large buttress-like expansions from the base, while its branches
afford a favourite resting place for numerous epi iphytes. In fact the
upper parts of an old silke sot tree form a very interesting garden.
The branches and forks are thickly covered with a large tufted growth
of several species of Tillandsia, numerous ferns, aroids, orchids, and the
seedlings of Ficus and other trees whose seeds have been carried thither
y birds. Next to the Cocoa-nut palm the silk-cotton tree affords one of
the most characteristic features of tropical vegetation. It is regarded
with superstition by the negroes both in Africa and the West pei
and they can with difficulty be induced to cut it down or handle
In India the tree yields an almost opaque gum of a dark-red sales:
which is said to be astringent, and to be employed medicinally in bowel
complaints. The wood is soft and used in tanning leather. An inferior
reddish fibre is sometimes prepared from the bark, pin 5 me ay
for making ropes and paper. It pos ee how rcia à
sc is and the bakin of the tree would n aaa stor the i ajar
done to it as asource of floss. The young eile are also used medicinally
in Bombay. They are dried in the shade, powdered and mixed with the
juice a sgn fresh bark and sugar
a the growing silk-cotton trees are commonly used as telegraph
posts as te branches grow so oe dois at right angles to the trunk
that they do not interfere with the w
The kapok or fo from EH) ve ee ee an ap actuosum is, pene to
present demand, a fibre of considerable m The modern t in it was
created by the Dutch merchants, who non their chief supply edn Java,
It is said that its wena sg and harshness prevent its becoming matted
as in some other flos The extending use of kapok seems to point to
it as a fibre likely to ends in demand year by year. It is important,
as pointed out by Dr. Watt, to guard against an error “made by many
iters of viewin pok as a generic trade
cotton—including that of the s?mal—the floss of ‘Bender moni
Pee rters placed i

of dust as well as seed. This was at once donadi and fetched a
ehya that would not cover the transport charges. India thus fell
into an inferior position, which might t hay ve been avoided if carefully
oad fibre had been sent to Europe.
In the Annual Repor of the Director of the Botanical Department,
Jamaica, for the year 1884, ap 48, the following particulars were given
respecting kapok or silk co
“ The silk-cotton tree i on vty aii objectin the Jamaica landscape,
especially on the north side, where it attains an enormous size. The
wood was formerly (and sometimes is now) utilised for the purpose of
making canoes ; but for all VAA purposes the tree is accounted of

little value in the West In
“ The chief supply of kapok i for the Dutch market is obtained from the

imported, viz.: 1877, 14,093 Talea; 1878, 10,519 bales; 1879, 12,
bales ; 1880, 6479 bales ; ; 1881, 9991 bales, and 1882, 28,032 bales.
The average price paid in Engli sh money was Td. per b 1

“A great difficulty foung i in the importation of silk-cotton was due to
its great bulk and the heavy cost of transport. The difficulty has now

n A STE Oe ene NEES Pee ee pe eee Wt. ft Pte ae ee eee LE er

29
been overcome by a silk-cotton press constructed by Stork and Co. at
lo.

“Tt now only remains for some enterprising firm to initiate the collec-
tion of silk-cotton in Jamaica and ship it in well-packed bales for the
European market. If each cotton tree yielded at the rate of about

In Ceylon, according to the Tropical = so ld (1884, “p. 153),
kapok was ooa eke re the villages in the interior, npr arpay
in the Matura and Tangalla districts oa in ae Central Province. The
season commences in May, and only o rop can be pbiaiiadt in the
year. The trees do not attain maturity Manai the fifth year. Itis not
uncommon to gather 1000 to 1500 pods from one tree. In preparing
the article for export ae chief difficulty was ae in freeing it
from the seeds. The improved Patent Saw Cotton Gin imported in

884 was ien katsoa The industry in rae was started in
consequence of letters written from the Melbourne Exhibition by the
late Mr. A. M. Ferguson, C.M.G.

Kapok had cane? attracted considerable attention in Australia.

Messrs. Buch of Melbourne, in their Mon nthly Register dated
21st June 1886, aa the following account of it :—“ It is now 15 years
since the first shipment of Java kapok came to this market A

but so firmly did it establish itself that when ‘supplies

were not regularly forthcoming a substitute was sought for. In proof
of the lasting amig of kapok, a Faget spony ned officer engaged
in the Mahratta war of

as a pillow-case in constant use ever

since which a il retains its elasticity and mea. da who assures us
he has found nothing so cool or healthful to sleep on in warm climates.
It is difficult to obtain reliable statistics concerning the trade . EER
We find it entered at the local Customs under all | names,
such as ¢ ones etable fibre,’ ‘ vegetable wool, ‘silk cotton, ‘tree cotton,
‘ raw cotton, and ‘ Simoul cotton.’ There wer se sa into Melbourne

during the year 1886 a total of 8845 bales of the value of 26,8501.
A bale of Java kapok weighs about 80 Ibs., a bale of Ceylon about
200 lbs., and a bale of India pag 400 Ibs

Serious complaint is made R and elsewhere of the quality
of the kapok shipped from fadis “ Even the low price of India

“ condition as to be almost unsaleable.” It is stated that hydraulic or

Bet tae packing of kapok tends to destroy that peculiar sence

et. owes its value, “for without a ringy nature it is
“ unsuitable as a stuffing material.” Moreover, by hard packing, when
the ots are left aitadlion k to the fibre, a davi-ocloured oil is expressed
which is suffused over the kapok, “ hence a noticeable difference in
colour between the Indian and the beautifully white Java products.”
“ At Java the trade has assumed a uniform practice. No unclean
stuff is shipped, but cant n gro es of ane denote standards o
leaned

picked, being all hand-picked an and free from seeds, except an odd one
here and there; the third is simply designated ‘cleaned.’ It contains
a few seeds, together with the ‘slubs,’ or little knotty, curly lumps,
which are cast aside from the higher "grades. The quality of any one
class is found most uniform rieki the bales. Packing is all done
in straw mats, and never tightly pressed ; the first nee: Teet ‘extra

cleaned,’ weighing abow aie the second and third from 75 lbs. to
90 Ibs. Bales over 90 Is. o 95 lbs., on account of having to be
dumped by machinery, destroying the elasticity of the fibre, are
reckoned not to be worth seri $d. to ld. per lb. in value of bales of
lesser weight.

“Tn fact, it is a peculiar feature of the Java trade that weight of
bales ease} an esse ential condition of price—the lighter the highest, and
vice vers

The k lowing paragraph appeared in the British North Borneo
Herald for August 1, 1896 :—

“ Kapok, the down which envelops the seeds of the silk-cotton tree,
is, says the Produce World, ees ae eee The cultivation
of the trees is even said to ifee the province of
Burmah ; they grow to a height = 80. r i "100 feet, the wood is soft
an worthless ; the fibre, kapok, is extensively used for stuffing
mattresses, pillows, cushions, seats of railway carriages, &c. The lack
of proper machine t y of i
development, but that obstacle has bee moved, and the stuff as it
comes to market is in excellent Sonik: for the purposes we have

Kapok has not been received in this country on a very large scale.
It is not, however, quite unknown here. The following particulars
have been received from a well-known firm in the City :—

Messrs. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark mene London, E.C.,

SIR, Septe tember 28, 1896.
IN ee Pg = your letter of the 24th instant, Kapok is coming
here regularly to the extent of 100 bales a mon nth from India and

Ceylon. To- toy s value is 25d. to 4d. per lb. The trade is not large,
but may grow

urs, &c.
eri is, C.M.G., (Signed) ee AND CHRISTIE.
hasian Director, Royal Gardens,
Kew.

XII._FIBRE FROM LAGOS.

(Honekenya ficifolia, Willd.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 15-16.]

Botanical specimens as well as a specimen of fibre were recently re-
ceived at Kew Beste the Colonial Office from the Governor of Lagos.
These specimens have proved interesting as bringing under notice,
apparently fe’ the first time, a valuable fibre plant on the West Coast of
Africa. The plant has been determined as Honckenya ficifolia, Willd.

Clappertonia ficifolia, Decaisn ne), -i member of the natural order
iliacee. tis fully described in Oliver, Flora of Tropical Africa,
Vol. i. p. 260. Below will be found the official correspondence bearing

a * ES EREA GE
Li ee Ee ETE AE E A E AA I eee yee T AE E E IAO SS ely

SN ale LER ag

on the subject, including a zepari of Messrs. Ide and Christie on the
commercial value of the fibre

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
SIR, Downing Street, 12th December 1888.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to
transmit to you, for your observations, a despatch from the Goyernor of
Tagos, enclosing a correspondence with Mr. Al Se Millson He sen, 3 a
local fibre-yielding plant known as “ ceo pole ” or “ Agbo

Gieneay = ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
The Director, .
Royal Gardens, Kew.

[Enclosure.]
Government House, Lagos,
MY LORD, lst j eam nes 1888.

I BEG to trouble your Lordship with a copy of the corres-
pondence with reference to a local Mariine plant od in the
Popo vernacular as “ Bolobolo” and in Yoruba “ Agbonrin Ilassa,”’
which has heen: supplied by Mr. Millson, the Ve a a mR of the
Western Distri

Thecor besiege covers herbarium specimens and a sample of the
fibre on which this Government would be obliged to be favoured with
an expression of opinion by the Director of the Royal Gardens,
Kew.

ave, &c.
(S ie) C. A. MOLONEY,
The Right Hon. Lord Rayietorl, G.C.M.G Governor.
éc, &e.

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,

DEAR SIR, 17th December 1
E have spu favour of the 15th instant, with specimen of
= Bolobolo ” fibre from Lagos. We consider this a very sic fibre

of the jute class, but ; distinctly superior to the latter in many re

and more particularly in strength. Itisof good length and well eke
If this fibre is capable of being aa a in large quantities there isa
very wide field open to it commercially. Its market value would be
regulated by that of jute, but i in our opinion it would always command a
higher price. At to-day’s currencies it would sell at 167. per ton in
London. We do not think the minimum price would ever fall below

fibre might realise 207. If this fibre could be prepared of a whiter
eats it would prove still more acceptable ; but even as it is, we should

ry glad to see large quantities placed on this market, where they
would: sell readily.

We are, &e.
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

XIII.—JUTE FROM THE GAMBIA.
(Corchorus olitorious, L.)
[K. B., 1898, pp. 38-40.]
(EXTRACT. |

Jute (Corchorus olitor ius). —The age of this plant was again sown
and better results were gained than on the previous occasion. The
ground was prepared and seed sown on thie north side of the station, in
arather swampy situation. It wasstarted this year two months earlier.

The fibre produced wasa very fair sample for a first trial, We shall be
able to produce a mas rger and finer crop next season. The plant to
be successful here must be sown at the ag neee e of the rains, say
the first week in Jul ay It must have all the rain it can get while it is
growing, and the seed must be sown thinly, or the sinha swill fail through
not eee sufficient room to grow.

wing notes were taken on the crop which produced the sample
d

of the land sown was about a quarter of an acre. The seed

Ae T serey took eats days. Thenumber of plants cut from the
area 2800. T weighed when dried 22 lbs., and the
apani “Of sléatied fibre obGancd was 8 lbs

The following report has been rocrved from the Dundee Jute
Growers’ Association onasample of jute grown and prepared at this
station :—

DEAR SIR, Dundee, December 21, 1897.

I HAVE now to advise that the sample of jute from the Gambia
Colony which was returned to you yesterday may be said to have pe
seen by the whole trade here, by whom it has been examined wi

The sample does not have the high colour of the best jute from
India, but it is SPAR a = respect to jute which is received in large
quantity stomi N

The fibre

fibr
in preparing) and it KaR A a good glossy fibre. The sample ma
classed as medium quality of jute and quite merchantable.
The root end has not been cut off, nor what is known as “ at
the other end been removed, n no doubt in order to show the full extent
as oO i i

Except for he ‘qhort length, there is no fault to find with the sample
= yo peen with jute from India of the quality with which it would
classe
It is understood that the short length of the sample is owing to late
lanting and an exceptionally dry season. Taking these circumstances
into consideration, the sample gives great promise that jute-growing
. It may be. men-

es ial

Poe Boots ae N EEEE RE A

very large one, and that the prices are exceptionally low; but if with
favourable conditions jute of the quality of the sample from Gambia
can be produced, with i nit of fibre nearly equal to the Indian growth,
there is a large future before it.

Taking one year with aa A the values realised for the Indian crop
have been sufficient to induce a constantly extending cultivation in that
country.

You would receive along with the sample a small portion taken from
a bale of Indian jute which has been sent to show the length of jute of
this season’s crop.

Apart from the fact that a better price per ton is realised for jute of a
long growth, the bulk of produce from the land is eee oan affected
thereby—a most important factor in the result to the produc

It may be hoped that the trials now being made will a ine jute

growing in Africa will fulfil all the conditions of ¢ paas rcial success.
ours
(Signed) cord C. KEILLER,
Secretary.

XIV.—SIBERIAN PERENNIAL FLAX.
(Linum perenne, L.)
[K. B., 1890, pp. 104-107.]

The common flax (Linum usitatissimum) indigenous in the South of

Europe and in the East, has been in cultivation from the earliest times.
It is now largely grown throughout the no ksi hemisphere; and
extends to 54 degrees N. lat. It is one of the most useful members of

the vepeablo Westen and the tenacity and lustre of its core ames
places it at the head of textile plants. The testa of the seed (linseed
contains an abundant mucilage, and the embryo a cares emetient. "il

which is ve in may
possibly be regarded as a drawback to the ordinary ax i is the fact that
it is an annual, and requires to be raised from seed year by Io The
discovery of a perennial flax possessing the un a of the ordinary

flax would naturally excite keen interest amongst flax growers. The
subject appears to have cropped up from Pran to time during the last
results so far attained do not hold ar ies, hope x

It is also lands in Middle and Southern eal in Western Asis, and
in India. This plant has numerous wiry, slender stems about 1 to 2
feet high. The flowers are about 1 inch broad, bright blue. Many
attempts have been made to utilise this plant for yielding fibre or oil,
and attention has been drawn dt ps fact that in some parts of the world
such as Siberia, flax has at ime been prepared from it. At the
present time it is doubtful atte ‘flax on acommercial scale is obtained
from any other than the common flax, Linum usitatissimum.

The following correspondence will serve to show what is at present
known ropecting perennial flax,and it may lead to a further elucidation
of pes ubjec

34
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

SIR, - Royal ee a 16 November 1889.

I HAVE the honour to nae you t Mr. Thiselton-Dyer has
received an inquiry in regard to Siberian nae described as a perennial,
much taller than the ordinary flax (which is an annual) and capable of

yielding a succession of stalks from the same root for many years.
2. The only information on the subject so far attainable is given in
heen iced extract taken from Dr. Carpenter’s “Vegetable Physiology ”
lon

ew.—“ Vom perennirenden sibirischen Leine und dessen auch
“ uns t Nutzen einzufuehrenden Baue handelt vorgaenzig, ete.”
D, ' Gottlieb Schrader, Halle, 175

f this perennial flax i is still cultivated in Siberia and yields a
of the flax exported from the Russian Empire, the fact would posses
considerable interest to flax growers in the North of Ireland. At eat
the museums of the Royal Gardens possess no speci s of perennial
Siberian flax, and beyond the meagre andsomewha k oN6TSto information
ai cited, nothing is known of iti in this country.
4. . Thiselton- Dyer would therefore express the hope that the
T aeaa of State will approve of the kind offices of Her Majesty’s
Ambassador at St. Petersburg being mue a obtain particulars of the
different kinds of flax cultivated in Sib If a perennial flax is
own there answering to a descri pioi wa by Dr. Carpenter, 6
would be desirable to obtain for the Kew Museums specimens of t
stems in various stages of preparation, and of the flax yarn as alia
exported. It would also be desirable to pein two or three pounds of
seed of this perennial flax, in order that it may be experimentally
cultivated in this country ; in this eal any information as to its
— En APEEF nee be see hin
Ta add that moderate expenses hema in this service
will be ioe by this secon ci in usual ¢

Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G. (Signed) <= D Moni

[ENCLOSURE. ]
EXTRACT from “ Vegetable Physiology,” by Dr. CARPENTER (para. 517),
London, 1859.

The e only other species of this order, which is cultivated for the same
purpose, is the Siberian perennial flax. This is a much taller plant,
having coarser fibres; these are found to be very strong, ran not so
white or fine as those obtained from common flax. They serve very
well, however, for the manufacture of coarse fabrics ; and there is this
advantage attending the cultivation of them, Trg from the same root, a
succession of stalks will be developed for many years; 80 that they
require no further attention, than to be kept free from weeds,

Sir ROBERT B. D. MORIER, G. ~i B., G.C.M. = &c., to the MARQUIS OF
SALI BURY, K.G.,

MY LORD, St. RSE -g, 20- March 1890.
IN reply to your Lordship’s ey. he 83 of this series, and
of the 21st November last, I have the hono name o your Lord-

ship herewith a copy of a letter, together with its enclosure, which I

a ay = RE as 3 ress Sk
eT Se ar Se ORE PU ete a ae oe ee ee ee

have received from Mr. E. F. G. Law, giving the result of his i serine
respecting Siberian flax.

ave, &c.
(Signed) Re B. D. MORIER.
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.
&c. &e. &e.

[ENCLOSURE No. 1.]
Mr. E. F. G. Law to Sir ROBERT B. D. MORIER,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G., &e.

SIR, Constantinople, 1 March 1890.
N accordance with your instructions I have made inquiries
respecting the Siberian flax referred to in the eae of Salisbury’s
espatch, No. 83, Commercial, of November 21, 1
This flax is at present quite unknown in the St, Petersburg market,
st

has kindly undertaken to endeavour to procure samples for me, but these
had een received when I left St. Petersburg.
Meanwhile, through the kindness of the Vice-Direotor of the Depart-
ment of Trade and Manufac ctures, I have received some information on
. the subject, enitiviatinig’ fro om the Director of the Technological Institute,
and from Professor Batalin of the St. Petersburg University.
I append translations of the et ae e en gentlemen.

Signed) H. T G. L
His Excellency aoira Attaché.
Sir oep d B. D. mem r, G.C.B., Me C.M.G.,

[ENCLOSURE NO. 2.]

The Director of the Technological Institute writes

“ Siberian flax (Linwm perenne) is certainly di fferent from the oy
which is generally used in Europe. The diiference is, that like pe
nial planis, it is cut and not pulled up by the roots, and therefore iti is
not annually sown like the ordinary blue-flowered fax aa vulgare)
or the American flax with white flowers. The Siberian flax gives $
short tow as the stems are short. The stems do Kor, grow erect, but ar
u

Homi ‘Rostra’ (Sentch >, and itis more expensive. The traders collect
e in the Governments of Viatka and Vologda, on the banks of the

Poka Batalin writes :—

Perennial flax (Linum perenne) is a quite distinct plant, distinguish-
able from ordinary flax by many peculiarities. One of the chief distinc-
pe is the colour, and Sino the thickness of the stem. e seed is

dark brown, almost black, and quite flat, so that it is quite N for
the extraction of oil. The pod has little of the soft part which is found
in ordinary flax. Thirty or 40 years ago experiments were = in

8895 C2

Germany to grow perennial flax for the tow. In the works of
Langethal and En, the Satan of these mee aari are thus spoken
of :—“ The plant grows more evenly and lon than ordinary flax ;
“ foul grasses easily overrun and even choke it ee which reason it is
“ necessary to cover the plants with manure in autumn. It does not,
“ under any circumstances, grow more than two years in the same

“ place, as in any case it gets overgrown by foul grasses. It is par-
“ ticularly sensitive to frost (i.e., probably in winters without snow ?).
“ The tow was found to be coarser than that of ordinary flax, and
“ consequently it is very improbable that its cultivation will be

extende n So Gove

perennial flax (Linum austriacum), — is very ieee o the Linum
perenne, but from this such coarse was obtained that its further
cultivation was abandoned. Of this ae piaite nt an account was
given ini the “ Zemledelcheskoy Gazette” (Agricultural Gazette) i in the
year 187

A little garer information has been obtained respecting Tran
flax in this co untry. In “Our Farm Crops” (Edinbur rgb, 1859), P.
fessor Wilson states “ Some experiments Canty made with Tini
“ perenne tend to show that its perennial nature and its capability of
“ sustaining itself on a of the poorest faba oe ice entitle it to more
“ consideration than t has hitherto received a our hands. Its hardy

“ care and attention is bestowed upon it, would lead us to believe that on

“the poor thin soil of chalk formations for instance it might be

“ cultivated with advantage, and would, probably, on such soils give a
t n coul i f

“ present cultivate. The branching habit of the plant would be favour-
able to the production of seed but unfavourable, it is true, to the
“ production of fibre.’

The experiments mentioned by Professor Wilson in the above
extract were undertaken by Professor Buckman and described by him
in the Agricultural Gazette, 1860, p. 270. Professor Buckman called
particular attention to the probability of Linum one enne yielding fibre

which might be used for paper making. The results of his botanical
experiments and conclusions were first com spubiibied to the British
Association for the Advancement of Science in 1857. In 1860 he states,
* I have made a new plot of this plant from seed collected from the old
one, and the whole plant maintains its character, if anything in an
improved condition, so that we may at present be said to possess in it

* its value and fitness for linen and paper maki g, but of this I can ites
“ little doubt, as its family is a oka mnou one for these
“ purposes,”

as ee
ees Se E E

EONS Cec man ed) Sty e Ae een ee

`
‘oe
z
tH
ye
zi
a
;

37
XV.—THE SPANISH BROOM AS A FIBRE PLANT.

(Spartium junceum, L.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 53-58.]

‘The well-known Spanish Broom of gardens, Spartium junceun, L.
(Genista juncea, Lam.), is a native of the south of Europe, and it is
found wild in Spain, Portugal, the south of France, Italy, and Greece.

8 ft

It is a hardy shrub, 5 to 8 ft. in height, he piipht round branches
of a deep green colour. It has a few lan e-shaped leaves, which soon
fall off. wers are large but not Hatisrotts They are disposed

in terminal racemes, and are of a deep yellow colour and sweet scented.
Loudon, Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum (ed. 1838), p. 576,
gives a full account of this plant and its cultivation in this country.
“ In Britain,” he says, “the plant is solely regarded as an ornamental
“ shrub, having the appearance of an evergreen from its smooth, dark
s he n shoots and fastigiate form, even in winter, when without leaves.”

s figured in the Botanical Magazine, pl. 85; and in Sibthorp’s
Whi Greca, pl. 671. s the generic name implies (sparton,
cortege) the plant is known to yield a fibre. It has long been

8 the material of cordage, nets, bags, and even of sails, which
were? in use by the Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians. Owing to the
more abundant and cheaper materials pipra from cotton and hemp,
the use of the Spanish Broom as a fibre plant has in recent times
become confined to remote parts of eni and Italy, and eyen there
the reese! is gradually becoming exti

The plant thrives in the most sterile foils and in localities where few
other kinds of vegetation are able to survive. It will grow equally well
either in poor sandy soils or in those of a rocky and arid character. The
young shoots are used as a winter fodder for sheep and goats. The
flowers contain a large amount of honey and Pe attractive to bees.
They also yield a dye. In France the plant is known as Genét
@ Espagne. An allied plant, the common Fobiak Broom, Cytisus scopa-
rius, Link (Spartium scoparium, L.), kn stub a Bs a balais orle gra:

ét, is also occasionally used in Fran fibre purposes, but its

value in this respect is small compar ay wh that of the Spanish
Sabet ee m 1 Pera to the latter, Loudon discusses its economic uses
as

“Tn it tity rind the south of France a very good cloth is manufactured
from the fibres of this plant, Spartium junceum. The shoots are cut
over in the course of the month of August, and after having been
made up into little bundles, are dried in the sun. These are afterwards
beaten with a mallet, and then steeped in water for ET or four hours ;
after this they are steeped ina ditch, among water and mud, for eight
or nine days, and then taken out and W ashed, aik operation has the
effect of separating the parenchyma from the fibres. The bundles are
then opened, and thinly spread out to dry, after which they are combed
in the manner of anes: and the better part is 5 iaa aside for being spun,

instead of the more viag process ess of immersing them in cold w. rs
when thus treated the parenchyma is rendered fit for rae g ya

the fibres for combing, in three or gu days. The process is said by
Rosier to be also performed with the Cytisus scoparius; though,
according to Desfontaines, this is doubtfal: In Languedoc sheep aml
gosts are fed with the branches of Spor tium ite during winter,

t because it is an excellent fodder, but because there is a general
resonate of forage at that season. ” Bot h si Spain and France, the

ond of t
eeds are eaten with great avidity ete poultry; pe etc &e. Medi-
cinally, the flowers and leaves, in infusion, act as an emetic, or ina
oe aa quantity, as an aperient.’
e Paper Makers’ Bony tee ae p. 414, it is stated

that saith fibre “is stro nd has the advantage
‘that ropes made Weeks om ee. pikon inns when exposed to
“moisture . Besides the fibre, the refuse or woody part can be

= pen for making cellulose that is adapted, owing to its strong texture,
“ for the manufacture of strong paper.” An inventor in the United
States “(quoted gni recommends the aiar treatment for
extracting genista fibre

“The plants are, preferably in small bunches, placed in a tank or
vessel filled with water, which is raised to a bo iling heat. To this
water is added, either before or Turin the boiling, RER in proportion of
about 30 to 60 anen o 800 pounds of the plants. The lye may be
added to the water as ae already prepared, or oauiile alkaline earths,
in combination with carbonates of alkalies, may be employed, which
form the poet in the water containing the plan ts. Carbonate of lime and
carbonate of soda, in proportion of about 30 to 40 pounds of lime and 8 to
12 sanda of soda for 800 pounds of plants, are preferably employed. In
the iye the plants are boiled for a five or six hours, after which
they are left to cool, and are then removed from the tank or boiler.
The plants are then ready to adeno the same ga es as flax and

i ik ;

subsequently employed for spinning, weaving, making cordage, yarn,
and for other „purposes to be used in place of hemp, flax, jute, or
similar p'ants.

n a recent number of the Revue des Sciences Naturelles Appliquées
(5 April 1891) a short noe appeared respecting the use of the fibre
sip Broom amongst the ae in the neighbourhood of Lodéve,

the remote Eiei in the mountains of Languedoc. The

follow hig correspondence shows that the industry at the present day is
greatly reduced in some places, whilst in others it has become qtite
extinct.

The efforts made by Kew to obtain specimens of articles made from
See oe nish Broom for the Museums of Economic Botany are also
£

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, 24 April 1891.

I AM — by Mr. Pidseltgn-Dyt to enclose, for the informa-
tion of the Secretary of State, an extract from the Revue des Sciences
Naturelles pr acters April 1891, p. 555, on the subject of a fibre

obtained from Spartium (Genista) junceum, L.
. This fibre, although said to be used o eon continent, is not so far
represented i in our collections in the Aan ms of Economic Botany at
Kew. Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would artir esteem it a favour, if the

assistance of Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Paris is sought to obtain
specimens of the fibre, and of articles made from it, for the use of this
establishment.

add that any reasonable expenses incurred in procuring
the specimens will be defrayed by this establishment in usual course.

am C.
Sir van Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed) ’ D. MORRIS.
Foreign Office, S.W.
The SECRETARY OF EMBASSY, PARIS, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
My LORD, Paris, July 16th, 1891.

In receipt of your Lordship’s despatch, No. 81, of the 28th of

April last, asking me to endeavour to procure for the Kew Gardens

specimens of the fibre of the Genista juncea, and of articles manufactured

from it, I addressed myself n msy: a yi of the Société d’Acclima-
ec at

woven from it; but he had written to , correspondent to obtain them,
and hoped shortly to be able to send th This he has not yet done,
although his letter was dated the 5th of Mey.

have, &c.
(Signed) E. H. EGERTON,
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., for the Ambassador.
&e. &e, &e.

The SECRETARY OF EMBASSY, PARIS, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

My LORD, Paris, Angust 8, 1891.

WITH reference to the Earl of Lytton’s despatch, No. 295, of the
16th alimo, andto your Lordship’s, No. 81, of the 28th ‘of April, trans-
mitting the expression of the wish of the Director of the Royal Gardens
at Kew to be furnished with products from the pe ele juncea, I have
the honour to enclose herewith copy of a letter from the “ Muséum
d’Histoire Naturelle,” to Monsieur Tisserand, of the Ministry of Agii:
culture, to whom 1 had applied for information.

This ie says that the textile said to be derived from this “genista ”
is unknown in the competent departments, and that there has ered
een a serifaeron on this subject in the publication of the Société d’Ac-
climatation. It might be well, the latter adds, to submit to OET
ihe rind of the Genista juncea, though this rind se not appear to

possess the elements of strong or abundant textile

I have, ko
(Signed) Epw. H. EGERTON.
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.,
&e. &e. &e.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, August 12, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
August 10, transmitting a despatch from Paris (herewith returned)

2. The matter is not perhaps of first rate importance. But it is the
business of this establishment to study local industries based on the use
of vegetable materials, as sooner or later they are sure to be the subject
of public inquiry.

40
3. M. Cornu, in his letter, speaks of the information a as by
the Société Nationale d’Acclimatation de France as being an old affair
(il y a déja longtemps). But,as a matter of fact, z is enere in the
number = the sated ns April of the present yea
statements extremely specific or I kend not have ventured
to tecubie the order Office i in the matter. Thus it is stated :—“ Dans
“ les villages pauvres du Bas-Languedoc, il est peu de A où l’on
ne rd = linge ark E en toile de Genêt.” les
“ Ceven ou le c erce de ce textile ge trouve localisé, on
r emploie alion Bowl faire des aon oe
rnu suggests that Rots is onfusion with Crotalaria, the
Sunn Hemp of India. This, if really the case, seal be very curious.

6. Unless the information issued by the Société d’Acclimatation is
purely imaginary, which, as it is a society of standing and repute, is
improbable, there is a local industry in France of which nothing is
cg known. Perhaps Her ET s Consul at Marseilles

ould find out what the nature of it really is
. In any case I must beg to express my thanks for the trouble that
has ‘been taken in the matter.

I am, &c.
(Signed) W. T. THISELTON-DYER.
Sir T. Villiers Lister, = a M.G., :
Foreign Office

FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
SIR, Foreign Office, January 28, 1892.

I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to
transmit e you, to be laid before the Feto of the Royal Gardens, a
despatch from Her Majesty’s Minister in Paris sending specimens of
fibres of the Genista juncea referred to in the letter from this office of
July 17 last.

I am, &c.
x (Signed) T. V. LISTER.
. The Assistant Director,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

[ Enclosure. ]
The SECRETARY OF EMBASSY, PARIS, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

My Lorp, Paris, January 27, 1892.
WITH reference to your Lordship’s despatch of this Series,

Number 81, of the 28th of April, and to my despatch, Number 295, of
the 16th of ‘July last, I have the honour to transmit herewit +h specimens
of the fibre of the Genista juncea, L., and of articles manufactured
therefrom as regere by Mr. Thiselton- Dyer.

hese specimens have just been forwarded to me by Monsieur
Geoffroy St. Hilaire, President of the Société Nationale d’Acclimatation
de France, who informs me that he has had some difficulty in obtaining
the specimens, their p of manufacture being limited toa few remote
villages in the Cevennes

I have, &c.
(Signed) Epw. H. EGERTON.
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.,
Ty &e, &e.

HER MAJESTY’S CONSUL, MARSEILLES, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
My LORD Marseilles, January 27, 1892.
REFERRING to the Foreign Office despatch, No. 1, Commercial,
of the 17th of last August, and its enclosures, which I return herewith,
I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, through the kindness
of M. Durand, Professor of the School of Agriculture at Montpellier,
I have at feqigth obtain ed and forwarded to the Foreign Office by the

taining specimens of the Genista juncea, and of the articles made

m it.

The plant, seo locally Génet d Espagne, eitn naturally in the
country, and it is only utilised for textile purposes at Lodève in the
department of E Hérault, where the stuff is gay fant to order, and
the industry, such as it is, is etna out.

I have, &c.
(Signed) " CAnARE MS G. G. PERCEVAL,
The Most Hon. Consul.
The Marquis 2 Salisbury me SE
&e.

The specimens cae in the above correspondence received at
Kew afford ample material for arriving at a definite conclusion with
”

regard to the origin and character of “Genista fibre.” There is now
in the Kew Museums a complete set, consisting of twigs, fibre in

; al i
sample of coarse Rass Te eet rom M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire,
through the British Embassy at Paris. These fully illustrate the fibre
industry connected with Spee tie (Genista a) junceum.
of the information obtained by the Société Nationale d Acclimatation
de France whilst engaged in meeting the wishes of this renee ah
at the request of Her Majesty’s ‘Aacibus sador at Paris, is given n the
Revue des Sciences Naturelles Appliquées, February 1592, p. 128.
It is somewhat singular to observe that the first ota of the Society
to secure specimens met with entirely negative results. Their corres-
pondent at Nîmes, supposed to be one of the localities where the industry

The plant itself was plentiful enough, and was e foi tekdir pas
along with needles of Pinus sylvestris. The Society for a moment
began to doubt, as shown in the correspondence, whether after all
Genista fibre was not a myth. The first satisfactory intimation was
received from Professor Durand, of the School of Agriculture at
Montpellier. This gentleman was ultimately successful in obtaining the
specimens received at Kew through the exertions of Mr. Consul Perceval.
M. Vilbouchevitch has seen recently in the neighbourhood of Lodève
very fine specimens of yarn, and cloth made from the fibre. Some
of the latter had been in "ase for 15 years, and it was of fine
texture and beautifully bleached. An application to the mayor of
Lodève elicited the fact that the industry had existed in his neighbour-
hood, but at the present ao = Rie almost extinct. He forwarded,
however, to the Society, of specimens consisting of coarse
cloth, mattress coverings, wi outing: the specimens of the two latter
were 80 years old. Of very recent manufacture he was able to send
only some yarn.

It is evident that this interesting rural industry is fast dying out in
France. It may be said to exist now only in very remote hamlets in
the Cevennes. The inquiries made by Kew were therefore only just in
time to secure the last specimens of cloth made in a laborious fashion
before the days of rapid communication and the introd notion of cheap
neg ai other goods.

A appendix to the article in the Revue above mentioned there is
rarkthted a memo r by I. Broussonet, entitled, “ Observations sur la

culture et les usa ms économiques du Genet d’Espagne, i

in France more than a hundred years ago. In those days, in certain
country districts, no other linen material was used except that obtained
from the Genét d'Espagne. The soil was too poor to grow cotton, flax,
or agers and each household made its own cloth as it was wanted. It
was never for sale in any quantity. A further memoir is i agi
ig to the use of Cytisus scoparius, Link, as a fibre plan This

was known as Genét à balais or grand Genét. "The latter memoir was
written by M. Yvard in 1787

XVI.—BARK CLOTH OF UGANDA.
[K. B., 1892, pp. 58-60.]

One of the most interesting of recent additions to the Museums of
Economic Botany at Kew has recently been received from Sir John Kirk,

¥.C.M.G. It consists of a a large sheet of bark cloth prepared by the
natives of Uganda from the inner bark of a species of Brachystegia, a
small genus of trees baloiak to the Cæsalpinieæ sub-order of the
natural order Leguminosæ. The specimen is about 14 feet 6 inches
long, 7 feet broad, and +); of an inch in thickness, and is of a reddish-
brown colour, somewhat lighter on the under side, and is slightly
crimped, probably the result of having been beaten out with grooved
clubs.

The genns wia achystegia is confined to tropical Africa, and seems
to be generally used by the natives as a source of bark cloth. Messrs.
Speke and Seca in their Aa to the sources of the Nile, 1860-
1563, made some meshing notes on the preparation and uses of cloth
from this source, which it may be well toadd. They say of ee tse
ere PTA Beib. that it is a light graceful tree of 20 t
40 igh, common in rich forest, and is known ia the Robeho
amine Zanzibar, under the name of “ ‘M’chenga” or “ M’ nenga,”
the bark of which is made into kilts, cloth, band- Be huge grain
stores, matches, roofing for camp huts, ‘&e. ; they also add that a blood-

; sa
slight herbarium material at Keegwah in lat. 5° 5’ S. of what is so far
determined as B? achystegia tamarindoides, Welw., var.? Attached is
the following note—“ Native name ‘ Mecombo a first-class tree, asit has
“so many uses. ree 50 feet high, long BAET runk 9 feet in cir-
“ cumference. Foliage deep g The woo od is considered good
“for building. Its Park after Roe boiled and prepared is made into
“ white sheets or cloths worn by the natives at 10° S. They also
“ make canoes, boxes, matches, and rope from it. Its honey is con-
“sidered very superior in flavour and whiteness. First met with
“ 30 miles from the sea; diwani in the interior it was frequent.

“ It is so plentiful at 6° S. lat. that our temporary huts were roofed
“ with its bark, and my plants were protected by planks of its bark,
* which answered admirably, being light and stiff.”

During Livingstone’s Zambesi ee pE in 1860 Sir John Kirk
collected specimens of Brachystegia appendiculata, Benth., a tree of
20 to 40 feet high in the highlands of the Batoka country

(0) ok:
by the natives ; he also collected the same species near Muata Man
14° 19’ S. lat., and states that the fibrous bark is made into cloth by being
es out. According to Dr. Mellor this tree is known as “ Chenga ”
Zomba. The herbarium contains a specimen of Brachystegia
longifilis Benth., collected by Mr. J. Buchanan in the Shiré high-
and bear yä following label—“ Njombo. Bark cloth tree, wood
aig 50 A PRE herbarium specimen collected by Sir John Kirk
near Kusuma, on the river Shire, is labelled Brachystegia, sp. nov.,and
is described as being a E sized tree with a fibrous bark which is
used for cloth.

Since the above was written a report has been received through Sir
John Kirk from Captain Lugard, the officer now commanding the
Imperial British East Africa Company’ s troops in Uganda, in which the
following reference is made to the bark cloth so ee in use there,
of which the specimen now in the Kew Museum is an e

Captain Lugard says, “ The fig class [Ficus] is 8 largely A in
“ Uganda where they are cultivated for the sake of their bark from which
“ the native cloth is made.” Thus, although there can be no doubt that
the bark cloth used in n Nyassaland, and much of that used elsewhere, is
derived from various species of Brachystegia, the subject requires
further investigation, and it is most desirable that those in a position to
investigate the question on the spot should send the leaf at least of the
tree whic they have seen used to yield the bark cloth, with specimens
of the cloth itself.

The seeds of what has been determined ag z species of Brachystegia
from Mashonaland and Manica have recen o been received at Kew
from the Agricultural Department of Cape Colo

SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE, CAPE TOWN, to ere GARDENS,
KEW.

Cape Town, January 15, 1892.

I BEG to send you herewith some seed of a tree which is found
over a large tract of country in Mashonaland and Manica. The person
who brought the seed from there calls the tree by the name of “ Ma-
hogany,” and describes it as a very beautiful one, and one of the most
useful trees for South naia instancing the employment ah the bark by
the natives for making strong fe ag pap (fit for grain), ma eehiv
&e. He states that the oo wt ccs every kind of soil ak arhe
in lowlands and on mountain

Í append a Memorandum br. Professor MacOwan, until lately Director
the Botanic Gardens here, and should be glad t siti rn from you,
nw "dentification of the seed, its precise classificatio

i
The Directo (Signed) W. J. J. WARNEFORD,
Royal Gard ens, Kew. For Secretary for Agriculture,

44
[ Enclosure. }
M cOwan says :—“ It is a pity that an bre ieee name has been
manufactured for this Mashonaland tree. The native name would have

some sense and value as part of the history of the species.

“The Tra nsvaal Boers call Afzelia cuanzensis, Welw., by the name of
‘t Mahogoni fies ' (boom is Dutch for tree), But it is utterly different
from this, its seed being ovoid, black, and each seated in a cup-shaped
scarlet arillus. These s seeđs are often brought down as curiosities.

“ I should rather expect this seed to be some species of Bauhinia, if
a guess must be made. The e packet might be sent to Kew, and a few
tried a and at Durban.”

XVII.—_KENDIR FIBRE.
(Apocynum venetum, Linn.)
[K. B., 1898, pp. 181-183.]
In November, 1896, a letter was received from the Foreign Office,

o a Re j
1896, containing a reference to a fibre plant auocessially used in the
manufacture of Russian paper money. With the report a packet of the
seed of the plant was received.
The following particulars were ae (Foreign Office Reports,
1896, Miscellaneous Series, No. 409, pp. 16-17) :—

« Attention was especially drawn to a plant Apocynum baat
which grows wild in the Semiraychinsky district, near the River Amu
Daria, and the Ili. The local name is “Kendir, or ‘ Turka, i ina it
is much employed by the natives, who use the fibre for their ropes and
fishing nets. Its chief properties seem to be the very A ES at of
the fibre, and the fact that it grows without irrigation. Specimens
oe been shown at various Russian ae gee but the Government

only took serious s sa to procure any large quantities in 1894, and in
the following year it was used successfully in the fpa of
Russian paper m

“ With the seed brought back in 1894, sowings were made in various
parts of Russia, and these gave good results at Poltava, where the
plants grew to a height of j feet in two years. In a wild state it

ri iven sufficiently low to benefit by the spring floods. I enclose a small
sample of seed, and some flax from the autumn crop; that gathered in
the spring is of a lighter shade.”

The seed sown at Kew germinated this summer and yielded four
plants. From these it was possible to identify the species as Apocynum
venetum, L., of which A. sibiricum is a synonym. (See Journal
Linnean Society, xxvi., p.

n the Flora of British India, iii, p. 657, Apoc, ynum venetum, L.,
is Rated as an undershrub with slender cylindrical stems and
branch Leaves 2-3 inches a by 4—} inch broad, linear oblong or
oblong lanceolate, entire or tapped ; nerves very slender; petiole
very short. Flowers in small, erect, sub-corymbose cymes; bracts
subulate, 4 inch diameter, paoia puberulous. Fruit consisting of
two long, die follicles. The plant is distributed from Southern

SUB Rs Ren rom E TT a5 à eee Te? EE E R
EEE E AE R A N S EE E E E EE NE AEE E E T E AAE | V

Europe to Asia Minor, through Siberia and Northern India to
Mandshuria and Japan

The following account, with a plate, is given by Dr, J. E.
Aitchison, C.I.E., in the Transactions of the Linnean Society,
2nd Ser. Bot. iii., p. 87, t. 87,0n the Botany of the Afghan Delimitation
oR PES of 1884-85

pocynum venetum, tins Boiss. Fl. Or. iv. p. = Mages eran

Badghis ; 115, March 5, "1885. Native nam Dumb-i-roba,

ndar, Dinh somata, Common in beds of reeni ‘and in a shy
localities at Gulran, at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Stems about 4 feet
high, springing from a viiner rootsto ck, and terminating in a panicle
of flowers. The annual stems remain attached to the rootstocks, but
by the action of the wind they are soon reduced to their fibrous element,
and this is found in bunches, having the appearance of artificial
preparation. My attention was attracted to them by the seed-vessels
ok persistent on the battered branches. The fibre is a most excellent

one, and the wonder is, as the plant seems to be common from Eastern
Europe to China, that it has not heretofore been emplo yed in n manufac-
tures. The bark of the oie a is employed in tanning the
leather skins used as water bot

oots of this plant were a ge Bahara nyang, whence we received

flowering specimens for the Herbarium a

A more persa pE of the plant sae eeu been received
from Dr. Aitchis

Dr. J. E: T. AITCHISON to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

DEAR Ae epi HOOKER Gulran, 8th March, 1883.

E I wrote last to ‘you only a couple of days ago, I have come
across a rar ase ee a fibre plant that grows in marshy land,
amongst loam with sweet water, about 5 feet high, annual shoots from
a Soi rootstock, and seih creeping thick r

all noticed the shrub-like plant ii oe seed, and the seed
flying > bei out of a pair of very ee pods that belong to the
Apocynacez, the seeds with silky plumes. On examining the stems,
bundles of several years’ collected to gullies the bases were covered
with a mass of what looked like tow g naturally exfoliated from the
standing stems by rubbing against each other during a wind), very
silky, and a good fibre. This natural tow. with the fruits and seeds, I
have sent you by sample post. The natives of the surrounding parts,
wt Se | the Turcomans, say that ordinary twine and rope is made
the fibre, but that a tribe of Turkomans, called Kayak, east of
BoELAr: who live at a place called Kalla, manufactured cloth from this
fibre. The natives here call that cloth Katan. The plant is called
Dimb-e-roba (tail of seip or Dimb-e-Gosalla (tail of calf), this name,
no doubt, due to the fluffy seed.

The bark of the iookatintes is employ ed for tanning, or pened preparing,
skins to hold water, and it is known as ei ao-gosh ” (¢ow’s ear). These
skins become red in Peon and waterproof.
valsky, mendon a cloth being made at
Lobnor, in his travels, as xh Asclepia

As I think it is likely to turn out a good thing, I have sent to
Saharunpore a large number of the pt which were just showing
eyes like potatos, and h ope they may su ceed. I have no doubt, if an
have Prejevalsky’s species, that you will bé able to recognize my p.

be
+
E
=}

er
agg
2

from the fruit. This is nearly 5 inches long, and not thicker than
4inch. With the seeds, you will be able to raise some plants. e
roots during winter are covered with water, and in summer I should
say are almost dry. Itisin immense quantities in this Mesos hes
in marshy ground. The natives call the cloth Katan, but this is the
Persian name for linen and pas fabrics indiscriminately. We week
xg a to get the true Turki n

rsyth, in his Yarkand chews ‘mentions a cloth called “Luf.” I

feel + sure this is the same. Native information said it was produced
from a plant that had a fruit like the Liquoric
ual shoots, growi n oming to perfection

India. The fibre I have sent you is merely what I collected on the
stalks, but, of course, if collected at the proper season, it would be of
much better quality—as it is, it is very good.

am, &c:
(Signed) J. E. T. AITCHISON.

XVIII.—_STREBLUS PAPER.
(Streblus asper, Lour.)
[K. B., 1888, pp. 81-84. ]

The preparation of paper and gren cloth from the bark of the Paper
Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is a circumstance which is well
known. Various arae asenti the uses of the bark of this
plant, exist in the Mus of Economic Botany at Kew from China,
ri eee and the Pacific Tale It appears that in Siam paper ve

imilar in character to that prepared from Broussonetia, is obtained

frais Streblus asper, Lour. This latter is a tree widely distributed

throughout India, Ceylon, and tropical Asia, where it is known under

a variety of native names. It does not appear, however, that it is used

for paper making to any appreciable extent in any country except

iam.

ollowing correspondence, which has taken place between this

establishment and the Foreign She e, contains practically all the
available information on the subject

“ Kew, 25th April 1887.

“T the honour to inform you that I observe in the Paper

5 Mikes Monthly Journal an account, based on information acquired

“ by the late Sir Richard Schomburgk, of the manufacture of paper in
“ Siam from the bark of Streblus asper (otherwise Trophis aspera),
** a tree locally known as Ton-Khoi
“It is stated that t legal doca menik and Government Tenis ani
are written on paper made from this material. Black paper, written
upon with tale, is also stated to be used for rough drafts
* The tree is a common one in the East generally, and it therefore
seems worth while to obtain some information about its use in the
manufacture of paper. The Museum of the Royal Gardens possesses
* no eae aed illustrative either of the raw material or of the product
“ derived from it.

& $ venture, therefore, to express the hope that. the Secretary of
“ State will approve of the kind offices of the Minister Resident at

i tee AN

“ Bangkok ne Bet to assist this establishment in’ procuring
“ “ specimens (1) of the raw material in its. several stages ; (2) of.any
characteristic implements employed in in the manufacture ; ; (3) of
“ finished samples of the
“Tt would also be pe a that the collection, if made, should be
lic

“secure. Any moderate ee incurred will be defrayed by this
“ establishment in usual course
“ W, T. THISELTON-DYER.”

eons Office, LOth December 1887.
“ WITH reference to your letter of the ep instant, I var directed ts
“ the ree of Salisbury ne transmit you a des espatch from
“ Maj s Chargé d’Affaires at Bang kols forwarding a Aaii of ika
sf na me uses of Ton Khoi paper
“Pp, W. CURRIE.”

“ Bangkok, slg! ober 1887.

‘In obedience to instructions contained in rdship’s
“despatch, No. 21, of 29th April 1887, I have ahs ie. Ten to
“ enclose a report, prepared by Mr. Beckett, Student Interpreter of
“ this Legation, with regard to the manufacture of paper from the bark
“ of the tree called ‘Ton Khoi.

“Under my direction Mr. Beckett has made several visits to a
“ village where the paper is tacts. and has procured as many
“as possible of the specimens required by the authorities at Kew
“ Gardens.

“These specimens have been placed in two cases addressed to
ew.

s E. C. GOULD.”
“TON KHOI,” ITS MANUFACTURE AND USES.

Mr. French, in his commercial report for the year 1885, in e A
the process of the manufacture of native e paper, writes as follow

“ Native paper is manufactured out of the bark of a ahe called
“Ton Khoi.” The process of manufacture is simple. The smaller
“ branches of the trees are cut, and steeped in water for two or three days.

“ The bark is then stripped off, and brought in fener and sold to
“ persons who make the paper. ‘The bunches of bark are put in water
“ for two or three days by the paper maker, and, havigi beak cleansed

“ from dirt, are taken out and steamed over a slow fire for two days, a
“ little clean stone lime being sprinkled through the bark. It is then
“ steeped in water in earthen jars, and more lime is added. After a
“few days it is taken out of the jars, and, having been well washed to
“ free it from the lime, it is beaten with a wooden mallet [for honk
“ two hours] until it becomes a mass of soft pulp. A frame of netting
“ about six and a half feet long, and of width varying from eighteen
“ to five aera is set afloat in water, and the pulp, having first Ape

“ again mixed up in water, is skilfully poured out o he fram
“as to = Sadiy distributed over it. The frame is s then lifted ss of
“ the water, and a small wooden roller is run over the surface of t

“pulp. By this process the water is squeezed out Ay the pulp par

“ together. ae Samp yi the pulp on it is then set to dry in the
“sun. In the course of some ten hours it is quite dry, and the a
“ of paper can ies be lifted off the frame. It now only remains to
“smooth the surface. This is done by applying a thin paste of 1 rice
¢ flour to the surface, and then rubbing it down with a smooth stone.

“ A black paper, which is written on with a ned pencil, is made by
a ng i the surface with a mixture of charco

ess of the manufacture having been lia described, some

additional facts regarding the tree itself, and the various uses of the
paper may prove of interest.

The place at which most of the native paper industry is carried on
lies on the left bank of the River Mënam, between six and seven miles
from Bangkok, ayers eed Se of a cluster of attap houses built on piles
over the river and a creek which runs through their midst.

The average Height. of the “ Ton eee oi” is about 30 ats The branches
grow in an oe and straggling manner. The lea e are dark
green oval in shape, E acuminated, with a serrated edge.
The enra az the e is very short, the venation is reticular, and there
is e a single mi

he fruit, eri is ripe during March and TE is small and dry,
aa is not put to any use by the natives of Sia

The bark, in addition to being employed in the manufacture of paper,
is used by native doctors for medicinal purposes. Itis boiled with a
large portion of salt, and, when reduced to a pulpy state, it is supposed
to allay m especially in the teeth, when applied internally to the
affected part

e native name for the frame of netting into which the pulp is
poured is “ Phaneng,” the price of which is one tical (2s.). The price
of a sheet of the paper, . it is taken off a frame, 6’ 1}” + I’ 11’, is one
fuang, sre out to 3d. English mone

A paper of a thinner texture is also manufactured, the fineness of the
texture ese en on the greater or lesser admixture of water wr the
pulp of the “ Ton Khoi” bark when placed in the frame of netting. This
thin paper is now falling into disuse, and is gradually being rologted
to remote districts of Siam, and to use by the poorer classes.

The black paper mentioned in Mr. French’s Report, and of which

me process as the white, is smeared with a ae mixture obtained
by boiling the charcoal of the tree or shrub called “Ton Sanoh” with a
certain quantity of rice. When folded in the shape of books of the
better quality, the paper is usually covered with a double coating of this
mixture.
The “Ton Sanoh” above mentioned is a Arete growing to the
height of some 8 or 10 feet, and is of a pithy n
The method of writing on white paper is sie by the use of a
European pen and ink, or, better, by means of a native pen formed of a
small piece of split bamboo, hollowed along the centre, and tapering to
a point. This latter is used with Chinese ink Pare e same je Hope were

which is sold in sticks at prices varying from 14d. to
write permanent characters on the seein per requir a m pae aai
degree of skill and practice. The used is the same as the one e used

ite eee bain
SS ON ee

writing has been impressed on the paper, the whole is smeared with a
coating of varnish obtained from the “ton jang,” in order to fix the
characters and prevent erasures
The black books are extensively used in the native law courts for the
taking of evidence, &c. The evidence is written do eans of a
e of

h pa
emendations be required. It is then read over to the witness or other
person, as the case may be, and bound round with string, a seal of mud
being affixed on the centre, in order to prevent the opening of the
document until it is required at _ trial. The snoring then makes a
mark in the os ses with his nail, or, according to a more recent
custom, is given a small wooden pal. with which he ham the mud,
and which he carefully preserves for A hay of trial.

A scale of prices of the ous kinds of paper “ee is mabon the
numbers E with the numbers docketed on the
forwarded,

8.
Book No. I. (white), equal to 5 phanengs*=1 3
” 9 oaks ” ” 4 ” =0 9
” ” I. = ” 5 ” oe 0
» » ID 2 ” =0 43
Gee TER, (unfin hed), 4 5 = 9

“atada quality) =
Samples of the bark in its different stages of manufacture are also
forwarded, numbered and mar ed according to the successive stages

illustrate the manufacture of native paper as I have been able to
procure.
W. R. D. BECKETT.

The specimens illustrating the sanai which have been deposited i in
the Kew Museums are as follows :

Section of trunk of tree ; a fia of netting ; native an white and
black ; samples of material in various stages of preparation ; hammer
for beating bark ; a mixing pot, with pigments and pens for writing.

SIR, Kew, sete December, 1887.

from Her Majesty’s Charge @ Affaires at eres k, berated ae a report
fr s

u us asper.
h f speci s have been duly received. The collection
is extremely interesting and instructive, and the objects transmitted are
a very desirable accession to the museum of this establishment, whee
this curious industry has hitherto been whol paraa
I venture to expr pvi a hope that the Secretary of State will be
pan e convey to Mr. Gould an intimation of his kern at the
courteous and seii lenge manner in which Mr. Gould has assisted
this establishm men
r oe is proposed o publish the report in an early number of the Kew
u
Sir Philip W. Currie, G.C.B. W. T. THISELTON-DYER.
* Or sheets,
8895 D

Mo.Bot. Garden,
1902.

XIX.—_CANADA NETTLE FIBRE.
(Laportea canadensis, Gaudich.)
[K. B., 1897, p. 430.]

A nettle-looking plant was received last year from the Jardin
PAcsmatation at i under the ana of Behmeria candicans.
was said to afford fibre superior in quality to China-grass (Behmeria
nivea), or rhea or ramie (B. tenacissima), anit its caltivation has been
recommended in Southern France, Algiers, Egypt, &c. ARN Gad
the plant on arrival at Kew was in excellent pes and in flower
Upon examination it was found to be not a species of Behmeria, but a
well-known new-world species, Laportea annie, G i ng from
Canada to Florida and Mexico, and westward to the Rocky Mountains.
shn fibre yielded by this plant was at one time largely A latterly

has been almost entirely forgotten. In Hooker’s Flora Boreali-
cies Vol. II. (1840), p. 142, it is stated, “the fibr re of the stem
“is copious and strong, and Mr. Whitlaw endeavoured to recommend
“it to this country as an article of commerce.” Later, in 1865, the
Abbé Provancher He to it in his Flore Canadienne, p. 516, under
the name of Ortie du Canada, or Canada Nettle, and adds : —“Sa
“culture a été tentée en Europe pour sa fibre, mais ses avantages réels
“sont encore doutes.

It is well known that many members of the nettle order are capable
of yielding fibre. Even the common English stinging nettle (Urtica

toica) is a very ancient fibre plant, its inner bark affording a tough

us suitable for many purposes, and used for cordage and coarse cloth.
A lace parasol TE gs Bans from this fibre is in Museum I.,

Case 102. A series of prepared from the same plant, and

panes apina: were Brought tb Kew by Mr. B. Gray, of Glenanne,
land

In the Descriptive Catalogue of Useful Fibre Plants of the W Sag
by Mr. C. Richards Dodge, recently issued by the United State
Poraka of Agriculture, the fol lowing note (p. 213) Pianis
respecting Laportea canadensis :—“ The fibre of this species, before
“the introduction of cotton, had an application more inne ie Bae at
“ present in Europe, where, particularly in Germany ore

northern countries, they ma nufactured the cloth called Mrs (Goria
“ nesseltuch), or nettle cloth.”
may, therefore, he safely assumed that the T nettle saint
no special merit as a fibre plant compared with
Further, as it possesses paii ea hairs, it is difficult to handie.

XX.—URERA FIBRE.
(Urera tenax, N. E. Br.)
[K. B., 1888, pp. 84-85.]

The fibres exhibited in the Natal Court at the late Colonial and
Indjan iton attracted a good deal of attention. Unfortunately
the labels had become misplaced in transit, and consequently the collec-
tion did not offer such facilities as could be desired for detailed inves-
tigation. It is now clearly established, however, that a fibre marked

“ Hibiscus,” which attracted chief attention, was really what is known
in Natal as Native hemp, possibly a local form of Cannabis sativa. In
the Official Reports, p. 378, it is stated by Mr. C. F. Cross, “ that the

“ yarn prepared from this fibre was of a greyish colour, bleaching easily
“under the ordinary treatment to a full white. It was remarkably
“soft to the touch, more nearly resembling an Angola yarn than flax
“or cotton. . This fibre has been submitted to flax spinners of expe-
“rience, aud from inspection, together with the results of laboratory
“ investigation, they have formed a high estimate of its value.’

r, J. Medley Wood,- AtS, me indefatigable ee of the
Botanie Gardens at Durban, to whose zeal and co-operation we are
indebted for the elucidation of many i ocne with the flora
of Natal, mentions that his native hemp grows vigorously to a height
of six feet or more, and that it lends itself readily to the exigencies of
cultur

The xt most interesting fibre exhibited in the Natal Court appears
to ee Ee forwarded by “Mr. J. Kirkham, of Umzinto. It was stated
by Mr. Wood to belong to the natural order Urticacee, but he had at
that time been unable to obtain either STRA or flowers, and it was
unrepresented in the herbarium at Durbar

Of the nettle family in Natal he states :—

“There are several indigenous species, some of which attain a
“height of over 20 feet, with a pithy semi-herbaceous stem eight
“ inches in diameter. Others are more or less dwarfish, being but half
“an inch thick and four is five feet high. The barks of all are highly
“ prized by the natives on account of the strong cord or thread they
“ make, in their own rude manner, from the fibre contained therein. It
“is known to them by the name “ imbogo sempi.

In a letter dated 23rd August 1887, Me Wood writes :

“ By this post I send flowers of my No. 3,837, whika appears to be a
“ Urera. It is a shrub about 8 to 10 pit high or more, and is, I
“ think, the plant producing the fibre which was said to pe the second
n best fibre shown at the late Colonial and Indian Exhib

“The plant is not uncommon in ne Sapes pT but this is
“ the first time that I have seen the flow

“It will be important I think, to eee whether its fibre is
a really s of value ; it grows readily from cuttings, and could be grown
“ in quantity if found to be payable.’

Again on the 23rd November :—

“T have collected a quantity of seed for Aiairibations, also §

“ plant propagated here, in case it may be in demand.”

On investigation at Kew, the plant sent by Mr. Wood proved to be a
new species, which has been described and figured in the Icones
Plantarum as Urera tenax, N. E

The bark, as sent here, appears to pee in many respects that of
uncleaned Ramie or Rhea (Boehmeria nivea). The fibre is, however,
more brittle and not so lustrous as the best specimens of China grass.
Unfortunately the sample hitherto received does not admit of this new
fibre being treated in an exhaustive manner. It is quite pone that

8895 i

an indigenous plant of this character may be better suited to the cir-
cumstances of Natal than the China Grass. On receipt of a larger
sample, it will then be possible to investigate its merits in an exhaustive
mann

XXI.—RAMIE.
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn.)
[K. B., 1888, pp. 145-149.]

The plant known under the several names of China hires Ramie, or
Rhea, belongs to the natural order, Urticacew, and hence it is nota
grass at all, but a species of nettle, somewhat resembling, in appearance
and habit of growth, the common nettle of Eur s

The China — plant, first known and long cultivated by the Chinese
under the name of Tchou Ma, is the Boehmeria nivea of botanists.
The Say aes name, nivea, was given to it on account of the white

Rheea, and in the Malay islands eee was believed by Roxburgh to
be distinct from the Tchou Ma e Chinese, and it was named by this

otanist Boehmeria (Urtica) Paes issima. In this plant there is an
absence of the white felted appearance on the under-side of the leaves,
so characteristic of the China Grass plant, but in Tas other respects the
two plants are identical in their botanical charact

F oses of classification, the Tchou Ma r Ohi ina Grass plant,
Demart nivea, may be accepted as the typical species, and the Rhea

or Ramie, retained as a geographical variety of it, er the name of
Boehmeria nivea var. tenacissima. This latter is admis known
as the Spires, China Grass, a name which may be conveniently
retained for

The fibre ne by these plants has been long recognised a
pre-eminent amongst vegetable fibres for strength, fineness, and hak

ence numerous attempts have been made to cultivate aan and to
prepare the fibre in large quantities for commercial purpos The
plants are exceedingly easy of cultivation, and thrive in all are but
preference should be given to those of a light loamy character. Itis
essential that the climate be moist and stimulating, in order to poduda
abundant and frequent crops of stems. The plants may be raised from
seed, but the more ready method is by root or stem Ean The roots
being perennial, the stools become stronger and more vigorous every

ear, and from these fresh sets are easily öbaiked for extending the
cultivation.

Numerous attempts have been made during the last 10 years to
extract the valuable fibre which exists in this plant. The experimental
processes hitherto employed may be briefly classed as either mechanical
or chemical. In the first, it has been sought to extract the fibre from
the green stems by means of rapidly revolving beaters attached to a
drum driven by steam power. In some cases, water is used to wash the
fibre while under the beaters. The chief difficulty experienced in this
method is the small quantity of fibre cleaned per day. This has
ordansod the cost to such an extent as to render the process practically

dde Se, CaaS ee eS a a ES ae et Pe ee ae Or

unremunerative. In the chemical processes, the Ramie stems are

under great pressur am or wit micals, so as to dissolve the
ich the individual fibres are imm f ing thu
treated, the fibres easily detached from the stems by b

stances, that China Grass can only be peace theta grown and prepared
here there is an abundance of cheap labou
a fact universally known, =a the fibre of the China Grass is one
of the finest and strongest known. a process could be devised that
act í

prove of the greatest possible interest to all our tropical colonies. The
China Grass plant can be grown as easily as the sugar cane, but in spite
of aay v ertain of continuous effort, the problem how to prepare the
on a larg pi hoe place it in the market at remunerative rates,
is urate sil u ed.
WwW oc numerous applications made to Kew for infor-
mation, that i is still maintained in the utilisation of China Grass
or Ramie, and under these circumstances it is felt to be desirable to
place on record the latest et that have been gleaned respecting the
present pation of the industry.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, April 16, 1888.

I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to in nform you that con-
siderable interest is being taken in British Colonies in the culture of
the Ramie plant, known as Rhea and China Grass (be ane nivea).

Hithe

g
owing to. the want of a thoroughly suitable machine io prepare the
fibre

3. In the Foreign Office Report, for the year 1887, on the agriculture
of the Barcelona district [No. 275, Annual Series, 1888], Mr. Consul
Ca

baea states, that in the province of Cataluña, “ Machines are
“already in use, capa

able of decorticating the [Ramie] fibre on a
" akin. scale,

Pi Thiselton-Dyer i is of opinion that it is very desirable to obtain
from Mr. Wooldridge the names of the makers of the machines which
appear to have successfully solved the Apone of Shape drei aR Ramie
stens, ny particulars he could add as rds the t of the
machines, the power necessary to drive them na the o bane of clean
fibre per as would i of the greatest ponaiblé interest to planters
in our tropical Colonies

have &c.
Sir T. Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G. (Signed) D. Morris.
Mr. CONSUL eee to the MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.
My LORD MARQUIS, Barcelona, April 25, 1888.

I HAVE he honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir James
Fergusson’s despatch, of the 19th instant, on the subject of the machines
used in Cataluña for decorticating the stalks of the Ramie plant ; and
I am directed to report to your Lordship the names o of the makers of
the machines, and to give any further — which might prove
of interest to planters in British tropical colonies

Although the Ramie plant has been ote for many years in the
north of Cataluña, it is only within the last two years that, through
the invention of a ees rae machine by Monsieur Favier, member
of the “Société La Ramie Francaise,” it has been brought before the
public. M. Favier hat a factory, called the “Fabrica Favier,” at
Torroella de Montgri, in Gerona, in the vicinity of the Ramie
Bey uote, where his decorticating machines are at wor
Thes achines are used to decorticate the stalks in a dry state,
after tava been cut and exposed to the powerful rays of the sun for
48 hours, as experiments and practice show that the operation on the
green Ramie is impractica
Tt appears that >y Favier has been the first to solve the problem of
sorori E Ramie with success; and, according to Professor Obiols,
machine leaves nothing es be desired ; and of this invention the
$ Centralblatt, ” of Berlin, in its number of January 23, 1883, says :—
* Although the use of the Ramie, as a textile plant, dates es time
“immemorial, the separation of the fibre from the stalk has been found
“hitherto so surrounded with difficulties that no hope existed of any
“considerable extension in its use; however, since M. Favier has dis-
“covered a machine for the purpose of separating the fibre, a real
“revolution has been produced in e industrial world, and the
“cultivation of the Ramie plant has taken eiseni e proportions. i
onn decorticating machine, similar to the Favier one, has,
however, been invented by a Monsieur Billion, of Marseilles, who
obtained a peut for it in Spain, but, being considered by M. Favier as
a e latter prosecuted M. Billion n, who eventually came out
fui ony ete ain although this machine has not ash a in Spain,
some tear consider it to be superior to the Favier o
Full riptions are given of these machines in Professor Obiol’s
pamphlet (in Spates and can be ty rigs for a few
The Billion machine can produ ce 300 kilogrammes of fibre a day,

The Favier machine is not for sal the public, the inventor
preferring to establish tadtcbicn near the pel nena and purchasing the
produce from the agriculturists, and decorticate nd ufac ure
threads, &c., himself, as the “Société La Ram S Friagaisa
at Torroella. Neither, I believe, is the Billion aa to be acquired

y:
There is another machine, known as the “ Agramadera (flax-dresser)
Kaulek,” invented by M. Kaulek, of Paris. Its size is a cubic metre,
and it pel half a horse-power to put it in motion, and can be worked
by the arm, bya windmill, or by steam. It is portable, weighs 350 kilos.,
and its price is 2,000 fr. (807 se x er: been a to produce 175 kilos
of commercial Ramie, in ribbons 0 hou
Another machine has keen inven ete in Paivelena by Don Demetrio
Prieto for extracting fibre from textile plants, and many of his machines
are in use with success, in Mexico. The inventor is about to introduce
certain modifications in this machine, in order to adapt it to the decor-
tication of the era plant. (See Art. LV. later
he personnel required to work Hie Favier machine, and the cost per
diem (in Catalnfia), a are as follows:

Pe
Two men to separate the extremities = = piniis -
— -

vee man to supply the aiko to the introducer -

1
a
3
:
]
l
4
|
3

ea SG ins celia

or about 4s. per day for each machine; and for, say, > HAN kilos. of
dry stalks the proportional out-turn would be as follow
50 kilos of extremities, or 5 per cent. of the wits weight.
190 kilos. of an; or 20 per cent. of the whole weight.
570 kilos. of wo
100 kilos. A pellicles, and
los

90 kilos.
Yet the wood, extremities, and pellicles may all be utilized.
ing the working o f 20 of Favier’s machines, which would require

Takin
sereis 10 horse-power of steam, the expenses and profits result as
oll
Cost of i installation, 120,000 pesetas, or francs, each machine costing
6,000 fr., with the eee: capital of 60,000 fr
Actual cost of stalks of Ramie (in Spain), 100 pesetas per 1,000 kilos ;
each machine decorticates 216 kilos. per day

Expenses.
Pesetas c
4,320 kilos. of stalks - - - - 432 00
7 é “ $ - - 108 00
Incidental expenses - - - - 122 00
Total - - - 662 00
Products.

5 per cent. of extremities 10 80

mepe cent. of sitsaiaieatie stalks, or 864 kilos
f fibre 4 00
57 per cent. of wood - = - 50

10 per cent. of pellicles - - - he
9 per cent, of loss.

Total - ~ - 953. 50
Total products - - - ~ - 953. 50
Total expenses - - - - - 662 00

Clear profit - perday 291 50
or 117,150 pesetas per annum of 300 ho of labour, which represent
approximately 48 per cent. of the capita
vier machine has the advantage of extracting the fibre and
making the threads clear of gum, for in the raw Ramie which comes
from China amg India there is so much gum that it is most difficult to
cleanse. These machines, as I said before, are not yet within the reach
of saviculteiets. 7 that of M. Favier being used = the inventor, and
that of M. Billion having ceased to work in ici

(Signed) poe WOOLDRIDGE.

—RAMIE—(continued),
[K. B., 1888, pp. 273-280.)
The subject of the atiliention of the Ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea,
Hk. & Arn.) is one which has been closely followed at Kew for many

y The importance of the subject in India and the Colonies has led
to considerable correspondence being addressed to this establishment,
Specimens of Ramie stems, grown at Kew, have been supplied, as far
as practicable, for experimenta] purposes in this country, and the
Bulletin sa June 1888 (pp. 145-149) gave a summary of information
on the subject.

Recently "the French Government undertook a series of trials of
methods ea EREE Ramie fibre, and on behalf of the India Office,
Mr. D. Morris, F.L.S., the Assistant Director, was appointed to attend
these iea nd prepare a report of the results. This report, with the
permission of the India Office, is reproduced below

Kew, October 24, 1888.

In the French Journal Officiel of the 13th of April last there

ministerial order approv ng an International Competition of

plant. The order was based on the fact that considerable interest was
taken in the cultivation of the Ramie plant in Algeria and Frenc
Colonies generally, and that it was a matter of national importance to
solve the problem m of ee Ramie fibre so as to bring it within the
reach of commercial enterpri

The competition was, in the “first instance, fixed for the 15th August,
but it was afterwards postponed to the 25th Se eptember on account 0
the unfavourable season which had been = orien for the growth of
the Ramie plant intended to be used in the

IMPORTANCE OF THE paar dramos

It is well known that the produton of the fibre of Ramié in com-

mercial quantities, and in an economical and remunerative manner, has
constituted one of the most important SadaetGal eo of the present

ay. It has been keenly followed in nearly every part of the world ;
but the chief efforts hitherto made have been confined to India, to the
West Indian herp to the United States,and more recently to France
ar ip Colo:

5 Goveninitnt of India, nearly 20 years ago, was led to offer a
i of 5,000. for the best method for preparing Ramie gi and
presenting it in a suitable condition for textile purposes. It was led to
this step by the conviction that the only obstacle to the dev Fetopient i in

ndia of an extensive trade in eee fibre was the ad of saina
means for decorticating the plant. This was the third time that Ram
had become the subject of Pii action. The first effort “tor utilising
this plant was in 1803, when Dr. Roxburgh started the question ; the
second was in 1840, when attentio irected t
ue. The offer of 5,000/. in 1869 induced many competitors
enter their names, but it was found that no machine fully fulfilled his
aiin laid down by the Government, and therefore the full prize
was not awarded. Other unsuccessful attempts were subsequently
made, and eventually the offer of 5,0007. was withdrawn.

Since that time many thousands of pounds have been spent upon the
Rami e plant, a and the aid has been invoked of both mechanical and
chemical science to solve the problem connected with decorticating the

bre. Many processes have been brought forward from time to time,
and it was claimed for each of them that they had fully realised the
hopes of theirinventors. But promising as some of these processes were,
they do not appear to have been introduced into regular use, and only
one or two have at all come into prominence.

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Naturally the earlier ee to prepare Ramie fibre had even
the methods already in us e in preparing eats hemp and jute ; but it was
soon evident that as regards Ramie these methods were useless

fact that the fibre of the Ramie plant is addol in a gummy substance
offered the greatest obstacle to the production of clean and bright
threads suitable for the spinner,

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PARIS TRIALS, 1888.

he Concours I er national de la Ramie, recently held at Paris, took

sah ce in one o annexes of the proposed exhibition of 1889 on the

Quai d’Orsay (Place de Alma). It was attended by representatives
from all parts of the wor

Te was evident that the proceedings were watched with considerable

interest by inventors, no less than by persons directly interested in the

cultivation of the Ramie plant. Very complete arrangements had been

made beforehand by the French Ministry of Agriculture. Steam power

was provided and a large supply o of green stems (of the white-leaved

test the chemical processes, a quantity of Ramie ribbons were available
ae. to be converted into filass
e commission of jurors included M. Tisserand, Councillor of oes

and Director of Agriculture, a number of prominent engineers, chemists

and botanists Blah as the Professeur de fia ure of the Jardin des
Plantes), and the Director of Agriculture in Algiers. They w
evidently men who were acquainted with the economical aa tpi
connected w ith the cultivation and utilisation of the Ramie plant, and
the trials were conducted in a systematic and exhaustive manner.

LIST OF PRIZES OFFERED.
Prizes had been offered by the French Government in the os
five categories :—(a.) For a machine to Sees Ramie in a gree

steam power, Ist prize, 1,000 fr., 2nd prize, 700 fr.; (c.) For a machine
ofa light and portable Charik driven by horse power, aag suitable
for use in the Colonies, Ist prize, 700 fr., 2nd prize, 500 fr. .) For
a hand-power machine of a light and portable character, sabia for
use in the Colonies, Ist prize, 500 fr., 2nd prize, 300 fr.; (e.) For the
best, and most economical process (chemical or otherwise) to convert
the Ramie ribbons into apc narr ale. suitable for the use of textile
manufacturers, Ist prize, 1,000 fr., 2nd prize, 700 fr.

The entries previously made a "he Ministry of Agriculture ae
19 eigelivee and 10 (chemical) processes. On the morning of the trials,
only four machines and one chemical process were, however, submitted
to the jurors.

THE DE LANDTSHEER NEEE

Taking the machines in the order in which they stood, the first was
that invented by de Landtsheer, of "Pari s (Décortiqueuse de Ramie
Systéme de cripaecoant The cost was oli ted to be 407. This was
driven by steam power, and reqitined two men to seca to it. It had
a horizontal feed pre 4 Tagen of a series of rollers and crushers,
which received eight n stems at a time from the hands of the
operator, and passed shail ols to be beaten by a pair of rapidly revolving

drums very similar in character to those found in cae Neon machine,
In the de Landtsheer machine, however, cae is rse action
attached of an effective character. When about five. moves of the

ilos. per hour, and from green
stems, 18 kilos. per hour. As the latter were weighed before they were
dried, the calculations for dry ribbons would be about 6 kilos. If we
take the result at 54 kilos. per hour of dry ribbons, the de Tanttaka
machine would produce only 55 kilos, per day of 10 hours, equal to
about 124 pounds avoirdupois. The commercial value of these ribbons
at 7/. gs ton would be 7s. 6d.
The inventor claimed for the de Landtsheer machine that it could
eae 3 cwt. of dry ribbons per day. The small out-turn at the trial

There w
was difficult to believe that this machine could produce, as worked at
Paris, ribbons in commercial quality at a prakt ve cost.

THE BARBIER MACHINE.

The second machine, known as Barbier’s (Décortiqueuse Arman
pour la Ramie et toutes les aitita: textiles : Constructeur Paul Barbier,
Paris), was very similar in construction to the de Landtsheer machine
already described. The cost was the same, viz., 40/. It was also fitted
with a reverse action. The feed-plate was horizontal, and the operator
handled about 8 to 10 stems at a tim The fibre was somewhat
severely bruised in cleaning. In the first, trial with dry stems it pro-
duced 3°6 kilos. per sorta en aes Assa green stems it Epio
only 7°5 kilos. in 47 min There a large amount of waste, and
owing to the fibre being poarte ris dhesrads and forwards between the
revolving beaters, the ends were often badly tangled.

It was claimed by the inventor that this machine could treat 2,500
kilos. of green stems per day of 10 hours, yielding 125 kilos. (pre-
sumably of dry) ribbons worth 50 francs per 1

A machine soit of the Systéme Lassalle Seo by H.
ae Paris) was on the ground, but it was unable to compete in the

rials. For the parpous of this report it may be passed without further
netios:

MACHINE OF AMERICAN FIBRE COMPANY.

The next machine was exhibited by the American Fibre Company,
of pin = Broadway, New York, under the charge of Mr. Noble.

i on an entirely a g t plan from any of the fibre machines
hitherto i in use, and deserves a few words of description. The machine
was about 4 ft. 6 in. loiig, “and supported on standards about 5 ft. high.
Above the machine was a wooden structure designed to receive the
movable frames com which the stems were placed. The feeding was

ere pressed against a horizontally moving knife, which split hi
ath their whole length. After this they were bent in such a mann

to separate the fibrous bark from the stems, and deliver the former in
broad ribbons, ashiioet intact. No attempt was made to remove the
corky epidermis or separate in any way the constituent fibres. This
machine was worked by steam power, and required three men to attend
to it. The cost was not given. It was tried on green stems only, and
produced at the first trial 7 kilos. of wet ribbons in 18 minutes, At the
second trial it produced 12°8 kilos. of wet ribbons in 38 minutes.
These results would be equivalent to 21 kilos. of wet ribbons per hour
(or allowing otie- shed of the weight for dry aran be to about
15 pounds avoirdupois of dry ribbons per hour. t, however, be
borne in mind that the ribbons produced by this ASMAU were simply
the crude fibrous bark without any cleaning. The actual value of these

Paris, y is needless to remark, was practically useless for commercial
purpose
THE ROYER CHEMICAL PROCESS.
The only chemical process for converting Ramie T into m
(or the beautifully white silky threads which Ramie is capable
yielding) for textile purposes was shown by M. Ras, This was
described by the inventor as “Dégommage de la Ramie Brute:

“ Systeme E. Ro nA Paris. Le traitement nine complet de la
“ Ramie Brute par e Système constitue une Toy e de 10 à 12 fr.
“ par 100 kilos. de manta re brute The details of ie process were

not made "a The ribbons were laid Fersan in small portable
wooden crates, and submitted to the action of certain chemicals in
successive baths. Afterwards they were placed in an iron cylinder or
closely — steam = and perrie exposed to the solvent power
of steam igh pres The filasse produced was steeped white
in some so, fag t in pie it was mixed with portions of bark and
discoloured. The system appeared to be laborious ax costly. The
jury was unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as regards th
merits of the process during the session of the trials between the 25th
and the 30th Septe mber] eni the general opinion of those present was
not favourable to the pro

The actual trials commence pi ar the 26th September and closed on
the 30th. The first eo was iiaeo to trials with dry Ramie stems,
the second to green Ramie stems, w while the third was chiefly devoted

— by a dynamometer the powers necessary to drive each one, and
n some instances retried the machines in order to correct or confirm
the results already obtained.
anian OF THE JURY.
As regards the awards o e jury, in a letter received from the
Foreign Office, dated the ea instant, enclosing a despatch from the
English Embassy at Paris, it is stated that “since the International

5 th OE for machinery for, and methods of, decorticating Rhea
“ was held, the question of distr ibuting prizes was duly taken into

“ Embassy by the French Ministry of Agriculture, none the
. “ advortised iE were given, the jury having only mae the Tontowi
‘ing awards :— rancs to . de Latuteahe: 2, Place des
e “ Batignolles, Pai 400 francs each to Aas Compagnie Américaine
A __ des fibres, 18, adway, New York, and to M. Armand, whose

machine v was sb Siar by M. Barbier, "6, Boulevard Richard Lenoir,
<é
ort on the subject of the competition will be published in tke
=. « Bulltin de P eis iculture before the issue of the November number
of that periodical.”

These are, briefly stated, the results of the Paris trials on Ramie.
That the results are unsatisfacto ory, and disappointing, and fall far short
of the estimates of the inventors, there can be no doubt. It is probable
that a fresh series of trials will be inaugurated next year in connexion
with the Pa ris Exhibition of 1889; and if the value of the prizes is

THE FAVIER SYSTEM.

It will be pra that there was no trial this year of m Favier
system, which is in operation in TS and described in the Kew
Bulletin for Jina 1888, pp. 145-149. Nor was there a trial of the
Death machine (constructed by Death and Ellwood, of Leicester), which

has been in use, experimentally, in many parts of the world. Th
Favier process is being worked privately, and is therefore not available
to the public. The fi ‘hithe to produced h n exclusively used

who has long taken a deep interest in the Ramie fibre, was a member of
the jury at the Par is trials, and the articles which he has contributed on
the subject to the Je ournal de l Industrie Progressive of October 7 et seg.,
may be looked upon as embodying the views of one of the best informed
of French experts on the present position of the Ramie question.

THE TREATMENT OF DRY AS AGAINST GREEN RAMIE STEMS.

Amongst the French pe ze attached an E beyond their
value to machines for cleaning Ramie in the dry s his has
arisen partly, no doubt, p the fact that the Favier eaters the =
ne which hitherto has obtained a measure of success, requires the
eae to be dried before at are treated. An idea was also Selen
in France that in some parts of the country it might be possible for the
farmers to grow one or ain crops of Ramie, and cut and harvest the
stems in summer and work them off at their ina during the winter.

that France could compete with tropical act cal countries,

utu
exploitation of Ramie is treated as a question which more nearly
es Algiers and the French tropical Colonies
As s India and our own Colonies, it is essential that Ramie
anA should work upon the green stems, and not upon the dry. In

Se ee ia a ne eee ee

Se a, a obs

the a os when the air is impregnated with moisture, to dry
Ramie n the open air pei one would be an imponelbilite,
To not iy diy by artificial means the enormous quantity of stems

yielded even by a few acres woe ‘entail so much labour in handling,
and so much kie for buildings and fuel, that it would be altogether
a hopeless ta
ne: er- centage of Sipe pi B aater by Ramie stems is estimated at
t 10 per cent. If t must be first dried before they are
c

It miti be suggested that hanvoutiiig the stems should take place in the
dry season, when sr conditions would be most favourable to drying
them in the open This Samrin would not be practicable.
The fad grow Ga daib the r ainy season, and when once ripe they
must be cut at once. Besides, it is evident that the sooner one crop is
removed the better will be the prospects of the next. During the dry
pre the stems grow very slowly, and it has been noticed that such
ste e short internodes, are very woody, and offer relatively greater
a ti during the process of decortication.

OTHER PROCESSES AND MACHINES.

Of processes and machines not already mentioned, a is desirable to
refer to one or two for the information of persons w who m y not otherwise
become aware of them. Tn June aot last yonr Mr. C. Maria , of Durb-
hungah, Bengal, forwarded a series of sp of Ramie fibre in different
states of preparation to Kew, and “sted for an opinion upon them. I
appeared that he had invented a machine, worked by two men in the

This machine simply separated the fibrous bark from the wood. The
bark was then operated upon by other processes, and eventually it was
deprived of gum and mucilage and worked into a ieee fair fibre
suitable for oe by textile manufacturers. bre was
reported by Messrs. Ide and Christie to be “long, fairly da Ramie
“fibre, worth about 281. per ton.” The particulars of Mr. Maries’s
methods have not been made public; but we understand that a well-
known firm of merchants in Calcutta has acquired the patent connected
with heni and the system is now in course of being practically tested on
a large

ihe oak columns of the Times there recently appeared an account of

machine invented by Mr. John Orr Wallace, and placed on view at

the Irish Exhibition. “This was termed a “ a scutching machine
“« for cleaning ramie, flax, hemp, &c.” The apparatus is about 6 feet
high by 4 feet wide, and 5 feet vere It consists of an upper feed table
36 inches wide, on which the are fed to three pairs of fluted
rollers which elves: the stems Pein nw sa between five pairs of pinning
tools, alternating with six pairs of guide rollers. e pinning tools
somewhat resemble hand-hackles, and may be popularly described as
very coarse wire brushes. They are attached to two vertical frames, to
which a horizontal to-and-fro motion is imparted, and the pins regio
as the two sides approach. The rous materia
wards by rollers which have an intermittent motion, and at sath
momentary pause, the pricking pins enter the material and are rapidly
withdrawn from it. By degrees this curtain is delivered on to a
sloping prong ba ln table at the bottom of the machine, over which table
the wo oody substance “be previously passed to a receiver in a crushed
and semi- sien scare sondia. io perfectly free from fibre, This

machine, it may be mentioned, was not constructed for the special. wig
ment of Ramie. In spite of "thi is, however, it has cleaned Ram

fairly satisfactory manner, and the inventor claims that, sae a oe
necessary alterations in detail, he will be able to treat the stems either
green or dry, and pro aosce clean fibre at the rate of 1 cwt. per hour.
The machine can be driven yat two-horse power engine, and it requires
two persons to feed sia tend it.

Small quantities of Ramie st — grown at Kew have been guoa
passed through the machine. It is proposed by the inventor, when he
has completed the alterations, to aaa this machine to a So test
similar to that adopted at the Paris trials. For this Parnes: he states
that a arge. supply of Ramie stems will be obtained from France.

There are some special adv: vanes connected with this machine which
dese: = fe be mentioned. In the first place the feed tabie is so large
that at least 40 stems can be fed a the rollers at once. When t she mioma
have been fully grasped by the rollers, the operator need n
his hold upon them any longer. They pass on uninterru e. anes
the machine, and they can be followed immediately by a fresh lot
without the return action, which is an essential pe “of the treatment

rough usage to which the fibre is subjected in nearly all the purely
mechanical processes which have hitherto come under my notice.
Personally, I am unable to express an opinion upon the Wallace
machine. To say that it is more promising than any machine exhibited
at the Paris trials is merely to affirm that it is not altogether a failure.
When the machine is fairly tested on its merits, and it is worked con-
tinuously on large quantities of Ramie stems, the results will speak for
themselves. Until this is done it ie keie undesirable to do more

which, with further improvements, a ‘be rendered of service in the
production of marketable fibre

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.

An eminent firm of brokers recently informed me: “There is no
“ doubt that Ramie is exciting great interest in many parts of the world,

st Big er 02. per ton in likely to eases in chron a a

This opinion expresses very briefly and tay the a a, at ede
I have arrived in connexion with the preparation of Ramie fibre. It is
T possible that some machine or process will eventually solve the
oblem, but at present the exploitation of Ramie, in spite of years of
bor and the expenditure of large sums of money upon it, cannot be said
to have yet emerged from the experimental stage.
D. Morris.

APERE ie

eT ORE N e

PAER E E AA ARP TIA eR gd OE eI PAEA E NES pE

e MLE a AE art k ee E ater ea

XXIII.—RAMIE—(continued).
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn.)
[K. B., 1888, pp. 297-298.]

The difficulties attending the development of the Ramie industry
appear to be not confined alone to preparing the fibre as detailed in
the preceding pages. It is also ve that those who have in a measure
been successful in preparin bre in commercial quantities are
disappointed with the reception this fibre has received at the hands of
spinners and manufacturers. Ina word, it is found that Ramie fibre
when — is practically unsaleable in the London market at the
present tim A ne interested in Ramie estates wrote to
Kew a eee time ago:

” ia have spent ee ae on Ramie, but as yet cannot see our
“ way to commercial succ We have produced excellent filasse, but
- the cost has been far Heid Shitty and the chief difficulty seems to rest
“ not in the production of filasse, many systems [if the cin of cost
“ is set aside] have accomplished this, but in the spinning of the filasse
“ into yarn. No British manufacturing firm appears willing to take up
“ this rn aN on terms that would practically give them the
“& monopoly ; y also ie a guaranteed minimum of raw material

“ which we rn giv

In a subsequent acs the same correspondent states :—

“ I am beginning to think that the only way to succeed with Ramie
“ is to follow M. Favier’s system described in the Kew Bulletin, p. 148,

“on to manufacture. Then it will pay right well. At present the
“ filasse that would suit one manufacturer would be useless to nine
“ others, who would want it prepared differently.”

nother correspondent, in a letter dated the 14th November, from a
en point of view, appears to confirm the experience detailed
abov

“ k pa fied ee Sigs ane last there is an article upon Ramie
a fi Hav

“ enclosed sample. With our present appliances we could undertake to
“ deliver it at from ten to twenty cwts. weekly. So far we have not

; to find any man e prepared
“ material has been sent sena If you can render me any assistance

“ it will be esteemed a

Since the receipt of te pares Kew has been favoured by Messrs.
Ide aaa Christie, the well-known firm of fibre brokers in the City, with a
copy of their monthly circular dated the 15th November. In this
circular, under the head of China Grass and Ramie, it is stated :—

“On the 31st ulto. a large parcel consisting of about 130 tons
“ribbons and 20 tons Ramie or Rhea in various es of preparation,
“ were put up for public sale, practically without reserve, and after
“ being widely announced. The prices realised, viz., 8/. to 9/. per ton
“ for the ribbons, and 207. to 25/, ‘for the filasse, were most disappointing,
“ and testified to the languid interest which this material possesses for

“ the manufacturers of Europe. Considering the Sota with which
“ planters in various parts of the world regard this rial, and the
= aumoa = SA and machines which inventors ae set forth

or its manipulation, the result of this sale must be viewed as dis-
s “anally discouraging. would almost appear as if no true demand
“ exists for this interesting fibre, and that, in the present attitude of
“ the ape interest, the application of skill either to cultiva-
“ tion of T plant or extraction of the ‘ filasse,’ is premature and
“ misplace

In order to understand the present condition of the Ramie industry it
iaria be- prit to adopt some kind of classification of the details con-
ted with i In the first place we have the mere business of
neers ie Ramie plant, and = npor stems with the fibre in
the best possible condition. This is purely the work of the planter.

fibre from the stem in the form of ribbons and filasse. It is necessary
for many reasons that this should be done either by the planter on the
spot, or by a central factory close at hand. Thirdly, we have the purely

technical and manufacturing process in which Ramie filasse is taken up
by the spinners and utilized in the same manner as cotton, flax, and
silk are utilized for the purpose of being made into fabrics

For our present purpose we may take it for granted that the cultiva-
tion of the Ramie plant presents no insuperable difficulty. Also that if
a suitable selection of soil is made, and the locality possesses the neces-
sary climatic conditions as regards heat and Seri there is no reason
to doubt that napio co ame be papel to greater or less extent in most of

our tropical poss As regards the second iinet in which is
involved the docortionon of the Ramie stems—the difficulty, as shown
above, is by no means completely solved.

On this really hangs the whole problem. The third stage is dis-
appointing and unsatisfactory, because the second stage is still uncertain;
and being thus uncertain the fibre is necessarily produced in small and
itealer Araian and only comes into the market by fits and starts.
It would appear that e fibre differs so essentially from cotton and
flax that it can only be manipulated and worked into fabrics by means
of machinery specially dotiabpantad to deal with it. Owing to the com-
paratively limited supply of Ramie fibre hitherto in the market, no large
sib of ma painioti soj junds an it worth while to alter the present
r put up n achin ork up Ramie fibre. If appliances, or
seins tor decortiating Ramis i in the colonies were already devised,
nto the market regularly, and in aa T
say hundreds of is at a time—the ere is no doubt manufacturers would
be fully prepared to deal with it. At present the industry i is peas
a real i

the fibre from the stems, and preparing it cheaply and effectively.
cae after all, is the problem which has baffled solio for the last 50

SEEE

XXIV.—RAMIE—(continued).
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk, & Arn.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 268-278.]

Readers of the Kew Bulletin will raphi noticed that considerable

attention has been devoted in its pages to the subject of the present

The previous histor ory of Rami’ se Rhea, a ng of the various

efforts that have been made in recent years to a its valuable fibre

available for commercial enterprise, have been SRST bass summarised.

ring the present year interest in Ramie a to have become

} more and more general, and judging by the co on Penh e addressed

to this establishment the subject is followed with keen interest at home
as isda as in India and the Colonies.

onnexion with the Paris Exposition Universelle, 1889, a special

series “of trials was held of machines and pron for decorticating

amie (Exposition Universelle: Essais spéciaux de machines et
wpiareila pour la dätorda iion de la See and on the saci of the
In ogee Office, and in continuation of similar action taken last year,

D. Morris, F.L.S., the Assistant Director, was appointed to repre-
ae this country and to prepare a report of the results. This report,
with the permission of the Secretary oF State for India, is reproduced
below

Royal Gardens, Kew, October 26, 1889.
A series of interesting trials of machines and processes designed for
the decortica tion of Ramie was held by the French Minister of Agri-

The trials were resumed this year as an in smalls part the
Concours spéciaux des instruments agricoles of the E Uni-
verselle, and opened on the 23rd September last. The jury oonsialed

h
attendance of foreign representatives was considerably larger than in
1888, and the greatest interest was manifested in the ninen a by a
| large concourse of visit
| The machines and processes this year were confined to those which
| had been shown asa regular part of the general exhibition. As wi
be seen later, all the competitors were French, and this in spite of the
fact that more than a dozen machines and -e rocesses have lately been
meaa in this country, which are now in course of being carefully
tes

In my previous report it was pointed out that amongst the French
there was attached an importance beyond their value to machines for for
cleaning Ramie in the dry state. I ventured to express the opinion,

— stems, and in order to make them still more applicable to field
tions some of the stems were supplied freshly cut with leaves and

pa without leaves.

The following six machines and one process were submitted to the
Jury :—

1. E. Armand—Paul Barbier, 46, Boulevard Richard-Lenoir, Paris

2. P. A. Favier—Société la Ramie Française—14, Rue Saint- Fiacre,

d gre i

m
P. A. Favier—Société la Ramie Francaise—14, Rue Saint- Fiacre,
Paris [for treatment of green Ramie stems].
Norbert de Landtsheer, 2, Place des Batignolles, Paris [large
machine
Norbert de Landtsheer, 2, Place des Batignolles, Paris [small

machine

. Félicien Michotte, 43, Rue de Saintonge, Par

Ch. Crozat de Fleury et A. Moriceau, Villiers-le- Bel, Seine-et-
ae ae for the treatment of green Ramie stems in the
ld

PE ee Pe oe

BARBIER MACHINE.

The machine of M. E. Armand, constructed by M. Barbier, and more-
generally known as the Barbier machine, was in every respect the same

simple,and consists of a number of te and beaters with a reverse

e
(small) machine. adan the trials this machine caused a ‘considerable

quality. This would be at the rate of 130 kilos. of wet ribbons per =
of 10 hours; or of 96 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons for the sam
period.

In the ee trials 24 kilos. of stems with leaves were put through
he machine in 10} minutes. The result was 1'200 kilos. of wet
ribbons of R ER, quality. This would be at the rate of 68:500
kilos. of wet ribbons per day of 10 hours ; or of 50 pounds (avoir.) of dry
ribbons for the same period,

Taking into consideration the cost of this machine and the power
necessary to drive it, the out-turn of ribbo aia is much too small to prove
remunerative, and the machine in its present form is useless. Better
results than these have been obtained by ppa Ramie by hand.

FAVIER MACHINE.

Two machines were shown by M. P. A. Favier, whose name is baraa
known in connexion with the Basis industry. Machine No. 1 w
Siena for the decortication of green Ramie stems, while Machine
No. 3 was designed for the treatment of dry stems. In this report the
remarks apply only to Machine No.1. This machine was 2 m. long,

80 em. broad, and weighed 800 kilos. The price was nat stated. ai

oe ne ay Sit NN cine! Ue cme at en el Pe et Saar Nee Trg nS a a a o a

required three-quarter horse power to drive it, and two persons to feed

and receive the ribbons. The ee is adapted to be worked by four

persons, but at the trials, hei want of space, it was worked with
: ; ig

chemical process, also by the same inventor, into the finest filasse ready

for weaving. In outward appearance the machine was a long narrow

iron box furnished with numerous small cylindrical crushe
number of mo

prevented the escape of dust and débris. The feeding apparatus con-
sisted of a long narrow trough, in which the stems were arranged in
lots of four to six and fed to the machine at two apertures leading to
the rollers. The first pair of rollers was furnished with fine corruga-
tions to grasp the stems and pass them on to a somewhat complicated
system of crushers and beaters. The ribbons passed continuously
through the machine, and were ultimately delivered into the hands of a
workman at the other end perfectly free from wood and pith. In the
first series of trials md kilos. of Bes stems he loaves were passed
through the machine, in 4} nutes. Once or twice some of the
ribbons were onthe i in the Alir ad the akain had” to be stopped.
The time occupied in the stoppages was not counted. The wet
ribbons yielded by 10 kilos. of stems weighed 2° 820 kilos. This would

tli (avoir.) of dry ribbons for the same period. In the second
series stems, more or less with leaves, weighing 60°350 kilos. hehe
passed through the machine in 18 minutes. They yielded 18:100 k
of wet ribbons. This would be at the rate of 603 kilos. of wet ribbons
per day i 10 hours; or 443 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons for the
same peri

The ribbone in both cases were well cleaned. There appeared to
be no waste. a débris under the machine consisted almost entirely
of wood and

These results I regard on the whole as satisfactory.

The somewhat intricate character of the various parts of this

Ramie machines now available. It mi ht. however, be adapted for use
in central factories or usines where skilled labour would be obtainable,
nd for this and similar purposes the Favier machine may
recommended.
MICHOTTE pT

The Michotte Machine, called “La aise,” at first glance re-
sembled the Barbier and de Landtsheer caer machines. It wasdriven
by steam-power, and consisted of a pair of large rollers, each furnished
with helicoidal grooves running their whole length, The large rollers
first crushed the green stems and then - them on to beaters with

of piia Abbónik In both ies art ribbons were mixed with crush

and mangled stems, full of wood and pith. The fibres were also cut

transversely (probably by the helicoidal grooves) and rendered wnelent.
8895 E2

s machine in its present state possesses no merit whatever. It is
dion to realise under what circumstances it could have been entered
for trial.

DE LANDTSHEER MACHINES.

M. de Landtsheer exhibited tw rien The small machine was
very similar to that exhibited + him in 1888, but meanwhile it had
received some slight heditieasion rites to accelerate its movements.

It was driven by steam power and required two men toattend to it. It

about five-sevenths of their length, and by a reverse action (operated by
a long handle pushed by the workman) they were then withdrawn and
the other ends put in and cleaned. It will be noticed that each lot of
stems, under this arrangement, had to be presented twice to the machine
before they were cleaned. This involved a considerable loss of time and
reduced the daily out-turn of ribbons. Inthe Favier machine, as also in
the de rv. ig es large machine, this difficulty has in a great measure
been overcome. The de tandike small machine was used for green
stems in the fecond trials only. In these 24:400 kilos. of stems, with
leaves, were passed through the machine in 10 minutes. The yield was
6:500 kilos. of wet ribbons of good quality. This would be at the rate
of 390 kilos. of wet ribbons Per day of 10 hours ; or 286 pounds (avoir.)
of ay ribbons for the same period.

In the first trials this hee was used by de Landtsheer to complete
the sewed of ribbons previously passed through the large machine
In this instance 15 kilos. of partially cleaned and wet ribbons were

i min The

Sse te .
of excellent fibre worth, according to the opinion of experts, about 70 to
80 centimes per kilo.

The large machine of M. de Landtsheer, like the Favier machines,

Aiak se ready for drying. kas isan important point gain ned. Indeed
this the principal impro t noticed in the machines preseuted at
the Paris trials of 1889, and in all in which it had been adopted there
was a marked increase in the out- turn of ribbons. M. de ei s

side,

weight and price of this new machine were not le It was

ven by a two-horse power engine, and required two men to feed it
and remove the ribbo

In the first trial, 36 kilos. of stems without Aari ae? passed through
the machine in 24 minutes. They yielded 10 k of wet ribbons,
but these ribbons had a e TERS ANE of arg and wood lightly
adhering to them, and in one instance the amount of wood and pi

eae See E

aS A ee GES eh ee Pt cae SE arm oN oe eee ep be GE TE Meee Ot Oy

evident that this machine will prepare more than half a ton of dry
ribbons per day. It is not at all improbable that M. de Landtsheer will
be able to effect some further improvement in this machine. In an
case the machine is worthy wid cana Ae planters, oo with a single
instrument could work off about 50 tons of green stems per wee
This is an exceptionally good aagi and it pene to aioe what progress
has now been made in perfecting machines for treating the Ramie plant
on a commercial scale.

In the second trials 46 kilos. of stems with leaves were put through
the machine in 114 minutes. The result was 15 kilos. of wet ribban
(with ear of wood and pith adhering to them as before). This
would be at the rate of 783 kilos. of wet ribbons per ar of 10 hours;
or of 515 tae (avoir.) of dry ribbons in the same period. There
is a considerable difference between the results obtained by this machine
in the first and second trials. aN was also noticeable in the Barbier
machine. The construction of these machines evidently does not enable
them to cope with stems with Leased attached. On the other hand the
Favier machine did better with stems with leaves than those without
leaves. is, however, is not a matter of great importance. In the
field the leaves could be easily detached during the cutting; ard if not
removed then, they would fall off of their own accord after lying in a
heap (inducing a slight fermentation) for a few rs.

peak tiem! PROCESS.

Only one process was shown singularly simple, and con-
sisted of steeping the fresh (or dys seen fore short period in boiling
water and removing the ribbons by hand. An open galvanised tank

about 6 feet long, 2 feet wide, and about 4 feet deep, filled with
water, was raised on bricks Abs stones) about 18 inches from the ground
When water had reached boiling point a crate

e and character) left in it for 5 or 15 minutes. At the end of
that time the crate was lifted out, the stems left to drain while another

including the time occupied in immersing the stems) the workmen,
apparently not specially trained in the work, produced 5:600 kilos. of
excellent ribbons. This would be at the rate of 73 kilos. of wet ribbons
per 3 of 10 hours; or of 161 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons for the
same

This S pioaai, it will be noticed, is of the simplest possible description.
a only apparatus necessary is a tank. This tank could easily be

ved Soin place to place in the field, and the wood of the pee after

tha ribbons are removed would proba ly furnish most of the fuel
necessary. The ess = however, ony be atilised i in a few special
countries eae labour is very cheap.

M. de Fleury states that ribbons produced by this process can
be dried, baled, and delivered ready for shipment at a cost not exceeding
8 to 10 centimes per kilo. (about 35 shillings per ton). In Tonkin it

_ could be done for even less than this.

It will be noticed that the Fleury-Moriceau process follows somewhat
on similar lines that of the Favier process of 1882. In this latter
the stems were steamed for some time in a close fitting cylinder. The
former is, however, much simpler, and requires absolutely no skilled
labour, [no chemicals], nor any SGAE grcepta an open tank, nee or small,
according to the circumstances of the grow

The inventors of the Fleury-Moriceau process are evidently of
opinion = wherever sr labour is se it is in every way
preferable, in the production of Ramie ribbons, to the best machine.
After all, clams the Ramie stems in =e sete is only a modification
of the old retting process practised so long by the Chinese, and by
means of which probably the China grass of commerce is still produced.

s of a.
There the ryots might grow Ramie in small a prepare the ribbons
and sell them to merchants for export, or to a neighbouring factory or
usine. The st g process of M. Favier, eae for use under similar
TETS failed no doubt on account of the restrictions placed on
the use of the patent, and the uncertainty of the demand for ribbons.
The tocar process re-opens the question under circum
stances much more favourable, and the subject is one which donerees
careful consideration wherever labour is sufficiently abundant to permit
of ribbons crim produced at a price that will compete with machine-
cleaned ribbon

The relative value of the several machines, and of the Fleury-
Moricean process, tried at Paris in 1889, may be gathered from the
following tables :—

TABLE 1.—FIRST SERIES of TRIALS. Green stems, without leaves.

Estimated
` Quantity of
No. of | Weight : Quantity | Dry Ribbons
Machine. Hands eae ‘i a d Ribbons eter
employed.| (Kilo) | | Produced.| “To houra
: (Kilos,) (pounds
Avoir.).*
Armand-Barbier wee | 2 | 10 6m 1-300 96
Favier (No.1)... .. {| 2 10 42m 820 276
Michotte E E 2 7 lm. 1-000 —
de Landtsheer (large 2 36 234 0-006
baer oy lm 10-000 1,763}
Fleury - Moriceau pro- 2 18 46 m, 5:600 161
cess,

* In preparing this estimate the wet ribbons are calculated to yield one-third of
nmi sem of dry ribbons, and the kilo. is taken as equivalent to 2°204 pounds
oir,

+ This large yield of ribbons must be reduced tot
the pith and wood lightly adhering to them g My Sont 2 per opit. on Apobnst ©

TABLE 2.—SECOND SERIES OF TRIALS. Green stems, with leaves.

sti
: tity o
Foa Weight ; eiad Dry Ribbons
Machine, Hands | 9f Green | Time bons | Producible
employed. Sap employed. produced, `| 228 da;
(Kilos.) (Kilos.) 10 an
Avoir.)
Armand-Barbier - 2 26 10} m. 1:200 50
Favier (No. 1) - - 2 60:350 18 m. 18:100 443
Michotte - j 2 2 17:400 24 m. 6-000 =
de Landtsheer :
(@.) Large machine - 2 46 113 m. 15-000 575
C(b.) Small machine - 1 24400 10 m. 6:500 287

AWARDS OF THE JURY.

As was the case last year, the official report of the jury ses Sapa
not be published till the appeara se of the December number of the
Bulletin de V Agriculture. In the meantime it may be aintoued that
the jury, following the rules ‘stiplionble a = other exhibits at the
Exposition Universelle, awarded a gold medal to M. Favier; a gold
medal to M. de Landtsheer; and a ar yer er eae to MM. Fleury-
Moriceau. These awards, it will be noticed, follow closely the results
already detailed above, and they may be accepte ed as affording a clear
indication of the relative value of the several machines and processes
Sy te to the jur

o those generally interested i in rsa culture it may be mentioned
that tho- trials of 1889 have proved much more favourable than those
of 1888, and the subject is aitek s ripening for solution in many
A not thought of before.

an be best shown by comparison of the results as follows :—

TR nten obtained in 1889 compared with those obtained
in 1888.

Quantity of Dry Ribbons herenen ina
wind of 10 hours (pounds ir.)
Machine. orking on Green Ste
1888, 1889,
de y pacers
è “ ss jao 1,763*
a rome machine - > - 120 ’287
ü Š > » 71 96
eim To o. 1) - - - - — 443
Fleury-Moriceau - = x “i ~ 161

* See note in Table 1.

72
It will be noticed that the best results are rei in 1888 were at the
rate of 120 pounds of dry ribbons par day of 10 hours. This was with
the de Landtsheer small machine. n 1889 this aata with improve-
ments, produced at the rate of 287 atari of dry ribbons (more than
double the quantity) for the same period. With the large machine
make due allowance for the pith and wood lightly adhering to the wet
ribbons) the returns of dry ribbons would be at the rate of over half a
ton per day.
OTHER MACHINES AND PROCESSES.
Before St gets this report itis desirable to pass under review a few of
the machines and processes not represented at Paris which have recently
come into iting in this country and elsewhere. In the absence. of

to xpress | an authoritative opin n as the merits of such machines
and processes. They are nadia es hero for dhe purpose of furnish-
ing a more or less osek or record of Ramie experiments which have been

otherwise would not be available to persons interested in the subject in
India and the Colonies.

THE DOTY SYSTEM.

A system brought forward by e ain Doty {inventor of the Doty
light) is based on the assumption that no decorticating machine, how-
ever RERE will fully meet the requirements of Ramie planters,
who are obliged, with the aid of unskilled labour, to deal with a large
quantity of green Ramie stems within a short time. Captain Doty is
of opinion that where labour is cheap, women and children might be
employed to strip the fibre from the freshly cut stems by hand, and
leave 80 per cent. of the weight of the crop (the wood) oh the field.
Under such circumstances the ribbons alone would be carried away,
either to be dried for exportation or to be treated at central factories
or usines, firstly by a process of fermentation, and s subsequently by
chemical cleaning and w washing to produce filasse sed? for spinni

“ Notwithstanding,” says Captain Doty, “the failures of all previous
“attempts to deal with this fibre by fermentation it is almost self-
“ evident that a fermentive treatment is the only possible solution of
“the problem. No 2> ha nical emg that can be devised will ever
“ eliminate the gum by whic e fibres are cemented together, and
“ without the alimination of ae rii m the division and sub-division of
* the fibres necessary to produce a delicate filasse can never be
“ obtained.”

A trial of the Doty system recently took place near Rome, and a
report thereon was prepared by Signor G. Trombetta, Secretary to the
Italian Ministry of Agriculture, end published in the Bolletino di
Notizie Commerciale, Sept. Ist, 1889, pp. 689-690. In this report it is
stated oe the sy! Pe is based o on the Pest sh ge to which the
eng my 8

ut an
chemical ingredients for two hours, washed 4 in cold Silken pr dried and
combed. The report conéludes by stating that the fibre was in some
es al character jour. and quali ity, due to the
provisional nature of the appliances used ; but the ceai obtained on a

ME is Ree al

Pe oe een ae

small scale gave hopes that with larger quantities and suitable boiling
vessels, properly closed, and with proper machinery to agitate the mass,
the fibre would be obtained i in a more satisfactory condition.

THE TILL MACHINE.

As far as can be gathered from a description privately communicated
by rP inventor (Mr. C. G. Till), this is a large machine, weighing
i Lied i

ong as a
pe yt action, similar to the Favier and de inantaneer Gatge istine,
takes about 36 stems of green or dry Ramie at a time.
yet been fully tested for the out-turn of ribbons, but the inventor
estimates that it will clean between half a ton and a ton per day.

PAPLEUX SYSTEM.

In consequence of letters which appeared in the Melbourne Argus
at the time of the Centennial Exposition held at Melbourne, inquiries
were addressed to Kew respecting the Papleux system for cleaning
Ramie

This system was at one time in operation by Messrs. W. H. Spencer
& Co., of Hitchin, Herts, but is now abandoned. Recent experiments
have been gee on with a formula invented pe Messrs. ee them-
ag and by means of this they have been successful in preparing

mall ath bie of. fibre of ekain quality. Itis i protabio that Messrs.
W. H. Spencer & Co. will eventually be able to treat Ramie ribbons on
a large scale and convert them by mechanical and chemical means into
filasse or finished yarns. It is understood, however, that at present the
process is not available to the public.
PLAISIER EEES

A machine, the invention of a Dut h engineer named Plaisier, is the
subject of an extended Here in da Indiche Mercur of the 19th
January 1889, by Van Gorkhom. This machine, driven by an eee
i ia paie ee has been siibbaiatully worked at Deli, in Sumatra, fo

and it is stated to treat 5,000 kilos of green stems jor
hay ishing "195 to 150 kilos of ribbons.

GENERAL REMARKS.

In the Diplomatic and Consular ods Series 1889 (p. 37), there
is given an account of an experimental plan ng of Ramie at a colony in
the Province of Santa Catharina, Brazil. “This colony obtained ‘the
first prize for a collection of Ramie fibres at the An ntwerp Exhibition.

In the same Reports, No. 525, on the trade of Hankow, attention is
drawn to the facilities which exist there for procuring and man See
Rhea fibre on a large scale. The Consul adds, “it would give uch
“ pleasure to know that a good business in this article could

“here, But until machinery for preparing it is perfected, exports
“would be premature.”

On the 23rd August last a despatch was forwarded by the Foreign
Office from the Acting Consul at Caracas, dated the 25th July eat
giving an account of the formation of an Italo-Venezuelan Company
plant Ramie on a large scale. Experimental plantations had E esily
proved so successful that machinery had been imported tò begin the
operation of preparing the fibre.

As described in the Kew capcom iri e 145-149, a Ramie
factory established is Bi at Torro ontgri, Gerona, in the
eree oie of large Ramie raene ee to have e proved suc-
cessful. s factory employed the Favier decorticating machines. In
a letter Ba the 19th October 1889, Mr. Wooldridge, Her Britannic
Majesty’s Consul at Barcelona, informs us that “ Ramie is nie being
“ cultivated with papori results near Torroella,” and that “they con-
“tinue to use the Favier machines, which are believed to i the most
s nge machines of their kin

y be mentioned that these factories are being worked privately,
t ay the methods and machinery are not available to the public,
except under a special arrangement with M. Favier. The fibre prepared
is utilised in France, and does not come into general commerce.

In British tropical possessions, both in the East and West Indies,
Ramie is being grown experi mentally, i in the hope that some machine or
process will eventually be produced to pees the fibre to enter into
commerce and become a regular article of tra

The results of the Paris a reat year naturally discouraged Ramie
growers, and little if any extension of Ramie planting has taken place
since that time. The results of the recent trials will no a be ages
scanned bY those interested in the subject. The first aim of plan
should be to produce ribbons of good quality at the halha: t possible a
In other words, planters have to solve the stion how e
Ramie ribbons, that is, to secure the agge removal A the cortex
(which contains the fibre re) from the green stems, at such a cost as will
prove remunerative to themselves and at the s mi time allow sufficient
margin for the cost of converting these Pia into filasse ready for
the spinners. Hitherto the want of success in the production of ribbons
has rash been the only obstacle to “the development of a Ramie

indust And probably on this account the Paris trials were wholly
devoted to the production of ribbons ai. not of iri The conversion
of ribbons into filasse is a subject believed to be more easily dealt with.

which appear to accomplish it. Some machines, it is true, have
attempted to produce filasse by a single ai from the e green stems.
The result has not been satisfactory, and it is very unlikely that this
can be done with a plant like Ramie, in which the individual fibres are
so completely immersed in gummy matter. Hence the subject has been
divided in two parts. The first is concerned alone in the removal of the
fibre in the form of ribbons from the green stems, either in the fields or
in their immediate neighbourhood. The second is devoted to the treat-
ment of these diets and to their conversion by chemical and other
processes into filasse, or fine white silky fibres ready for the spinner.
The first process will’ naturally take place where the plants are grown
in the colonies or elsewhere, and machines like those of Favier and de
Landtsheer, or processes like that of Fleury-Moriceau, may be adopted
according to the special circumstances of the planter. Sufficient pro-
ess has now been made in the working of these machines and processes
to justify careful trials being undertaken with them both in India and
the colonies. If these iare or any others that toy be forthcoming

Le Patey satisfacto a low initial cost,
e question of their sed een into filasse is one ses will natu urally
Feet into ses ne e conversion of ribbons into filasse will very

skilled labour are the more readily available. In some countries it may
be found advisable later on to establish central factories or wsines on the
spot (to save freight charges on the ribbons), and ship only the filasse

to Europe. In any case, once a Ramie industry is well started, there
can be no doubt that numerous countries will seek a share in it, and only
those possessing special advantages for the growth of the e plant, a supply
of cheap labour, and good facilities for transport and shipment, can hope
to make it a success.

The best market for Ramie at present appears to be aang What
little is imported into this country, in the form of ree na Grass, or Rhea
is bought up for the French market. In the Monthly Cinema of
Messrs. Ide and Christie for the 15th October 1889, Chi a Grass i
quoted “‘ peti ” at 31s. to 35s. per cwt.; and Rhea, “no “soe Batt èn
14s. to 10s. per cwt.

With regard to what is known in commerce as “ China Grass,” this is
hand-cleaned api shipped usually from Chinese ports. It arrives in
this country in small parcels, na yearly importation being only about
100 tons. Tt is is nearly all taken up by Continental buyers. Rhea is the
term applied to machine-cleaned ‘fibre, Smo es the form of ribbons
or half-cleaned stuff. The price is muc i tha China Grass, and in
case of large shipments would probably at pier | about 7/. or 8/. per
ton. It is important therefore for Ramie planters to aim at the produc-
tion of ribbons at a cost not exceeding about 4/. or 5/. at the port of
shipment. Important elements in such produ ae would be to plant
Ramie only in places where the soil and ‘olisteate will allow of three or
four crops being reaped per annum; where labour is very cheap and
abundant, and where good facilities exist for transport and shipment.

RRIS.

XXV.—RAMIE—(continued).
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 284-287.]

The report on the results of the trials of machines and methods f
decorticating Ramie stems, held at Paris on the 23rd September 1889,
is given in the preceding pages

is evident from this report that considerable progress has been
made towards a solution of the problems involved in the treatment of
Ramie fibre, and it remains for kak interested in the subject in India
and the Colonies, to initiate locally such further experimental trials of
machines and methods as will determine, with an abundance of green
stems at hand, whether Ramie fibre can now be made available for
commercial enterprise

The Foreign Office has Cove Lae: the following letter addressed
to Lord Lytton, Her Majesty’s Ambassador at
Crowe, C.B., Commercial Atiaché f for pr Snrope, respecting the results of
the trials of Ramie fibre machines

My i ris, October 29th, 1889.
TH reference to Lord Salisbury’s Despatch (No. 124 of the
23rd satan on > subject of the awards and official reports in the

matter of Rhea fibre-cleaning machines at a Universal Exhibition,
I have the honour to enclose copies of the general list of awards which
has just been made public, to ee I have added a list of the special
awards for decortication of Ramie fibre

The [official] nome which have been asked for will probably not
appear, so I hear from Mr. Berger, till some time next een

Ih
(Signed) sie e CROWE.

[Enclosure.]

EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE, 1889.
Concours de Décortiqueurs pour la Ramie.

First Prizes.
A. Favier, Société la fe: Se a 14, Rue Saint-Fiacre, Paris
[tor machines for treating Ramie stems
Norbert de Landtsheer, 2; Place des Batignolles Paris [for machine
for treating Ramie stems].
Second Prize.

Ch. Crozat de Fleury et A. Moriceau, Villiers-le-Bel, Seine-et-Oise
{for process for the treatment of green Ramie stems in the fie eld].

In regard to M. Favier’ P. eae which were awarded a first prize

for cleaning green Ramie ms, this g entleman, well known ving
evoted during the last 10 acca much time and henuda = the develop-
ment o mie industry in France, Spain, and other countries, has

forwarded her particulars of his machines to omeni those
already given in Mr. Morris’s Report :—

M. FAVIER TO ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

Paris, 14, Rue Saint-Fiacre,
SIR, llth November 1889.

VE duly received a copy of the Kew Bulletin of miscel-
laneous ee mation, which you have been good enough to send me, and
I beg to thank you for the complimen

Sin oade trials upon which you have reported I have added some
mere ents to my machine, es prevent the ribbons from — en-
pot Pe aos rollers, and on the 23rd October I carried out further
an aca in the presence of numerous people pisos in the
sud)
passed through my machine, with two workmen, 100 kilos. of green
stems, more or less with leaves, in 12 minutes. This is equivalent to
5,000 kilos. of green stems (a and assuming the rate of yield at 5 per cent.
of dry akae) to about 550 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons per day of

900 kilos. of green stems, and
give a noan equivalent to 775 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons per day
of 10 h he ribbons, as you saw at Paris, are perfectly free from
pith Prg
The intricate nature of my machines to which you allude is only
apparent. ey a Paco! of psig ge of similar parts of crushers
and rollers, weighing 10 or 12 kilos, each, so arranged that they can be
easily taken in and out. e work of putting up these machines is very
simple, and they can be easily regulated by anyone.

4
|
l

The little power required to drive my machines (three-quarter-horse
power) clearly indicates that the several parts are not hea avy to move,
and that there is really nothing in them cumbersome or involving strain
on the fibre as in other Ramie machines hitherto produced

The cost of my machine (for treating green Ramie stems) will
probably be 807. to 1007., with a royalty, which is not yet fixed.

ave, &e
(Signed) PA RAY
Directeur de la Société “La
D. Morris, Esq. Ramie Frangaise.’

At the date of the publication of Mr. Morris’s report, the demand for

amie ribbons in the London market was so slight that the prices quoted
may possibly have offered little inducement for embarking in Ramie
growing in the olonies.

The information received from ees Ide and Christie, in a letter
dated 29th October 1889, was as follow

“There is very little inquiry for ribbons at present, and we do not

“think they would fetch more than 8/. to 107. per ton. We may
“ confirm our circular report by simply oe ‘ Nothing doing.’
4 There Lare some parcels of highly prepared Ramie in London just
now, e of Indian and some of English manufacture, the values of
u whioh 7 range from í si, to 507. nominally. Those are on sale, but the
“ demand is almost nil.”

Binge eat sime J ae it appears begs a considerable improvement
has tak the price of Ramie ribbons, and Messrs. Ide and
Christie, i ina pace dated the 5th acei ols last, ‘were able to report as
follows

“ There is an inquiry for spraet ss and we are now disposed to
“ think that the hanes of a real trade in the article are in process of
“formation. At least we ‘feel sure pS are buyers in the market of
“100 tons of BOO up to 12/. per ton, and we could not perhaps

nths ago.

In Messrs. Ide and Christie’s monthly circular, dated 15th Mevamber,

it i is stated :—
“ China Grass. zor inquiry, and a large turn over has occurre

“ from 30s. to 34s. [per cwt

“ Rhea.—-Stocks ma raw ribbons cleared out up to 16s. [per cwt.].
p yria. bare, with plenty of inqui

t may be mentioned that the diii on the Papleux system, which
appeared at p. 73, may be supplemented by the information essrs.
W. H. neer & Co. are associated with the Boehmeria Company,
Limited, at Hitchin, Herts, formed for the purpose of converting Ramie
and other textiles into yarns.

XXVI—RAMIE AS FOOD FOR SILKWORMS.
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn.)
[K. B., 1890, pp. 174~-175.]
The Ramie or Rhea plant (Boehmeria nivea) is being experimentally

CE in numerous parts of the world as a fibre plant. Particulars
in re to thé numerous attempts that have been made to prepare
the Bire of the R ercial scale have already been given

in these pages. It now appears: that the leaves of the Ramie plant
may be used as a food for mpi in the same a, as those of
hr

no reason why they should not be found equally suitable. The follow-
ing account of the use of Ramie leaves for feeding silkworms in the
United States was communicated to the For a OOE by Mr. A. de G.
de Be rae ie H.B.M.’s Consul at New Orl

“ A discovery has been made by a lady in " Columbia, = C., that ar
have a marked effect upon two great industries. For a number of
seasons this lady has amused herself by feeding silkworms ninth sending a
few pounds of cocoons to the Women’s Society for the Encouragement
of the Silk aise in sight oer The extraordinary warmth of this
winter caused the o hatch far in advance of the season, and as the
young leaves of ais sited and the Osage orange nes not put forth,
our amateur was at a loss what to do. An account adds

*** Seeing that the foliage of the Ramie in a neighbouring field was
putting out, she gathered some and put the worms upon it. They fed
ravenously, and she kept up the supply until the Osage orange leaves
appeared. Then she divided her worms equally, feeding one set with
Ramie, the other with Osage orange. She kept the cocoons separate
and sent them to Philadelphia. The experts there were astonished at
the size of those spun by the Ramie eaters, and wrote to the lady to
know what she ee done to secure them. They were not only larger,
but the silk wa

“Tf further expieniibietite should prove that Ramie leaves can be
depended upon for silkworms’ food, then a great impetus will be given
to the production of this valuable article in the South, while it willadd
to the profits of those who raise that plant for its fibre.”

NOTE ADDED, 1894.—With regard to the above statement, Professor Riley,
a a 2 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, remarks in Insect Life,

an baboa a as the discovery is a valuable one, if true. We have endeavoured
to secure an authentication, but have not succe eeded as yet. In spite oe hen ah

x Son Oa in u gist where Ta first appeared) writes us mat the item must have
es, and that he cannot vouch for the
" a reliability of the re ” ee

XXVII—PARIS RAMIE TRIALS, 1891.
[K. B., 1891, pp. 277-278,]
The s mr of Ramie has one ce more been br hn Sod ae in France.

mie was held at Paris under the auspices of The Société des Agri-
culteurs de France on the 25th to the 30th September last. It will be

At the trials in September last the stare of Kew able to
be present as representative for India. The sine place at
Gennevilliers, a suburb of Paris, in a field where Ramie (the white-

b o
leaved sort) had been grown specially for the purpose. After the trial
of the decorticators had been completed the ribbons were passed
on to be treated by the chemical processes so as to test i
the amount of filasse (or marketable fibre ready for spinning) produced
by each system. The chemical processes have necessarily occupied
y and ard b

XXVIII—RAMIE OR RHEA IN IRELAND.
[K. B., 1892, p. 251.]
What little interest is being taken at aie in extracting Ramie
Fibre from Boehmeria nivea appears be centred at: Belfast.
a applications have been "ceived at ee for Ramie stems

tact winter the plants at Kew tere “yielded a poor crop of stems. It
may be useful to state that investigators of Ramie in Ireland could
very well obtain stems either from the Royal Botanical Gardens at
Glasnevin, or from growers of the sete in the mild climate of the South
of Ireland. . F. W. Moore, Keeper of the Glasnevin Gardens, writes
that the plant is “ quite rai ” with him, and he would be pleased to
“oe mat as far as his resources allow, to those who apply to him
r them

XXIX.—RAMIE MACHINE TRIALS AT NEW
ORLEANS. :

[K. B., 1892, pp. 304-306.]

The latest information connected with the extraction of fibre from Ramie
(Boehmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn., and Boehmeria nivea var. tenacissima,

w Orl P
September last, and ‘the Report of the Board of Experts, acting as jury,
has just been publish ed.*
a U: f Agriculture. Division of Statisties. New
: apani No. 90, September Ar Goober 1892. Washington Government
Printing Office, pp. 347-354. oe

The results of the New Orleans trials do not appear to carry us any
nearer to the solution of the problem that nae been so long ander con-
sideration in regard . the extraction of e fibre. The
presented do not a r to possess any Apeere over DR tried. a

are apparently inferior to the machines tried also at Paris under the
auspices of the Société des Agriculteurs de France in September 1891.
The following extracts are taken from the United States Report :—
MACHINES ENTERED.

“ The official trials of Ramie machines, under the auspices of the office
U.S

the last week in September at Audubon Park, New Orleans, came off on

the 30th of Babar: and included trials upon pS stalks as well as

upon stalks of Ramie.
“ Three machines were entered for trial as follows :—The Kauffman
eK he

pany, of Galveston, Texas; the Fibre Delignating machine (known as
the J. J. Green machine) jer the United States Fibre Company of
Versailles, Ky.

The Edopnda machine.—According to the entry of this machine
it requires 15-horse power; it works upon green stalks stripped of
leaves and upon dried stalks. Four attendants are required to run it ;
floor space occupied 6 by 14 feet. The machine is termed a decorticator
for Ramie, jute and hemp. .....

“ The Fremerey machine—In the entry of this machine about
d-horse power is stated. The machine is arranged to work npon green
—— either stripped or with the leaves and upon dry stalks. It
occu a floor space of about 5 by 18 feet. The machine requires five
attendants, t three of whom may be boys.......

“The J. J. Green machine. —Ten-horse power is named as the power
required to drive this machine. The entry states that it works upon
dried stalks (but it is also emg to work green stalks with or with-
out leaves). Five attendants are required for full ym three of
whom may be boys ; it occupies a floor space of 8 by 12 fee

TRIALS ON GREEN STRIPPED RAMIE.

“ The first trial was with the Kauffman machine, 500 pounds p green
stripped stalks having been weighed out for the test. Of this amount
332 pounds of stalks were run through the machine in 42 faaata ee
the machine clogged. The result in wet ribbons was 88 pounds, and
168 pounds of stalks remained unworked, owing to the inability of the
machine to proceed further.

“The second trial was with the J. J. Green machine, 500 pounds of
green stripped Ramie stalks having been weighed out for the test. Of
this quantity 225 pounds of stalks had been delignated in 1 hour and
35 minutes, producing 574 pounds of wet ribbons, 275 pounds of gree
stalks remaining un worked, owing to the inability of the machine to
proceed further.

“ Mr. Fremery declined to anjer this trial after 500 pounds of green
stripped Ramie stalks had been weighed out, claiming that the stalks were
too uneven in size, the Sees dias of his machine requiring medium

erases.

e the sitet for a day’s work, based on thie fone ye short
running, are mo misleading, ti p interesting to note that the output
of the Kauffman machine, dur e 42 minutes of continuous work
before it oboe, represents 4 743. i of green stalks in 10 hours of
continuous action, ora little over 2 tons, with an output of 1,257 pounds
of wet ribbons, equal to about 420 pounds of dry ribbons, which wei ight
would be considerably reduced after the loose hurds and woody matter
remaining in the ribbons produced by this machine had boaii eli thiantod.
“ In like manner, were the J. reen machine to run cect
for 10 Scie turning out ribbons at the rate of speed shown when
actual operation (that is, deducting the 67 minutes ~ in pirer iya
and re-adjustment) the output would have shown a ca acity of 4,821
pounds of stalks and 1,232 pounds of wet ribbons, equal to about 410
pounds of dry ribbons. But, as shown, both machines were unable to
finish the 500 pounds of stalks weighed out to each for the tria
“The results vf the New Orleans trials are satisf actory as far as they
have demonstrated the status of the machines entered, and established an

American record tbat gives a starting poin future comparison, as
the results of other trials are made known. It is to be regretted, how-
ever, that a 1l number of machines not representec. Int

ine
though I shall endeavour to cover the whole ground in a special report,
Bulletin No. 5, Fibre Investigations, to be issued at an early date.”

The trials with Jute stems were very similar in their results to those
noted in the case of Ramie ste There was no conclusive evidence

stalks in 20 minutes, yielding 32 pounds of wet ribbons he ribbons
were described as “ well delignated with a very smail percentage of
woody waste. The fibre occasionally was somewhat broken.

Sea Deanne ier bist noone on

XXX.—CHINA GRASS. 1891 ONWARDS.
[K. B., 1898, pp. 209-224. ]

In former articles in the Kew Bulletin, the names China grass,

CHINA GRASS is obtained from Behmeria nivea, easily recognised by
the white under side of the leaves, which yields an paced crop of stems
in the ap air, even in England.

RAMIE or RHEA is Seinä d from B. tenacissima, which ha; the

mature ose green underneath, and in this country can only be grown
under glass
PARIS TRIALS.

Trials of machines for the prepone of China grass were held at

Paris in the years 1858, 1889, a ase
he first were under the ane of the French Government; the
ree were given in the Kew Bulletin for 1888 (pp. 273-280). nie

second were in connexion with the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889;
the results were also published in the Kew Bulletin (1889, :pp. 208-
278; 284-287). The third was not a Government “isn app eer ge

nce trials of 1891 took place at Gennevilliers, nea Set on the
e plantation belonging to the Société Agricole de la Ram The
atk cultivated was China g rass (Behmeria nivea), and it was aaa
stood aa its Agius: had the advantage of a supply of Paris sewage.
The grow the crop was extrem ‘ly vigorous and in that respect left
nothing * diane The stems pnongib to the first frost, which, however,
pae not spp to injure the ro
x machines were submitted T ean of these only the four
which Svar rewards require notice
Faure Nihit
This received a gold medal. It admitted of being worked by hand,
but the most E Gto noe were obtained when driven by a steam
mechani

table from which oe were drawn in leaf-end foremost by two revolving
rollers. Behind these was the decorticating apparatus. This consisted
of a drum carrying twelve beaters which appeared to be made of simple
iron. The bed against which these beaters worked was a quarter of
a cylinder, the radius of which was smaller than that of the drum
rrying the beaters. Th3 space between these and the surface of the

bed therefore varied. The beaters first strike the stems, and, without
injuring the fibrous cortex, break t y core into segments
about an inch long As the stem passes on into the wider cars the

d
dry at any SAREM from the machine tha t may be desirable. The

(when died) of ribbons in six minutes (or 400 lbs. of dry ribbons for a
day of 1 am; these ribbons after degumming yielded 1} lbs. of
pa or fs -G r cent.
he Faure machine of this type has, however, been spora
abandoned by its inventor. The form at present in use will b
desorbed subsequently.
De Landtsheer Machine.
This was not materially different in principle from that exhibited at
pores competitions. lt is described in the Kew Bulletin for 1883
(pp. 2 5-276) and 1889 (pp. 271-272). It received a gold medal

partly as e ground of the long services of the inventor to the solution
of the problem.

Barbier Machine.
This also did not appreciably differ from that shown at previous
trials. It has already been described in the Kew Bulletin (188%,
p. 276 ; 1889, p. 269),

Subra Machine.
This resembled in some respects the two preceding machines. But
the beaters work continuously wi ithout reverse action, There was an

hand. T y was, howe of opinion that the Subra machine,
arep in the hands of pepali skilled orkaan would probably
lead to serious accidents. It had, however, the advantage of removing

the epidermis in great part as. well as the woody core from. the
ribbons.

Like the Faure, Ey Subra machine in the form now described has
also been abandon

Since 1891 the iei of treating the fresh stems of China grass by
mechanical methods has engaged incessantly the attention of inventors.
The results up to the present time are reviewed in the following pages.

or convenience a general sammary is given in the first place of thefacts
relating to the raw material.

SOURCE OF MATERIAL,
aps the most important advance has been in the complete
abandonment of the attempts hitherto made to treat the dry stem
This has been definitely acknowledged to have been a mistake, ex-
perience having proved that to obtain the full advantage of the many
valuable qualities of the fibre the stems must be treated in the green
tate.

The original China a so long cultivated by the Chinese under the
name of Tchou Ma is Behmeria nivea, Hk. & Arn. The leaves in
this are white-felted beiei. The plant is moderately hardy in tem-
perate countries, and it grows well during the summer months in the
South of England. During 1895 an exceptionally good crop was
harvested in Kew froma small plot that had been established in the
open ground for more than five years. An equally large crop is being
produced this year (1898). The plants are, however, regularly eut
down by the first frosts in October and do not sprout again until the
middle or end of May. us only one crop is capable of being produced

France, Algiers, the United States, and many parts of India. The
plant is more readily propagated by division of the rhizome or rootstock
than from se

Ramie or Rhea i is probably ay a geographical variety of China grass,
but from an economic point of view the differences between them are so
important that the two plants hoari be kept pa distinct. The a
r Rhea (B. tenacissima, Gaud.) is sometimes known as the gree:
leaved China grass. This name has been elven it as the leaves are
green on both surfaces. On this account it can be readily distinguished
rom ordinary China grass in the field. In habit the plant is more
robust and the stems under favourable conditions are larger and more

and the neighbouring islands. Rhea is the
Malay name for one and the-same plant. The Malay name is the one
8895 F2

generally used in this country ; in India, Rhea is chiefly used. This
plant thrives only in tropical countries and it is useless to attempt to
cultivate it elsewhere. At Kew it will only grow well when kept under
glass all the year round.

Both plants require good oP soil such as is found in nes eee eee
in tropical countries. The climate should be warm and and
without a prolonged dry season. In the systematic genta? whieh

ina grass receives at the hands of the Chinese it is abundantly supplied
with moisture and mema and by these means several crops are pro-

ced in one season. Hence poor soil and rather dry situations are quite
a aible for, growing thess plants. The relative yield of China grass and
Ramie over large areas has not yet been definitely determined. This isa
matter that deserves careful investigation, as also the relative quality of
the fibres and their suitability for various textile ke e two
plants are kept distin ot m Jamaica. Mr. W. Fawcett, F.L.S., Director
of ae. Botanical Department in Jamaica, states :—“ The green-leaved
“ Ramie (Baehmeria laha issi Mma) is evidently the best for low elevations,
“while China grass with the white under-surface (Bæhmeria ee is
“ the best for the hills. At Cinchona (4,800 feet, with a mean tempera-
“ ture of 61:4° F.) the latter is growing 10 to 12 feet hi gh.” An regards
difference in growth, ae r. W. Cradwick at the Hope Gardens (elevation

600 feet, mean temp. 754° finds that the “green variety pro-
“ duces with similar iwaenieiit “about double the number of canes per
‘

In the Agricultur al Ledger (1894, No. 6, p. 4), issued by the
Government of Indi ia, Dr. Watt draws attention to the different
ri adh ages as regards climate between China grass and Ramie in the
following words :—

“lt aod obviously be a mistake to attempt the cultivation of the
temperate-loving plant (B. nivea) in the tropical plains of India. But

t. is actually what has be

a China gras

nothing towards endeavouring to extend the production of Ramie
(B. tenacissima) which, for the sake of convenience of expression, we

may characterise as its indigenous stock.”
As eee other gas of difference between China grass and Ramie
the follow ing opinion was expressed in a letter addressed by Kew to the

India os dated the Sth May, 189

“ Whether the fibre of Ramie is at " best really as good as the best
China grass ( Bæhmeria nivea) is a point that appears not to have been

under essentially tropical conditions. The question as regards India
may easily be settled by cultivating under various conditions of climate
and soil authentic specimens of each plant, and by instituting, as
suggested by Dr. Watt, a careful chemical and microscopic analysis of
the fibres yielded by Indian-grown plants of both Behmeria nivea and
B. tenacissima.”
r the United States, with a ry ioc ney a4 tind climate, except
south, the plant so far cultivated is China grass
(Behera nivea). In a “ Report ‘No. T) on res Cultivation ‘of Ramie
n the United States,” by Mr. Chas. Richards Dodge, issued by the

U.S. Department of Agricultnre (Washington, 1895), the distinctions
between China grass and Ramie are not so clearly kept in view as could
be wished. Practically the former only is dealt with. But the name
Ramie or Rhea is unfortunately se! pete to it. It is probable that China
grass Bohne nivea) is the more common plant under SH at
the present time, but it is possible also that, where Ramie or Rhea
(Behmeria tenacissima) is grown, sitfficient emphasis i is not Tid on the
fact that it i t the ordinary China grass of commerce. As pointed
out by M. Charles Roux in Notice sur la Ramie, * this error has crept
“into many publications and has been extremely preitidioial to the
“ development of this culture. It has been represented that Ramie
i “ (Bæhmeria seee Heeel is successfully grown in France, but well

‘ organised experiments e proved that this isa mistake. Ramie is
“ essentially a plant of warm ea- The plant chiefly cultivated in
France, and possibly in tk ort is China grass (Behmeria nived).

The fibre at present kno ommerce as China ee is the Pona
of B. nivea, prepared ankay. by et th To in China. The stems are
ape stripped and the epidermis remo y scraping ae washing, but

good deal of the gum is still left in perce with the fibre. This has
pk tonipem a to be removed by chemical means in Europe. The
T eg 4 of this China gras En available is somewhat limited. It
forms, however, the chief paata of the raw material used for China
ish y Erihs hitherto produced in i de country and the Continent.

amie in commerce is a term applied indifferently to the produce of
either B. nivea or B. tenacissima. Its chief use in Trade Reports
appears to be to distinguish between machine-prepared fibre (“ Ramie id
and the hand-cleaned fibre of the Chinese (“China grass”). The
machine-cleaned fibre in commerce consists of (1) ribbons or sirip
which are merely the cortical layer removed from the stems and dri
or (?) the grey, brown, or whitish fibre in a more or Jei cleaned
Neonat freed from wood, and from the epidermis and gummy
matters,
The use of the term China grass we arene o the hand-cleaned fibre
shipped from China is free fron objection. It is really re Bidet of
B. nivea, and no confusion oe like o arise. The m should,
however, be applied to all fibres, whether cleaned by hand k ie Y ticki
if originally derived from B. nivéa. The latter might be called

ne-cleaned China grass.” On the other hand the term Ramie

should be strictly limited to the ihia of B. anaren A
classification of the hand- and machine-ċleaned fibre appoi in
commerce (showing oie hepa! origin) might he adopted a follows

1. Commercial Chi

na). Produced from the China
: grass plant, Behmeria
nivea

we
i?)
ZA
pi
3
fon
mn
n
E
o
o
=)
m
©
e$
~
a
=
g
&
DH

(hand- or machine-cleane
| China grass raw fibre
. (machine-cleaned).

1. Ramie or R $ Po or lanieres Send usb fn he Raie
j iewer -Gr echinie crear) or Rhea plant, Boone
med Rhea'ra tenacissima.
(machine-cleaned).
The completely cleaned and bleached fibre or filasse could be easily
PE E as China grass filasse or Ramie or Rhea filasse, according
| to the plant from aiden ae it was orignally obtain

Parag the last five years more interest appears to have been taken
in these fibres in the new world than in the old.

PENRE ET T ET PA A

The United States Department of Agriculture has organised a
systematic series of experiments in different sections of the co untry,
_ and these are likely to pons very interesting results. Mr. Richa rds

Dodge’s report (No. 7) already mentioned contains a large mass of
very useful information. In fact, it may be regarded as containing,
from the American point of view, all that is known practically of the
cultivation and treatment of China grass.

PLANTING.

The following is extracted from the Voreign Office Report, Annual
Series, 1897, No. 2017, p. 8 :—

The cultivation of the Ramie plant Lprobaty China grass], the
fibre of wtih is superior to flax, on the lands owned by the Imperial
domains at Chakva, near Batoum, i is attracting a aad deal of attention
just present. The climate and soil of the low-lying land in that
locality appears to a this plant extremely well, and within two years
it has aai te o great an extent that the Administration of the
Imperial domain lendi is able to furnish a considerable quantity of the
isd stalks to the Government Paper Mills at St. Petersburg, where it
is to be seneg in the manufacture of the paper from which rouble notes
and Lge gee bill of Stee forms are made.”

already stated, both China grass and Ramie have been grown

anii in Jamaic ca, and a Age useful Memorandum has been

published by Mr. W. Fawcett, F.L.S.,in the Bulletin of the Botanical

acciment agpi pp. Ba. This sues also, a Report of the

a Committee with reference to.a prospective trial of the Allison

Fi me re M kt. The following extracts give the cultural results
obtained in Jamaica (Report of the Director, 1894-95, pp. 221-224) :—

“ From experience €I think there is little reason to doubt that the best
part of the plant to propagate from is the bottom of the ripe stem. Ifa

ped, an
canes should be reaped, cutting them to within two inches of the ground.
Some one should then follow and grub out the remainder of the stalk,
going low enough, if possible, to secure a little root on it. This will
generally give a piece about 4 inches long, and if inserted into the
ground with about half an inch left above the surface will make astrong
}lant in an incredibly short space of time. The old plants will be all
the better for the removal of the stems for propagating. In the event

The piece > which was planted 3 3 feet apar art is now so thick as almo st to
prevent any weeds growing, except when the crop is reaped. >

For a long period Rhea has been grown in small quantities by the
natives of Assam. A note on its cultivation was issued by the
Agricultural Department, Assam, in April, 1897. This was prepared
by Mr. F. J. Monahan, Officiating Director of Lands Records and
hoi ture. He states that the Rhea of Assam - at the arene my is
Behmeria nivea.

87
A useful memorandum on the cultivationof Behmeria niveain M ysore
was issued in 1897 by Mr. J. Cameron, F.L.S., Superintendent of the
Ba, ardens at Bangalore. This contains an excellent, almost
life-size illustration of the plant in flower and frui
note on the same subje ublished b bF “Mr. nerd in the
Agricultural Bulletin of the Malay Peninsula for June, 1897.
ery inte bic correspondence relating to the atodan of
Ramie cultivation into Perak appeared in Perak Museum Notes (Vol. ii.
pt. 2, pp. 103-124).

YIELD OF STEMS AND FIBRE.
More accurate observation has shown the os yield that may be
obtained both in stems and fibre from a give
From a small patch of China grass kaii ee five years old,
growing in the open air at Kew, it has been foun square yards
yield 100 stems. The weight of these, withottt samt was 2
This gives a yield at the rate of 29,000 lbs. (say 13 tons) per acre Ta
Algiers, pri found that an acre yielded 27,000 lbs. of similar stems

without leav De Mas, at Padua, found that Ramie (Behmeria
yp coped yielded i in ae ‘second year stems, without leaves, at the rate
8. per acre ; the third year two crops yielded at the rate

of 32 360 lbs. per acre. "The weight of raw fibre (ribbons?) per acre
obtained by De Mas from ei a lbs. of green stalks, without leaves,
was 1,280 lbs. or exactly 4 per cent. Favier gives somewha t similar
results. His actual yield wat "985 lbs. per pet In California, Hilgard
gives it at 1,935 Ibs. per acre. It is probable that the yield ‘of clean
ribbons per acre on a large area, with two or three cuttings, will average
about 900 to 1,000 lbs. per acre. Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, of the
United States ‘Departme nt of Agriculture, is of opinion “that two
“ cuttings of pasha tear a chewih- when properly cultivated, will produce
“ 20 tons of green stalks with their leaves.” Further, “as each ton of
“ green stalks, with leaves, will yield 464 lbs. of clean, dry ribbons or raw
“ fibre, giving 25 lbs. of degummed fibre,” we have, therefore, a return

per acre from two cuttings equal to 930 lbs. of clean ribbons and 500 Ibs.
of degummed fibre or filasse. No returns of the actual fibre have,
however, been made continuously on a sufficiently large scale to Fasi
absolute confidence in them. At Wenchow, China, it has been foun
that an acre, in one cutting, yields 80 ,000 stems, giving 3124 Ibs. of ron
This would probably be the ordinary ungummed China grass as receive
in this country. Three crops would, therefore, yield at the rate of
9374 Ibs. per acre

MACHINES.

In this country many machines and appliances have been bronght aai
notice, but owing to the absence -of a suitable supply of green stems n
exhaustive trials have been held. Such trials are only possible when "
large arca specially cultivated for the purpose is available. As already
shown, the conditions in this country, except in specially mild situations,
ere not wowa for the cultivation of Chin stems grown

e, however, been placed at the disposal of persons making

application for them.
n experiment with these stems (Bæhmeria nivea) was made with a
Subra machine in October, 1895. It must be understood that the results
here given representa single trial only, and no opinion is intended to be

expressed as to the capabilities of the machine working bonusdan on
a large scale. The stems were divided into two series as follows :—

SERIES A.—Green stems : selected.

The Subra machine (in its present form) pikia about 3 to 4 cwts.,
and has the Saar of an ordinary chaff-cutter. The stems, 12 to
20 in number, are fed at one end, coe pass qu niii through a i of
crushers and oia ers, and are delivered on a revolv ving apron, from
which they are taken by hand and wall shaken. The latter treatment
gets rid of most of the adhering wood. The ribbons are then ready to
be ang up to dry. The machine requires one-half “pe habit but
was worked during the trial entirely by hand. The stems can be
t ee either with « or without the leaves. There is no tae action

sin most machi i

s impossible to speak conclusively of a single trial, and
with such a very limited number of stems. The following reports on
the trial, furnished to the Subra Company by Messrs. Gross & Bevan,
give, however, the results actually attained :—

No.1.
MESSRS. CROSS AND BEVAN to THE SUBRA COMPANY, LTD.
Laboratory, 4, ste Court, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C.,
DEAR SIRS, October 16, 1895.

HAVING been present at your request at a trial of the working
of your dee eter en Macine (Subra, Eng. Pat. 23,642/94) we now
beg to report as follow

China Grass meik aei —The gone were supplied from Kew
The results obtained on the machine were quite satisfactory. Th

|
4
a
|

ee ee ee eS ee a ae a ee

ee oe

8Y
ribbons prove on examination to be intact, and are, therefore, stripped
without injury to the filasse. The wood was quite free fro om fibre, and
on the other hand the ribbons retained only a fractional percentage of

wood. We, of course, had no opportunity of miking a continuous run
with a large weight of stems, and can therefore only form an estimate
of

i t ourable.
weak point in construction or E ih calculated to intərfere with
continuous working and steady efficienc
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) CROSS & BEVAN.
Messrs. The Subra Fibre Co., Ltd.

No 2.

MESSRS. CROSS AND BEVAN TO THE SUBRA COMPANY, LTD.
Laboratory, 4, New Court, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C..
DEAR, SIRS, October 21, 1895. :
WE beg to hand you the further results of our examination of
the samples of China grass ribbons referred to in your favour of the
Jth instant. Each sample was received sealed.
The following are the results :—

— 1 2. 3 4

Weight as received by us; in STPS - - - 318 319 459 | 599
Weight when air-dried - . - - 72 8 129 148
Weight of adhering a AT 20 20: | 38

reentage of adhering boats - - - 1'4 6 “43 6
Weight of filasse - Pana ete — -=-- W
Percentage of filasse on green ribbons ee — = os e
Percentage of filasse on dry ri - - - = sani OS —
Percentage of cellulose in Seige - - - ~ _ aa 8-0 —-

Yours faithfully,
(Signed) CROSS & BEVAN.
Messrs. The Subra Fibre Co., Ltd.

The result of the investigation in regard to Sample 3—mature stems
with leaves—may be summarized as follows :—The green stems with

e same dry
sibbens yielded filasse weighing 76 grams. This is at the rate of
58 per cent. on the dry ribbons, and at the rate of 16-5 5 per cênt. on the
wet ribbons. On the other hand the percentage of filasse obtained from
s green stalks with e is = 8 per cent. According tó this, 10C

s of green stems with leaves (of B. nivea) will yield £7 tons of
stated ribbons, and 2°8 ‘ais “Of pure fine filasse
the yield of air-dried ribbons ondi agrees with the Paris
trials, the yield of filasse is nearly double.

bò

The following report was made by Messrs. Ide and Christie on a
sample of China grass Fibpons prepared by the Subra machine from
green stems grown at Kew

MESSRS. IDE AND EA to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, E.C.
SIR, 2nd October 1895.
YOUR favour of the 29th instant, with the sample of China grass
ribbons, is duly to hand. The latter appear to be fairly well done, but
we notice many bits of the wood still adhering to them. This should
not be, as it is a fatal objection with m

We value them at 10/. to 12/. per ton, but would require a few tons
for eas halioi before being able to say definitely whether in this state
they would be preferable or otherwise to the ordinary cleaned China
grass.

ree. gS ys

ned) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc.
Faures Decorticator.

The Faure machine, as already stated, has taken a new form since the
Sro Pa of 1891. e improved machine was under trial at Ltmoges
1897. In the construction, the inventor has aimed at the
aiai in one operation, not of ribbons or strips, but of fibre ` free
- ane woody matter, from skin, and with the least amount of ‘juice’ in
He claims that the product i is equivalent to commercial “ China
but in a more uniform condition, and free from the possibility
of adulteration. The new Faure machine “is fed by two men, Pebbles
“alternately, each holding in his hand about 10 stems. The stems are
“treated green in the same condition as cut, with the leaves paar

“two-thirds of their length they are withdrawn, an operation easily
“carried out, and fed in a second time, the thick end first, so as to
“complete the operation . . . e machine is simple in construction.
“ Practical experience shows that two men working at one machine can
“treat 360 pounds of fresh green stems per hour, or about 39 ewts, per
“day of ten hours. The am eee of dry fibre produced sae ors on the
“nature and growth of the stem On a 5 per cent. basis, the
= “net ab as = dry fibre by ‘est machine ce day l 180 pounds
ordinary circumstances, a pr oduction varying from

3160 to 200 set of dry fibre in ten hours per machine may be
“ expected.”

This is the inventor’s own account of the capabilities of the machine.
The first point that will occur to those acquainted with the numerous
-efforts to ara the fibre by mechanical means is the necessity that
still exists, even in this improved machine, to pass the stems twice into
it. About two-thirds of the stem are first cleaned and withdrawn, they
are then reversed, and fed in a second time to complete the operation.
is practically Aana the capabilities of the machine almost by

gp unr in the cleaning of Agave leaves (a probia o now iy u
solved) has shown that the only effective way is for the ra terial to
be presented once only to the machine and it should pase. apat
without further handling. When this is the case a boy of 15 can do

i A Se een Ng aay ELON e Senet eraser eager anaes

the work of two men, and feed a machine yielding half a ton of dry
fibre per day.
It

This is published in the ir nal Soc. Arts. (Vol. ay. April 25 1897,
PP. 424-440) ; see also British Trade Journal (May 1, 18° 8).

“The machine, which weighs 11 ewt., is very strong and not liable
to get out of order. It ee mainly of the framework and driving-
gear, the decorticating drum carrying beaters and the feed-bed. This
latter is the important ae of the machine, by reason of its special
contour which varies at different parts to suit the various descriptions
of work which the machine has to perform. The first part of the bed is
curved outwards, the second is straight, and the third is curved inwards.
The stems are fed into the machine over the first part of the bed, where
the woody portion ben a immediately broken and partly removed:
the strip passes on to the second part, and as the speed of the beaters is
ae ably greater than that at which the stems are fed into the

nachine, a scraping effect is produced on the strips, seeing that the
dimus between the beaters and the surface of the bed is less than the

fibre. The strips then pass down vertically into the machine, and the
separated matters, viz., most of the woody parts, the skin, and gummy
substances, are thrown out to a distance by the centrifugal force of the
beater drum. aaar the stems have entered to within a short distance
of their end, the return movement is effected and they are wi

still adhering. The operation is performed with great delicacy ; ; the
fibres assume the position of the chord of the curve, and are constantly
ie by the beaters. When the fibres arrive at the second part of

the action of the beaters. Choking is thus rendered ancaihe All
strains are avoided, and the machine can be kept at work from

abnormal
morning till night without stoppages for cleaning. The refuse falls

Noe

underneath the machine, and is re enoved from time to time. In the
we of a number of machines working togéther, an endless nt or
conveyer, passing under the machines, removes the refuse continua lly,
and so keeps the neighbourhood of the machines perfectly free from it.”
McDonald-Boyle Decorticator.
This machine, also constructed on the plan of a revolving drum and
beaters with a reversing process, has been carefully tried in Trinidad
and Jamaica, and appears to be under trial at the present time in the
Malay Penins px
The results of the operations in Trinidad are given in the Proceedings
of the Agricult ‘al Society (1897, pp. 149-153). The following is an
extract
x The “Me Donald machine the committee saw at work simply pro-
ced ‘Ramie ribbons’ by breaking up and detaching the woody core
ich it did far mor

could be done by the cheapest hand labour, and the operation is so easy
that the machine cannot get clogged or out of order, and feme =
zm mepa The machine was under the disadvantage of being r

stea gine not under proper control, but in ten minutes we ier
it V TBEEEO 18 lbs. of stem, giving 24 lbs. of green fibre, which would
equal 11b. of dry. Working ‘ander proper ‘conditions, we are of opinion
he machine with one trained man would be able to treat about one ton

of stems in 12 hours, irar one ewt. of ribbons, which is estimated to
give 75 per cep or en of ‘ filasse ° or cleaned fibre, after undergoing
the degumm

proc

he Boyle process ania the ribbons by treating them with corte
bise and i inexpensive chemicals, and we saw the process carried o
on a small —

The res in Jamaica are published in the noe laa w Jamaica
Agricultural Society (Vol. 1, 1897, pp. 271-272). ummary of

e tests as follows : Weight of green stems per premi, the

a ae 99 T 4 ozs.; time occupied in Tomas 81 minutes;
weight of wet ribbons produced, 18 lbs. The Committee added, “ We
“ think the whole process can only be operated. aer i on a large
“ scale by the central factory system

In a report issued by the Pontii Office (No. 2,139, Annual Series,
1898) on the trade of Guatemala, Mr. Consul Trayner

country who claims that, with a machine prepared locally, “the Ram
“can not only be decorticated, but also — without ee
“the fibre.” It is impossible to offer an opinion on the merits of this
machine with our present information, but, if it realise the expectations
of the inventor, we shall doubtless hear more about

DEGUMMING.

No machine can do more than decorticate the stems of China grass,
and more or less clean the fibre. There is still the further task of con-
verting this into filasse fit for manufacture. One intricate element in
the problem is the dovetailing of the two processes, one mechanical, the
other chemical. It was at first supposed that the degumming processes

a Ta ia ie a minimum. Hence mere aA into ribbons

was thought to be no longer sufficient ; the epidermis must be got rid

of, and the fibre as far as possible mechanically separated. But a

present the tendency appears to be to fall back on ribbons, and this

implies the existence of methods which will produce filasse ‘uninjured
m

F
The United States Consul at S. Etienne in a report quoted in the
Journal of the Society of Arts (Nov. 16, 1894, p. 946), ppe na this
as “a chemical process of which M. F avier keeps the secret, but which is
“ supposed to consist of a weak alkaline solution in which the fibres are
“ boiled.” Mr, Barraclough, in the lecture already quoted, says (p. 431):
* Manufacturers use a variety of oe and apparatus. Asa rule,
“ the most successful of them keep thei r processes of degumming and
“ bleaching to themselves, and do not patent them.”
Boyle Process.

The following information reopening this process is taken from the
Glasgow Herald (Aug. 13, 1895

“The Midland Spinning Company of Long Eaton claims that for the
past twelve months it has en engaged in treating an egumming
‘ Ramie, and spinning the Miery into yarns which are being sold in the

tion of M wD and is patented. The a grass or Ramie
arrives at the works in the f ribbons or laniér It is passed
through a ser of tanks, or chemical baths, which remove the gu

and subsequently soften and bleach the fibre. e Ramie is drawn
slowly through these, clasped between two endless chains kept moving
by suitable, gearing. A the feeding end the chains are kept about one
foot apart one above the other, but as they near the first tank they
ey until they W grasp the bundles of Ramie placed between
them the fibre passes from one tank to another the chains again
separate me allow the Ramie to pass between rollers, which are fluted
breaking cylinders in the first stage and wringing rollers in the latter
part of the process. The gum i is dissolved in the first tank, and when
the Ramie has passed the panies the fibre is sufficiently loosened to be
pulled out free from. the woody part of the bark. When the Ramie
hi PB :

occupied is a little over five hours. The sliver is gradually reduced to
yarn by the usual Tova and spinning frames, which are exactly similar
to those for spinnin silk and lo ng-staple wools. Thus there can be
no difficulty in wikia the Ramie-sliver in other spinning mills with
their ordinary machinery. Twines, fishing-lines, and sail-cloth are also
manufactured.”

Gomess’ Process.

A chemical pronese the invention of Mr. A. E. 5 Gomess, for the
treatment of 3s or i ý much discussed
during the last ia years. It is not intended to deal with hand-

cleaned commercial China grass, but with “ Black Rhea,” by which

or by machine, From these Ais hard ribbons it is p aue that T
chemical means all woody particles, the 0

and that the fibre is a in the form of filasse ready for being
combed and spun into yarn. This is practically all the information so
far obtainable in this mere It appears, however, that an effort is
being made to rros the China grass plant (Bæhmer ia mined) and the
Ramie or Rhea ant (B. tenacissima) in India in order to supply the
raw article in a scrote condition to be treated by this process. The
nr particulars are taken from the Madras Weekly Mail (July 1,
1 96) :

“The owners of the Gomess process, who are represented in England
by the Rhea Fibre Treatment Company, Limited, 17, Shaftesbury
Avenue, London, W., and in this country by the Indian Rhea Fibre
Parent Company, Limited, Bombay, are prepared to contract for the
purchase of large quantities of ee ribbons of bark, and in regard to
this the London Company i. :—

“(a.) That they ba n th material in the shape of ribbons ;
that is, the whole bark hind atripoód from the stem, thoroughly
dried, and Bie in bales

“p.j That they prefer t the species Bæhmeria nivea, but that they
can also use the Behmeria tenacissima and Ban-rhea (J “iilebrdsriad
integrifolia).
(c.) That the quantities required by the London Company would
be continuous and very large; that it would be difficult to give
exact figures, but that they could do with 10,000 tons to commence

with.
“(d.) That they are at Taer prepared to contract at pric
pees to from 107. to 117. per r ton, delivered in London, or at
Tl. a ton at port of pecans in India
Further particulars may be dbtained from a publication entitled
“ Rhea, its Cultivation, Decortication, and Baling, and the subsequent
“ treatment of the Ribbons by the Gomess Process,” issued by the Rhea
Fibre Treatment Company, 17, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.

SUMMARY.
Few practical problems have consumed so much time and energy as
the attempt to bring China grass and Ramie into use for manufacturing
urposes. Notwithstanding all the expenditure of mechanical skill and
inventive ability, the conclusion cannot be evaded that we are still as far
off as ever from being able to place upon the market a finished product
kisas will effectually compete with silk, flax, and the better qualities of
co
The plants can be grown with the greatest ease. But when the
problem of treatment is solved, the supply of the raw material will be
limited to warm countries. The cultivation of China grass in temperate
regions will never be able to compete successfully with that of Ramie
or perhaps of China in the tropics. It is known that when
ribbons can be producel sufficiently cheaply, these can be degummed
and turned into filasse at a small cost. The whole question then still
sena as in 18 88, on the production of ribbons. We are still waiting

lf a
planter cannot profitably deal with his crop, and = degumming pro-
cesses now almost entirely dependent on hand-cleaned fibre from China
are paralysed for want = detena nd which will allow ne finished product
to compete with other

The ribbons must be susceptible of being delivered to the degumming
factories at a cost not exceeding Tl. to Jl. per ton, This would pay the

‘Then the io aetna processes should turn out filasse at a total cost
of 36/. to 407. per ton. At this price the demand would be considerable
and a large and prosperous industry would result. To put the position
in other words, filasse must be put upon the market at about 4d. a Ib,
use the words of one of the speakers in the discussion at the Society of
Arts, “unless it could be brought down to something like the price of
“cotton or flax, it was impossible to make any profit out of it.

XXXI.—MANILA HEMP.
(Musa textilis, Née.)
[K B., 1887, e pp. 1-3.]
This is one of the most important of cordage fibres, and the whole
supply jara from the Philippine Woar, ‘The i mports of ee i
mp to n ;

United States about 160,000 bales, anal to about 50,000 t tons per
annum. The fibre is yinda by a member of the banana or plan-
tain family known locally as Abaca (Musa textilis), the apparent:
stem of which is made up of sheathing leaf stalks, The habit of hie
and areca of the plant under kipeo are identical with th
well known in the case of the common banana. The fruit of Miia
textilis is piala and hard and asics as food. i

From a report by Consul Honey, dated Manilla, 10th April 1879, we
gather that hers plant thrives best in soils largely composed of decayed
vegetable matter. Hence, freshly cleared forest land is essential.
Hilly ae abou 200 feet to 500 feet elevation, is considered more
aati than low-lying land, probably on account of d

oo
@

The plants suffer severely during drought. Although seed is produced
epe are usually established by means of suckers put out when
about 3 feet high, and about 8 to 9 feet apart. These form a root-stock,
from which numerous stems are successively produced. The land is
cleaned of weeds about twice à yar gine first crop is reaped at the end
of the second year after planting ; crop is not obtained until the
fourth year. The yield is then pond cae for 15 to 20 years, after which
the plantation is exhausted. The stemsare fit to be treated for fibre just
before they begin to flower. In stems that have been allowed to

flower the fibre is said to be weaker and of less valu hey are cut
= ag! a foot from the ground and the leaves removed. Each stem is
then stripped or resolved into its component layers, and these are again

divided into strips or ribbons about 3 inches wide. Usually each layer
or leaf-sheath is divided into three strips. The outer layers contain a
coarser and stronger fibre than the inner, while fibre from near the —
middle is of a fine silky texture, and capa ble of being utilised for purposes

of spinning or weaving and made into articles of dress an nd ornament.

deftly “ between a blunt knife and a hard smooth board,” which are
attached to a light portable frame. This process, repeated several times
if necessary, removes all the watery particles and pulp, and there
remains in the hands of the operator a beautifully white and lustrous

he fibre is thoroughly we d in the sun and afterwards packed
in bales for shipment. Hemp not eea dried, or exposed to rain,
becomes discoloured and loses strength. On the other hand, hemp from
the outer layer of the stem is of a reddish colour, but is quite sound.
It i

4 in an ordinary dry condition it contains 12 per cent. of water.
a damp climate it has been known to contain not less than 40 per cent.
of water.

Cordage, ropes, and indeed everything made from Manila hemp can
be easily converted into paper of excellent quality.

The cost of establishing a Manila hemp Mabe in the Philippines,
including cutting down forest, cleaning and planting, is about 5/. to
- 81. per acre. This does not include the cost of the land. pe this

act
~ and subsequent years is at the rate of 400 to 700 pounds of di ry
per acre. “A labourer w biarin under pressure can clean nearly

j 20 pounds of hemp per die ; but as a rule the quantity cleaned by
“one man working Erai ie by day, averages about 12 pounds.”
Usually two men wor toget er, one cutting down the stems and

splitting them while the other ‘cleans the fibre. “At the current
“ value of hemp in 1879 one labourer’s earnings were Tid. to &

“ per m.” Several attempts have been made. to introduce machi-
ut so far nothi as been so successful as the primitive me
above describe It is essential any machinery introduced should

be of a light and portable character, and that it should clean the fibre
at a cheap rate, without breaking it.

From these particulars it will “be seen that the Manila hemp industry
is, toa large ex gigs Jee eat rae aR special circumstances which happen
to be favourably combined in the Philippines, and hence ther
produced an excel aracle in large demand at a comparatively
cheap rate. The conditions of soil and ‘climate may possibly be found
elsewhere, but, as a necessary adjunct to these, there must be an
ge and chea ap supply of labour adapted to a rural industry.

A plant of Manila hemp (Musa tertilis) may be seen in the Palm
House at ‘Kew For the purpose of illustrating the industry there are
very complete sets of — in the Kew Museum, No. 2. These
include the raw fibre, cables, ropes, twine, fine m uslin fabrics, “ half
set and paper of all cin the latter being made from old Manila

Irho valuable character of the fibre yielded by Musa textilis has

experimental culture. Plants of Musa textilis were cultivated at
Caleutta in 1822; specimens were introduced to the Madras Presi-
‘dency direct from the Philippines in 1858; while in the Andaman
Islands this fibre plant has been thoroughly established.

xperiments in India so far have shown that plants of Musa textilis
can be successtully grown in many districts ; but it is not yet clearly
shown that the fibre can be cleaned so expeditiously and so cheaply
as to compete successfully with fibre from the Philippines.

aes er a pystomatio series of trials made by the Glenrock Company
t Madras in 1885, it is neir that plants put out in 1864 grew well
ated yielded numerous shoots, 179 stems, weighing about 60 pounds

e d thr
Death and Ellwood machines. These produced 159 pounds of clean
fibre, or 149 per cent. of the green stem. The cost of cleaning the
fibre was at the rate of 6/. per ton, while the fibre itself, described as
“poor, weak, and flaggy, with some clean fibre of good colour,” was
valued in London at 10. per ton; the best alone was valued a py per
ton. The minute upon this of the Government of Madras is that
“unless much improvement both in the method and cost of production of
“this fibre can be made, the cultivation cannot be made eg P
Manila hemp plants have been introduced from Kew amaica, onl
to other Re ome of the West Indies. In favourable ‘incu they
grow well; but not so readily as the ordinary bananas and plantains.
As the fr uit is valueless they can gre be grown for the sake of the
fibre and this alone does not appea offer sufficient inducement to
plant up large areas. Usually the a from a fruiting stem of the
common banana or plantain would be from 6d. to 2s., depending upon
the size of the bunch. The return from the Manila hemp plant would
according to experience in the Philippines be about one porai of fibre,
the local value of which would be only 2d. to 3d.

XXXII—MANILA HEMP IN BRITISH NORTH
BORNEO

[K. B., 1892, p. 243.]

The eens hole. on ae hemp in British North Borneo is taken
from Mr. Con aT Report, published by the Foreign
Office [1892, a Sone No. 1,111] :—

“Manila hemp is the fibre of the stem of a sort of banana, Musa
textilis, TEN hitherto has been grown only in the Philippine Islands,
where it is a source of great wealth to the growers, the Gov vernment,
and all Sesasi and is the means of affording freight to a fiaen
number of vessels. The soil and climate of North Borneo have also
been proved, owing to a series of experiments conducted during idane
years ae to be mere wats onium es to the por r growth of the

are being watched with much interest, as ater started this ca ain may
become of very large proportions in the fut

XXXIII—PLANTAIN AND BANANA FIBRE.
(Musa sapientum, R. Br.)
[K. B., 1887, April, pp. 5-8.]
In connection with Manila hemp some reference may be made to
fibres produced by other species of the genus Musa, Mr. Morris, the late
8895 G

98
ene of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, discusses the subject as

“Tt wou ald appear that the fibre of the ordinary ergo and of the

“ banana is valued at about 127. or 157. per ton. This it will be noticed

‘is only one-third the value of the best qualities of Manila ten, here
“are in both the East Indies and West Indies numerous wild species =
“ Musa which might yield good fibre, but so far none appears to hav

“ been found equal to the plant 3 yielding Manilahemp. The following
“ facts have been elicited by recent experiments, A banana stem jus

“after fruiting, cut as is usual with the c regent SEA about 2 feet
“above ground, and denuded of its foliage, weighed 108 pounds ; this
“being divided into three lengths of 24 feet each te split longitudi-
“nally into on pieces was prepared by beating and washing by
“hand, and yielded 25 ounces of clean marketable fibre, which is at the

“rate of 144 per cent. of the gross weight. The fibre of the lower
“ portion of the stem, as also the fibre in the Saidia of the leaves was
z not extracted.

“ A smaller banana, cut under sper circumstances, that is, 2 feet
“from the ground, and denuded of its foli lage, weighed 41 pounds.
“This was divided into two lengths of “Oh feet each, and after being
“split TAn into several pieces was prepared by hand, and
“ yielded 6ł ounces of good clean fibre a at the rate of 1°02 per cent.
“on the gross aight

“At the Hepes Plantation ‘similar experiments were conducted with

“banana stems which yielded very much the same results, Two banana
“stems cut after fruiting, at two feet from the ground, and denuded of
“their a weighe 2 oe poun aes These eded. 33 ounces of clean

ults
“the banana, both as regards the yield ad the Saat of t
“ At the Chstleton Gardens, a plaintain stem weighing, a cut and
“dressed, 25 pounds, was prepared in exactly the same manner as the
“banana stems above Reorribed and yielded 7} ounces of gee! fibre or
“at the rate of 1:81 per cent. on the gross weight. At the Hope
* Plantation a aaa bre weighing exactly the same, viz., 25 pounds,
“yielded 9 ounces of clean fibre or at the rate of 2:25 per cent. on the
“ gross weight. The SPASE fibre is whiter and finer than the banana
“ fibre, and it approaches moro nearly to the fine glossy character of the
s fibre of the Manila plant
“ For purposes of a I had the fibre of a small stem of the
“ Manila plantain, which, cut at 6 inches above ground and trimmed,
“ weighed 10 pounds, prepared in the same manner as the banana and
“ plantain fibre, and the result was 3 ounces of a beautifully fine and
s ang fibre. This is at the rate of 1°87 per cent. on the gross
ae bee eight
“In Jamaica another plantain is known as the Abyssinian paka
“Musa Ensete, which is the largest species of this genus. It was

to be understood that in these notes the pan ain is what is used as a vege-
ue while the banana is the soft sweet fruit seen on tables for dessert th India
e name plantain appears to be applied D indifferently i in both of these.

uan a cs Sore Sit i Diss sient Stak i R are 3 coe AE E An A ANa E
RAAE E E E ER A N E Lag A EES E O e ODL ES SR PL AE Pe E ter EEN yr SPR ay (ha os OEE N E Pee E A E S Pa AEE wm el a ee eee E y ARa a bare a EEr AT T e ey E e eG

“ discovered by the traveller Bruce in Abyssinia, and is remarkabl
bs < being represented on ancient Egyptian sculptures. Specimens of this
lantain growing at the Government Cinchona Plantations at 5,000
“ feet have often dies 20 feet aa the stem is about 8 feet in circum-
“ ference at the base, zipon to a height of 25 feet and weighs probably
“ about a quarter of a t
“ Specimens of fibre apa from this plantain are + excellent
“ quality. Taking a portion of the central stem about 4 feet long an
“ weighing 73 pounds, clean fibre, weighing 13 ounces, oe obtained
“ by beating and washing by hand. This is at the rate of 1-16 per
“ cent. on the gross igh
“This plant might be grown extensively for its fibre, and it should
“ prove valuable, but of course not equal to M. textilis, which is un-
a Pr sage e as a fibre plant.”
may be mentioned that samples of all the banana and plantain
fibres a above are to be seen in the Kew Museum,
e source we find that oem T 000 banana stems,
after the ber is gathered, are cut down every year in Jamaica, whic

fibre they contain. itissuggested by Mr. Morris that the perean wW
purchase the fruit from the negroes E offer a small sum for dlan

and well-dried fibre, and take it in small lots as it comes to a The
merchant might afterwards sort and pack the fibre and put it up in tightly
compressed bales for shipment. Some such plan as this, suited to local
circumstances, evidenily í oilers the best means of starting a banana-fibre
industry in the West Indies.

In si course of a energetic serge mt by Governor Sir William
Robinson, K.C.M.G., to develop what are called “ minor industries” at
Trinidad, attention. has naturaily sais reset to = utilisation of
fibre from both the iain and wild species of Mus

.A sample of fibre prepa re ed from ih is red banana was recently sent
to Kew, and the opinion of Messrs. Ide and Christi obtained upon it.
Their report, dated 29th October 1886, is as follow.

“ We think highly of this fibre, for which we joni there might

“bea R Pete demand, pro ovided it could be produced of a better
“colour. Wea e inclined to think its dull hue is probably the result

t 1
“ discoloured before treatment. The tiantion of planters should
“ directed to the production of a fibre of the bright natural colour of

i consequence ley a = used for the Bariah of « wae hemp’
pe

portance. In that case attention pare: be turned in another Posen
and they might be partly prepared on the spot and utilised for paper-

making. But to compete successfully with esparto and wood-pulp the
fibre or “half-stuff” of banana and plantain should be delivered in

8895 G2

100

Europe at a cost not ont a 4l. to 6l. per ton, depending on con-

dition. For paper-making it might be sufficient to cut the stems into
short pieces, and then livide them longitudinally into numerous
narro rips. These, after being passed between rollers to get rid

©,

of the water and mucilage, might be dried in the sun, and afterwards
put up in compressed bales for shipment.

The whole subject resolves itself into a question = cost, and it can
only be practically solved in countries like Demer Trinida d, and

amaica, where several thousand acres are occupied es anana pluie
tions, and where sufficient material lies close at hand to maintain a
moderately large industry.

or some years considerable interest has been taken by the Govern-

ment of Bengal i in the subject of the utilisation of plantain stems for

“ of the most valuable fibres known, and is worth in London
“ 307. to 407. a ton, a price that takes it quite out of the range of raw
3 materials for paper.
ave — ed by reference to a large English paper mo
“ hst if it can be delivered cheap enough, plantain fibre would be
p ; : ;

“ exact value of r fibre can hardly be given until a trial shipment
“has been put on the home ey mere in. Da fibre against
3 “ which plantain fibre would be pitted as a raw al for the em
maker, and the price of the best t Spanish Alase now (1883) sta
‘in London at about 107. per ton. It is not likely that plan < Era
¥ «Would $ = valuable as pea but it might bring as much as 77. to
l. per

It Speos ere the Bally Mills Company, near p orem has for some
ing, :

the results are said to be satisfactory. The co enai purchase the
roughly dried stems from contractors who collect them from villages in
the neighbourhood. The price paid by the mill is 3s. 6d. to 4s. per

sun.

of rough fibre are sbtalnece from each stem. B rough mode of
se pag the fibre is not freed from the cellular cane and although
it can be utilised on the spot it is doubtful whether it could be exported
in ie state. 5

mp
ikonas of acres of wild a iri Ss growing in the Ch ittagong mi
tracts, whieh it was thought might yield large quantities of fibre
cheap rates. It was found, however, that any “attempt at crushing =

ie and RTE espartos are quoted in London e, ae at 70s. to
110s. e estimated value of plantain fibre must there reduced to
one half. of ‘the aboye,

101

stems ina fresh state entailed heavier machinery than could be easily
moved from place to place, and the idea was ultimately abandoned
without any practical results being achieved. In spite of this, however,
Dr. King is of opinlen n that plantain stems in India will eventually
become available paper material, and considering the immense
number grown for Cie. lter, shade, and food purposes, the subject is of
a importance, both to the people of India, and to paper-
ma

XXXIV.—PLANTAIN AND BANANA FIBRE—
continued).
[K. B., 1894, pp. 289-293. ]
i bone

he fibre produced by the stems of various sorts of Musas has
received attention from the pile times. Dampier noticed that at
Mindanao, in 1686, “the ordinary sort of people wear cloth made of
plantain-tree which the ey call Saggen, by which name they call the
plantain.” To prepare this cloth they ¢ cut the plantain Bonk into four
quarters, “ which, put into the sun, the mois ae ex oh they then
take hold of the threads at the ends, and draw them out; they are as
big as brown thread ; of this they make cloth, "which i is peaa when
new, wears out soon, and when wet it is slimy.” About the beginning
of this century ikë "Government of Jamaica offered rewards of 2007.
“ for the best specimens of plantain hemp produced in each county of
“ Jamaica.” Dr. Stewart West, then acting-botanist in pe arge of the
Bath Garden, gained the premium for the best specimen produced in
the county of Surrey. The particulars are given by Lunan, Abe i,
pp. 75-76. The fibre was cleaned by being passed through a “ cramp
fixed in the ground, and hung up to dry as soon as possible. T was
pointed out that “the goodness of the fibre depends upon co mpletely

packed far use or exportation.” A nine- thread rope, ‘ inch diameter,
of plantain fibre made at the Dockyard, Port Royal, broke with a weight
of 728 pounds; whilst a simitar rope, erita as “the King’s nine-thread
inch rope,” broke by a weight of 714 p
The most T Dabl Musa fibre is undoubtedly that ae 7 rie
textilis, known in commerce as Manila hemp. Ther out
12 different vir rieties under cultivation al differing in habit. Ps in
quality of the fibre yielded by them. They thrive best in fresh clearings
f jungle on low hills, and under shade of trees left standing at
distances of about 60 feet. They d o not do 50 well in Se plains, and

aa exported from the „Philippine Islands, of the value of about

It is i to bear in mind that the Manila hemp plant is
exclusively inet in the south-eastern part of the Philippines. All
attempts to successfully calisti it in the western and northern parts
have hitherto proved abortive. The plants grew barely 2 feet high,

102

and the produce never covered the outlay. The cause of these failures
in the Philippines (as possibly in other countries where experiments
have been made) is attributed to the dry season which continues for

Musa textilis, Née >

1. Pistillate flower. 2. Staminate flower. 3. Fruit. 4. Section of fruit showing seeds. :

103
gaere the rainfall is not large and well distributed all through the
yea

h r a very complete set of specimens illustrating the Manila
hemp ae the Kew Museum. Various qualities of the raw fibre
are shown from the Chatham Dockyard. In 1864 good fibre was stated
to be wort l. per ton. A sample of “Quilot,”’ one of the two
specially selected qualities of Manila hemps, was Agog in 1890 from

e and Christie. It sells usually about 20/. per ton higher

“two-inch” Manila rope from the Chatham Dockyard is shown side by
side with similar ropes made at Calcutta and Madras. The Chatham
rope had a breaking strain of 3,549 lbs. (avoir.). The manufactured
‘articles from Manila hemp consist of mats, cords, hats, plaited work,

an
for ladies’ hats and bonn The seat of Aeh E en is at sere at
The ac illi i

various patterns. Some of the hats are made of Manila hemp with a

rder woven from Sisal hemp. Hats are also made from a straw
prepared from several strands of Manila hemp arranged side by side,
immersed in gum and pressed. This straw is scopy polished, and very
pliable, ernog resembling the finest wheat

supply of oh Manila and Sisal ee See (Kew Bulletin, 1887, ‘April, pp. cay
wih w cut.)
aps talogue of contributions aAa British Guiana to the Paris
Exhibition. of 1867 the following remarks are made in regard to the

104

ptospects of a plantain-fibre industry in that Colony. The figures supplied
re very valuable :—

“ The fibre of thousands of acres of plantains is lost annually in this
Colony from the want of a simple and inexpensive machine for A lg
it. The tree must always be cut down to obtain the fruit, a the
containing the fibre is allowed to rot on the ground. Cou n offigiont

eap machine be invented, the fibre would be almost aeie profit
to the planter. The banana yields less fibre than the plantain tree, and
its ets is Se tinted.

“Vár attempts have san recently made to Tenete machinery
for manufacturing the plantain fibre. Subsequent to the Exhibition
at Paris, in 1855, st naa eforta were made is establish the pro-
duction of fibre in this Colony as an ane of export, and the

essrs. Watson had fibre-making machinery put up and tried on their
estate, i bette h, but it was not found well adapted for the purpose,
the stems in their natural state being so much more bulky than was
allowed for i in constructing the machines.

rage A er Gon Netscher, when proprietor of plantation
n Pouderoyen, on the west bank of the River Demerara, in 1855,

from 700 to 800 stems are cut per annum, either for the fruit, or in
consequence of having been blown down by high winds, or fro m disease

a
give from 1,400 to 1,500 good stems every cutting, or about 4,500 in
two years. 3. On —— Klein Pouderoyen, after repeated trials,
the plantain stem an average has been found to give 24 lbs. clean,
and 13 lb. Ristaloased and broken fibre, Do latter only fit for coarse
paper. This result, however, has been obtained by very imperfect
machinery. 4. The average weight of the plantain stem is 80 lbs.
. The stems can be trans nsported from the field to the buildings for
one dollar per hundred.”
Owing to the increasing cultivation of bananas in the West Indies,

r S
devised for turning the fibre to account. There are at least 50,000,000
banana stems cut down every year in the West Indies, and at present
little or no use is made of the fibre. It is evidently not sufficiently good
to compete with first-class rope fibres, but it might possibly be used for
making coarse paper, as a packing material, or in the manufacture o
papier r mâché. Its chief sonipetitsts i in some of these directions would

rt
and other trees in Norway and Sweden. This wood pulp is delivere
in this country at a cost not exceeding 27. 10s. ui 3l 10s. per ton, and
it is now very largely used by paper-makers
Banana fibres from Musa sapientum are shown in the Kew Museum
from the Andaman Islands, Jamaica, Mauritius, Ceylon, British Guiana,

when dhe fibrəs such as Man ila and Sisal he emps are low, banana
fibre is practically unsaleable.

105

The facility possessed by banana fibre for taking up colour is shown
in a specimen from Mr. Dickson. Paper prepared from banana fibre
e . Routledge. i

and rags is shown from the late Mr. T. Routledg Also various
ers made from banana fibre in India. From n-
berger, in 1886, were receive 1, Half stuff from banana fibre;

s; and 4,

China clay. There is also a portion of a leaf, gluten and prepared
paper stock from the pisang utang from Sarawak, contributed by the
late Mr. T. Routledge in 1875

Fibre extracted from the Abyssinian banana (Musa Ensete) in
Jamaica by Mr. Morris was yielded at the rate of 1°16 per cent. of the
gross weight. The fibre was somewhat weak and dull- -looking ; it had
none of the lustre p the best plantain fibre, and it was valued in Loader
at 127. to 147. per to

Musa Basjoo is said to be grown in Southern Japan for the sake of
its fibre, It is known amongst Europeans as the “ Japanese plantain.

i ra

r. Ridley (Trans. Linn. Soc p. 385), sp eaking of a new species
deséribed by him oo mataccensis) ‘Bou the oe coast of the Malay
eninsula in 1893, ad
“ An attempt has oe ae to utilise the fibre, but it is woe
not so good as that of M. textilis; still as it is not only v ery abundan
teint the centre of the Peninsula, but also springs up like a ones
in many places where old jungle is felled and forms an impenetrable
thicket, it Mie there be found to be well worth extracting the
Sante s mple of this fibre, as already noted, is in the Kew
use

A Sey interesting series of articles prepared from the fibres of the
stem of the banana was for wet ae to Kew from the Solomon
Islands by the Rev. R. B. ‘Com s. The fibre itself is aes in a
prepared state, some of it vinia ae some black, ready for weaving.
There is a gps loom of a very primitive construction, cept ntly
Similar to the ner in West Africa for weaving native “ s”
(Kew Dallain. "1894, 191). It is capable, however, with dexterous
manipulation of turning out cloth of a close texture and a very
durable character. Two garments are nhs own made from banana
cloth ornamented with small iufis of leaves of a Pandanus. There are
also shown a decorated bag for holding betel and a sleeping mat of full
Size. On one of the garments there is woven a tasteful pattern by
means of the dark-coloureld threads. These garments are singularly
well made, and they are, next to the Abaca cloth (from Musa textilis
ele Philippines), the best fabrics in the Museum from bananas

pia
of a coarse character but evidently very strong, marked
“Sime firigo,” said to be pI from a species of Musa, was received
from the Government of Queensland in 1890. It was obtained from
the I Kiwai Fly River, New Sues
e work ornaments worked with banana thread are in the Kew
Museum from Jamaica, sent in 1855.

106

XXXV.—MANILA HEMP PLANTS.
(Musa textilis, Née.)
[K. B., 1895, p. 208.]

There are numerous treba of Musa textilis yielding the Manila
hemp of commerce. wo better kinds are known in the Philippines
as capt Tm and bi uroni The stems of the latter are said to

eld as much as one catty (about 1} lbs.) per stem. Great stress is
laid on ee fact that Manila plants can only be successfully grown in
virgin soil, in partial shade, and with a regular rainfall. A writer in
the British North Borneo Hera ld, 1 Josie pei states that
“ Anything less than a well distributed rain-fall of f or five inches
per month will “hl their growth . . even in hs Philippines
there are districts too dry for them.” If placed under omar:

all. The abies and preparation of l pe have been fully

fibre ort at present is prepared by hand. Machines have often
been tried, but owing to the abundant and cheap labour supplied by the
natives it thas iras found more advantageous to continue the hand-
cleani

emp, Phormium and Sansevieria. Manila-hemp, in es governs the
market in these commodities. Hitherto Manila-hemp plants have not
thriven on a large scale outside the Philippine Islands, The character
of the Manila-hemp plants grown at Kew and distributed to the West
Indies and tropical Africa gave hopes that it might be possible to obtain
plants with a Ao robust habit and capable of yielding a larger quantity
of fibre. An application was made with this view to Mr. William
Stigand, Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila, who kere e od enough to
obtain and forward to Kew a case containing 47 s “ from a well-
known grower.” These arrived in November e “PhiGy yielded a
number of strong healthy plants which so far promise to e much better
under cultivation than the previous plants. Of the new sort it is
intended to distribute a few to all the botanical ikani in the
est Indies and West Africa, where they will receive special attention.

XXXVI.—MANILA HEMP IN BRITISH NORTH
BORNEO

(Musa textilis, Née.)
[K. B., 1898, pp. 15-18.]

nformation respecting the important cordage fibre obtained from
Wise textilis, the whois supply of which comes from the Philippine

107

Islands, was given in the Kew Bulletin for April, 1887 (pp. Ae
More recent information was published on the same subject i
number of the Kew Bulletin devoted to an account of the “ ti a
and Principal perictioe, of Musa,” for August 1894 (pp. 248 and 289,
290, with a figure). A fur wa brief note appeared in the following
year (Kew Bulletin, 1895, p. 208).

t the request of Kew, Mr W. B. Pryer, who is oR) in agricul-
tural enterprise in British North Toras eo, has been good enough to
prepare the following notes respecting the experiments now being
carried on in that part of the world in cultivating Manila hemp :—

The stems of all the Musaceæ yield fibre of more or less strength,
but that obtained from Musa textilis is the best. From the indigenous
or wild Musa textilis, however, the percentage of fibre of proper
strength is so small that it does not pay to extract. a is from a
cultivated variety that marketable Manila hemp is obtain

The wild plant of Musa textilis is known by the natin as Saying
Grotei or Gerdtei, and the fibre-yielding hie ead as Saying Lanut,
Saying being the name for all bananas and plantains. Of Sayin
Lanut there are several sub-varieties, such as Yani pula (red lanut),
Lanut batang, and others. In general appearance Musa textilis varies
very little from M. par adisiaca, the ordinary banana, but a sharp eye

will soon notice that the leaves are narrower and more pointed, and
a paler or more sea-green colour, while the Pace are of a dark pickled-
cabbage colour with broad irregular streaks of a dirty green.

season; it also demands ood soil : a war gage Sapna Its
present cultivation is ce eo almost entirely to certain parts of
the Philippine Islands and to the adjacent coast of Borneo. In fact,
the requisite conditions of climate and soil are found in that part of the
world only. It does not die es if exposed toa Stas of two
or three weeks, but if spells weather occur at too frequent

intervals its growth is stunted adi perd ; but again, although it
prefers rain every two or three days, it does not like a continuously wet
Season, Even in the Philippines its range is restricted. m t is chiefly
found on the eastern side, and there only it thrives really w

In districts where it does well it requires little aticnkios. The
cheapest way of planting it is to get natives to fell and clear Ma forest
and plant hill rice under an agreement that when (or before) they ha
taken their crop they are to put in Manila hemp suckers. These saiket
are planted some 10 or 11 feet distant from each other, and it is well
to give them two or three rough weedings during the first few months
to give them a start. After this they can be left almost to take een of
themselves ; in fact, a few of the coarser large-leaved weeds be
left, as they tend to keep the ground cool and draw the plants cies into =
larger stems than would otherwise be the case. When the plants are
well up, however, it is best to cut down all other large plants, and the
plantation will then wa care of itself with only one day’s going over
every three months or

Almost any lay of lani will do for Manila hemp as long as it is not
too swampy or too steep, but it thrives best on rich flat land, and does
not much mind a flood as long as flo water does not stop too long on
the land or leave it swampy afterwards.

Manila hemp suckers take longer to sprout ger the ordinary bana:

and send up fewer shoots, but in three weeks or so from the time the
sueker is put in, if the weather is fairly da os the first shoot

108

be seen, which will be succeeded by one or two more. It will at least
be 16 months before the main shoot is fully matured and ready to throw
out its fruit spathe. This is the best time to cut it down for fibre. If
so desired, however, it can be utilised at an earlier age, but the per-

At the age of 12 months when the main stem will be nearly fully
grown, though not fully matured, two or three others will be of con-

over many stems, or allow the jungle plants to encroach too much. As

‘lis, I may mention one stool

twenty years old that has not cost a cent, but has yielded stem after
stem for treatment at frequent intervals during that period.

e above remarks are based upon Manila hemp in North Borneo.

re.

e “stem” of the plant is composed of overlapping layers of the
leaf stalks, somewhat similar to a stick of celery, but firm y d
together. The fibre is found just below the surface on the outer side of

native method is simple and cheap. The stem is cut down and each
leaf stalk detached from the others. After this the operator sits down
with the end of a stalk in his lap, he then makes a slight incision just

ft k, much in the same way that the fibrous part of a rhubarb
stalk is taken off whe eparing it for cooking. operation is best
performed on the plantation itself, as the discarded portions of the st
remain as manure a sufficient number of ribbons are obtained

matter. As the st ea
fibre that is not broken is of proper strength, and the resuli is pure
strong A boy can clean in a similar way the few inches of the

109

end which was a round the piece of wood, and the fibre is then
hung over a pole to dry. This is soon done if it is a fine day, and the
hemp is then Taide for market

These operations are quite simple and can be performed by anyone;
but some force is required to pull the fibre under the knife, and the
particular muscles brought into play soon tire if the operator is new to
the work. Men who have been brought up to hemp pulling can go on
for hours without any discomfort.

Some men claim to be a to make half a picul (66 Ibs.) of Hemp in
a day; but the most I have ever seen produced by one man a day
was 37 catties (a shade less than 50 Ibs.). With ibe, fibre at $6 a ge
this quantity would sell for $2-24, a high rate of pay in a country where
wages are normally 32 cents a day.

Tt is needless to add that it would not A tiene to pent ae men ie

day wages to prepare Manila hemp, as uch depends upon
amount of force put into the work and PORAN o the Pata a of
hemp produced.

W. B. PRYER.

XXXVII—PINE-APPLE FIBRE.
(Ananas sativus, Baker.)
[K. B} 1887, April, p. 8.]

_A note may here be added on the fibre yielded by the bese iba of ae
ore plant. Altho ugh not at present in commer ris fi use, this

where the West Indian Ananas has become thoroughly pie a
beautiful fabric known as “ pina cloth” is made from A rope
ee fibre 3} inches in Prae e bore a ol at Caiet,
o
ere are several samples of fibre of a wild pine-apple (Bromelia
ieira, Willd.) from De West Indies and Central America at Kew,
ere is no record of their commercial value. A sample supposed
to be from this plant was lately sent from Trinidad, upon which the
brokers reported as follows :—* Not mt in commercial use, but destined,
«< we think, to a successful future; fine, soft, Mere m strong and
“ good colour, ample length ; say 30/. per ton and u
The fibre of the Jamaica pinquin (Bromelia l Alenia L.) would
appear not to be of high value. The plant covers hundreds of acres in
the plains and lowlands of Jamaica, and an effort was made some time
ago to prepare the fibre for commercial purposes. The report of brokers
pon a sample of 90 pounds was as follows :—“ A long towzelled wea
. This. of bad colour, oo no strength, and only fit for breaking up.
= orgies to St. Hele mp tow, but not so good. We should think
“127. to 102. per seg ne utmost value Several samples of this
Sahin fibre from Jamaica and ieee: cleaned both by hand and
by machine, are to be seen in the Kew Museum, No.
If the ane of this plant were cut up, roughly dried, and placed in
compressed bales, they might prove of value for paper-making. To
oo this point it would be sspears 4 to forward to England about
half a ton of dried leaves in compressed bales, in order that paper-
ss Hy might be able to test them on a p e large scale.

110

XXXVIIL—CARAGUATA ‘FIBRE.
(Bromelia argentina, Baker.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 191-195.)

Under the name of Caraguata the late Mr. Thomas Routledge
forwarded to Kew, in 1877, for determination, “the leaves of a plant
“from the Argentine Republic, with the remark, that the ‘fibre when
“abstracted no doubt will make good ate After some trouble, we
“arrived at the conclusion that the leaves belonged to one of the
a saan South American species of Hryngium, which have before

GP Hi

jy years later Mr. Edwin H. Egerton, C.B., then Her M, ajesty’ S
ar d’Affaires at Buenos Ayres, referred to the eens plant in
a rt forwarded to the Foreign Office, epa: 3lst July L881, as
eeg :—‘ But by far the best fibre of the country is that of the
“ Caraguatá Ibera, a Bromeliad which is something like the Pine-apple
“ plant, and which is very abundant in Paraguay, the Misiones, and the
“Chaco. It is very long and silky, and has long been used by the
“Indians, and much money-has already been spent in endeavours to
“find some practical machine for the economical preparing of this
“fibre, I am assured that the enn a cyte now at length, after a

a French mac

‘from aea the process e a paka one without previous

“ macera

= Should this invention prove a success (and I am rae further
“ particulars from the persons undertaking this work) the caraguatá
“fibre will become an extremely important article of export, and if half
“I hear of it be true, should compete with advantage against jute.

' ed, but I cannot vouch for the assertion, that there’is
“immense superiority in the quality of the Paraguayan fibre over that
“ of the Chaco and Misiones caraguatá.”

In 1884, Mr. F. E. Harman, who had undertaken a mission to the
Plate River for the Santa Fé Land Company, brought with him
numerous species of Argentine grasses, which were determined at Kew,

and also some living plants of what were believed to be Caraguatá from’
the Gran Chaco. With these plants, Mr. Harman brought a dried
specimen of an inflorescence. The plants have grown at Kew, and are
now in a flourishing condition in the Temperate House. As will be
shown later, they are not true Caraguata, and they possess no merit >
fibrous plants. On the other hand, the dried inflorescence, kate: ht
the same time, belonged to the fibre-producing species. It i robbie
that the name Cara raguata is used in a generic sense in the aeren
and neighbouring countries ; and, as already shown, it is applied indis-
criminately to plants of a very widely ee character. There is,
i uata Ibera, which yields
avery valuable fibre. It has been feafacnily noticed in works of travel,
and its valuable chen sti been highly extolled. The difficulty was
to obtain authentic spec of the true fibre-yielding plant, and find
out exactly what it was. Uhde these circumstances a further, and as

proved, a successful, effort was made to obiain specimens as shown in
the following correspondence :
ROYAL GARDENS, pe to tee OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, Kew. °
SIR, November 20, 1889.
M desired by Mr. Thiselton-D yer to inform you that in the
year i877 the late Mr. Thomas Routledge forwarded, for sander nea ee

w
B
n
aa
fæ]

111

to Kew some fibre = leaves of a plant from the eae Republic
known locally as Caraguatá. The leaves were bro

perfect condition. Moraer it was considered doubtful whether they
belonged at all to the plant which yielded the fibre. The leaves, as far
as could be ascertained from the n sent, belonged to a species of
Eryngium. (Kew Report, 1877, p. 37.)

2. At the recent Hzposition Universelle held at Paris in 1889, I
noticed in the Paraguayan Court some leaves oo fibre called Caraguatá
said to be derived from Bromelia Caraguata. There is no plant
known to European fotanisie under this name, he Caraguata of
vio Sd is a plant which it is very desirable bs investigate, and
specimens of it ina Srg and dried state would be very acceptacle for
the Sonia at Kew

3. Mr. Thiselt ton-Dyer ventures to express the hope that the amag.
of State will approve of the kind offices of the Minister at Bueno
Ayres being invited tö procure information respecting the Caraguatá
plant, its distribution, and local uses, and also small specimens of
living plants, packed in a dry box, and seeds for this establishment.

or a botanical determination = the ages = is man = obtain
dried specimens of the leaves, flow These latter
might be forwarded by post Gaumina je kens of koat noteto by
cardboa rd.

4. Any reasonable ore incurred on account of this service, will
be defrayed in usual course

to
a

I have, &c.
(Signed) D. MORRIS.
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G.,
Foreign Office.

The Hon. FRANCIS J. PAKENHAM to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD Buenos Ayres, February 3, 1890

N the receipt of your Lordship’ s despatch of this series, No.
39, of the 25th of November last, instructing me to procure specimen
of the Caraguatá plant for the Royal Gardens at Kew, I communicated

unopened, as it beta

I have, &e.
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G. (Signed) F. PAKENHAM.

[ ENCLOSURE. ]

Asuncion, January 12, 1890.

I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th
ultimo, and enclosed copy of a letter, dated 20th November, Royal
Garden

By the steamer “ Saturno,” of the Platense Company, I have the
poea to send to you this day a box AES samples of the

SIR

112

Caraguata plant, and of its fruit and inflorescence, which I ho
will prove satisfactory for the purpose of determining its écientifig
classification.

I have, &c.
(Signed) WILLIAM STEWART, M.D.
The Hon. F. J. Pakenham.

material obtained through the Foreign Office, as shown above,

at Kew, who has furnished ec era account and description of the
Caraguata plant as now know
e have now received for a first thats, through the Foreign Office
full material for the botanical determination of this plant, procured
for us by Dr. W. Stewart, H.B.M. Consul at Asuncion. It proves
to be a true Bromelia, nearly allied to Bromelia Pinguin. In the
monograph of the Brazilian eee just publi shed by Dr. Mez
which forms part of the great “ Flora Brasiliensis” of Endlicher and
Martius, two Species which are iy allied to it are described for the
t time, viz., B. Balanse, Mez, from Paraguay, and B. Regnellit,
Mez, from Central Brazil. The latter, which comes nearest to it of
the three species, is figured on Plate 53. The description of Rhodo-
stachys argentina in my Handbook of the Bromeliacece, p. 29, so far as
regards the inflorescence in a state of fruit, relates to the present plant ;
but now that we have the flowers, th “show that the plant is not a

sent with it do not ra belong to the same species as the flowers. e

are therefore very much i ndebt ted to Dr. Stewart for enabling us to
clear the matter up, ia I give now a full description of the plant under
the name of Bromelia argentina, drawn up entirely from his latest
specimens, received Feb. 10, 1892.

Bromelia argentina, Baker, n. sp. Leaves like those of B. Pin
guin, ensiform, rigidly coriaceous, 5 feet long, 14 inches broad ex-
clusive of the prickles above the dilated base, ‘tapering very gradually
to the point; prickles large, deltoid get ge uncinate, brown and
horny in the upper half, about an inch apart in the centre
the leaf. Peduncle stout, nearly a foot long, Torei by the closely
imbricated ovate-lanceolate scariose bract-leaves, the lewer of which
are about 3 inches long, and the upper 2 inches long. Inflorescence
a se oblong head, whi i i

ith ght re
lanceolate point ; flowers many in each cluster, subtended tte a large
ovate bract; flower-bracts oblong, acutely keeled, 1 inches long; ovary in
the flowering state oblong, trigonous, tomentose, an inch long, 4 inch
diam. Sepals oblong, obtuse, an inch long. Petals red, lingulate, a
mcr se than the me tei Stamens and style shorter than the petals.

t will be noticed that “Mr, Baker considers t eg ier? ee to
be aaa allied to the Pinguin (Bromelia Pea L.) of the West
Indies and Central America. It has also some pines So 2 pden
leaf character alone, to Karatas Plumieri. The latter is a well-known
and valuable fibre plant. It is said to be a by Indians in making the
finest hammocks in Central America, Gui and Brazil. The fibre of the
Pinguin, a already stated, was te Poe duvestignted by the Botanical
Department in Jamaica in 1884. The plant covers hundreds of acres in
the pind, on it would readily supporta large industry. Great difficulty

113

was, however, experienced in extracting the fibre by machinery, without
maceration, and the results were by no means satisfactory. Several

samples

brokers, and the London reports were as follows :—“ Poor dull fibre,
“ gummy, fair strength, value about 20/.”—“ Almost unsaleable in the
“ form sent, not well dressed, not good colour, and in some parts rather
“ tender.” —“ If this was better dressed, it might have a sale here, but
“ in the present form, when so gummy, it is difficult to form an estimate
“of it. It comes from one of those plants that suggest the effect of an
“ alkali upon it for melting away the gum, to see if a better product
“ could not be produced.”

It is possible that the Caraguatá may yield fibre more closely resembling
that obtained from Karatas than from Pinguin. There are specimens
of leaves and fibre of all three plants shown in Museum No. II. at the
Royal Gardens, and some samples of Pinguin fibre in this collection
cleaned by hand are of better quality than those prepared by machinery
in Jamaica. The fibres obtainable from species of Bromeliacee, includ-
ing those from the common pine-apple (Ananas sativus), as well as from
Karatas, Pinguin, and the Caraguatá now under consideration, are all
of commercial importance ; but, like many others, they require suitable
appliances for their extraction, and until these are forthcoming they

ill remain unavailable for any but the most limited purposes.

In regard to the local utilisation of Caraguatá fibre, the following
extract is taken from a recent Report by Mr. Arthur Herbert [Foreign
Office, Annual Series, No. 1,006. Diplomatic and Consular
Reports on Trade and Finance. Paraguay ] :—

“The textile plant called Caraguatá abounds and grows naturally in
every part of the Paraguayan Republic. ;

“In the year 1879 Messrs. Branlio Artecona and Louis L. Lenguas
made experiments with machinery that they established in the depart-
ment of Arroyos y Esterios, having obtained from the Government a
concession for the working of this product freely for the space of 15
years in all fiscal lands, and to export the same when manufactured free

‘This industry did not give satisfactory results, owing to the inex-
perience of those in charge and the imperfection of the machinery.
After several fruitless attempts they retired, and their concession

rope in an unacceptable condition. ; :
3 i isa sort 'araguatá, and its fibre is of a finer quality
than that of its congener, but neither of them has obtained any importance

awakened in this product in European markets, it would seein to deserve
a more serious study, and the opinion seems to prevail that with
8895 H

114

improved machinery aug more skilled administration more profitable
results misit be obtain ;

“ The flowers have 3 ent to Kew witha view tu determining the
exact BO Rey which I Blass is still undefined.”

ies ADDED, 1892.--The Caraguatá has now been determined, as shown above,
= pla n of it with description sare gee argentina, — has been `

i n Hooker's Icones Plantarum, pl. 2 Specimens of living plants of
this, the eae rin as 4 ibera, are much Tied rahe the Kew P PENA where, s0
far, it does not exist

XXXIX.—BOWSTRING HEMP.
[K. B., 1887, May, pp. 1-11.]

At present, Bowstring hemp is not an article in commercial use; but
attention may well be directed to the capabilities of Sages species of
Sansevieria for prodnving fibre of great value. Plants of Sansevieria,
of which there are 10 o species, are very imam rin on both the
east and west coasts of opral Africa, which, indeed, may be looked
upon as the head-quarters p the genus. One well-known species (S.
zeylanica) is indigenous to Ceylon ; and this and others are foun
along the Bay of Bengal, a NE Se thence to Java and to the coasts
of China. The leaves of these plants are more or less succulent and
abound in a very nee fibre, remarkable alike for fineness, elasticity,
and for strength.
Usually os leaves are not more than l} to 2 feet long; in some
species, such as ©. guineensis and S. cylindrica, they attain a
length of 3 or 4 feet: while in one species, native of tropical Africa
[since descri as S. Kirkii, Baker], under favourable circum-
stances they attain a length of 9 feet. In this species, for particulars
of which and for samples of its fibre we are indebted to Sir John Kirk,
G.C.M.G., K.C.B., late Consul-General at Zanzibar, the quality of the
fibre is exceptionally good. We have doubtless here a new fibre plant
of great valu ;
- In the treatment. of the leaves of Sansevieria by machinery the grea at
drawback hitherto experienced has been their comparatively small size,
and the difficulty of cleaning the fibre Ae tae them in an expedi-
tious and remunerative manner. These i
in the case of the plant brought into matic by Sir John Kirk. Indeed,
for moist tropical climates, as opposed to the dry, aoh. and arid districts

of Yucatan where the Sisal Hemp is grown, this and S. longiflora if
they are really distinct would be likely to prove of RARR, value as-
fibre plants.

may be mentioned that all species . Sansevieria prefer a rich moist
soil and a comparatively pas climat are essentially tropical
plants and do not thrive in = Petea less than 60° Fahr. Under
favourable conditions they grow rapidly and establish themselves Aae
manently by means of large spreading fleshy rhizomes or undergro
stems. Itis true they will grow in comparatively dry districts, a
~~ in soils strongly inprogiiated. with salt ; but their growth under
such circumstances is very slow
re produce a ce za and the leaves are seldom large enough

Rox

Dr. burgh pospone that the fibres of Sansevierias might be called
Bowstring iai , because the natives of the Circars make their best
bowstrings of them On t the other hand, small samples of fibre from

S. guineensis, which have Soakai d in the London aeie have been

115

ealled African bowstring hemp. These fibres are very firm, hair-like
and silky, and closely resemble =e of the ene they are sai
to take dyes very readily ; and the tow is mentioned by Royle to have
been converted into good paper at Teehing opoly.

lants of Sansevieri wa are already abundant in a wild or semi-cul-
tivated state in most tropical countries. They are sl pate of being
pr opagated very readily. Usually the underground stem or rhizome is
divided and planted ; but plants may also be raised from sèed, or from
the leaves, which latter, planted whole or cut into small pieces, readily
take root in moist situations.

A full botanical description of the several species of Sansevieria may
be found in a monograph of the ASPARAGACE, in the ger aig st
of = Journal of the Linnean robes y (pp. 546-550), by Mr. J. G.
Baker, F.R.S. The description give e following aia: is con-
tributed by Mr. Baker. ‘The mise ang are iw Fee to those which are
now under cultivation at Kew, and of which specimens of fibre have
ch Seat and examined. The plants may be seen in the West
Transept of the Palm House at Kew; while the specimens of fibre

No.
species, or well-marked shag sar - Si ote of which
we have living plants at Kew, are seven mber, and they may be
readily Saioa according to their leaves i in e a, as follows :—
s comparatively thin and flat
as 5. guineens 78. 2 SZ pedi it
n Oe is es igre
I. Leaves er ARER in transverse on at i middle, deeply
hollowed pos the
5. S. zeylanica.
HI. Leaves in bahaped more like stems than i leaves :—
6. S. cylindri 7. Se sulca

c
1. Sansevieria a, Willd., is one of the as oldest and best
known popin s was first Ti red and described, long before the days

riptio ” (tab. 20

the name of “ Aloe guineensis radice geniculata foliis ex viridi et atro
“undulatim variegatis.” Linnæus classified it under the genus Aletris,
and so did Jacquin, who figured and peared desorbed it in 1770 in
his Hortus Leecher mea y (vol. I., p. 67, t. 84). It has horny, erect,
lanceolate leaves, 3 or 4 feet long, 3 inches broad at the middle,
narrowed paiz sa to an acute apex. not distinctly bordered with red,
onay mottled on both surfaces with broad irregular yos of white.

owers are in a lax, simple spi ke, which rises to the same height as
the leaves, in clusters of three to six, with a whitish so ag Sooni 2 inches
jong, of which the six segments are about as long as the cylindrical

tube.

ition.
e called “ Konje,” and

Se
-a
©
AN
‘È
J:
o
&
E.
Pn
Q
£,
+3
Bd
="
EA
F

As regards the spelli following the Genera Plantar um, we have adopted
Sansoviers instead ar ‘San esant targ pe being the oldest name. Thunberg had it
Sansevieria ; iapa aituend i s pe and Kunth followed. Bentham in

Sansevie

116

Manila Hemp.” It is described as “ Sh eo in great abundance in
many places, keeping to the shade of wood
r. Horne, Director of the Royal ren Gardens, Pamplemousses
Dongas that
“This plant vas well in Mauritius in damp marshy places i in the
«lowlands. I have no doubt that it would thrive well in the wet

It is widely distributed in the West Indies, and has been grown
oe for the sake of its fibre at St. Thomas, Jamaica, and

rinida

As rega ards cultural treatment, the following information is taken
from notes prepuna by Mr. Morris sE aa rector of the Botanical
Department, Jamaica, on this and S. zeylan

“In the first instance plants may be Bats oni at 3 feet by 3 feet,
aean allowing for roads and paths, would give about 3,000 to the
* acr Te the soil is kept well broken and moist these plants, by the

ee pae of root suckers, will spread in all directions, so that ulti-
“ mately the whole ground, with the exception of certain paths, which
“ should be epe permanently open, will be covered with plants. As
“ regards the time which must elapse between planting out and the
« first yield of leaves suitable for fibre, there would appear to be a great
“ difference of opinion. Plants which I saw at St. Thomas at three

‘My own experience coincides with this, but necessarily much must
“depend upon the nature of the plants when first put out, the character
“ of the soil, the amount of moisture received, as well as on the system
be of cultivation pursued.

“ From

“ fresh leaves. That is, the weight of clean dry fibre was at the rate

“ of 2} per cent. of the fresh leaves. Dr. Roxburgh eikai that

- * one acre would yield 1,613 pounds of clean fibre ae gathering, two
1

In an experimental trial carried on at Jamaica, 1, 185 pounds of green
leaves of S. guineensis igw 29 pounds 10 ounces of dry fibre. This
was cleaned by machin _ The reports of brokers were as follows :—(4.)

“ per ton ;” (¢.) “ No good in the state sent ; it has a lot of bark in it,
“and requires mS dressing ; both ends are clean, but the centre is
“ dirty. ste dressed properly, would be as good as S. zeylanica,

“* viz., 300. on.’

In etoi hó? last, His Excellency Sir William Robinson, Governor
of Trinidad, forwarde d to Kew samples of fibre of this species, which he
stated had been prepared “at the convict depôt at Chaguanas without

“the aid of machinery of any kind.” The report of Messrs. Ide and
Christie on the Trinidad sample was as follows :—

“Tn point of cleanliness and softness of fibre it seems well prepared ;
“ but to compete successfully with Manila hemp it would require to be
“of a better colour and of equal if not superior strength. We value it
“for rope-making purposes at 20/. per ton in London. The small piece of
“Manila fibre which we enclose has a value to-day (Sept. 24, 1886) of
«3L. per ton.”

A few leaves taken from plants grown at Kew were recently passed
through Death’s fibre machine, but the result, owing to the smallness of
the quantity and the necessity of adjusting the machine to the size of
each leaf, was not satisfactory, but is not devoid of interest. The report
of Messrs. Ide and Christie on the sample of fibre submitted to them
was as follows :—“ Short and only moderate strength. Value 23/. per
“ton.

“zeylanica, mottled, unarmed, common and easily propagated.” A

following label, “ Maculated Sansevieria, called ‘Konje, near Lupata,
1860.” This is probably identical with S. guineensis.

2. Sansevieria longiflora, Sims, a native of equatorial Africa, was first
figured and described by Dr. Sims in 1826 at tab. 2,634 of the Botanical

Magazine. The leaves are very like those of S. guineensis, but as

niam Land by Dr. Schweinfurth. Whether all these are the same
Species it is impossible to say at present. There is also a large flowered

cent. of clean dry fibre. The report of Messrs. Ide and Christie on
Specimens thus prepared was as follows :—“ AÀ very bright, clean, strong
“fibre, and in every way a most desirable commercial article. It would
“compete with the best Sisal hemp for rope-making purposes. Value
“307. per ton.”

i *“In the highlands of Zomba the Sansevieria longiflora species grows abun-
‘dantly and Likanga fibre is obtained from it.

i foun d.
“ manuf:

(Forei Office ‘Ragors, 230, 1887, p. 4.)

118

3. Of Sansevieria Kirkii, eae in 1887 we knew the leaves only.
It was sent to Kew by Sir John Kir k, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., in October
81, as a native of the East Coast of Africa. We have had it in
cultivation at Kew since that time. ane leaf is nedas in shape,
an rny in PN ure. We _ hav only grown it to a le ength of

either of the three other comparatively flat-leaved kinds, and down
the back of the lower part of the leaf run about five distinct grooves,
a character one distinguishes it readily from S. guineensis an
S. longiflor

In 1879 ‘Sir John Kirk forwarded through the Foreign Office a
RBE of fibre from the leaf of a species of gein found grow-

on the mainland opposite the island of Zanzibar. The specimen

The report of Messrs. Noble on this specimen was as follows :—“ We
“have carefully examined the fibre from eee Africa ; it is worth as a
“hemp 22/. per ton at the present fe. ” (18

Recently Sir John Kirk has been go od oe gh to furnish more
teers information as regards the plant yielding this fibre. In a letter

ted 2nd Dec. 1886 he mentions :—

uT grows abundantly near Pangane on the mainland opposite the
“island of Zanzibar and in the district T een that and Mombasa, an
tj «is used by the natives to yield a long and useful fibre, of which T sent

“The plant has flowered with me at Mbwéni in the island of
“Zanzibar, but the soil being too dry and sandy it did not succeed very
“well

2 owers are on a stalk crowded in a head, not racemose, 0
“spike, as in another species common on the island. scared
“my flowering specimens rotted in drying, so that I have never been

g, that i

As reported by Sir John Kirk, a single leaf (of what we take to be the
same species) under favourable circumstances attains a height of 9 feet;
and from one such leaf excellent fibre weighing 3 oz. 1 been peinp:
This and other examples of fibre-are in the Kew Museum, No.

Specimens of fibre prepared from S. Kirkii, yielded i is R ‘of 1°69
per cent. by weight of the green leaf. They were described by Messrs.
Ide and Christie as follows :— Rather stout, but very clean and good
“colour ; = strength fair. Value ae per ton.”

4, Sansevieria thyrsiflora, Thunb., is the s species on which the goos
Sansevi ieria trae first constituted by hantar, in the year 1794.
leaf is nearly flat and does not reach above a foot or a foot and a half in
length, and is an inch and a half or two inches broad at the middle, with
anioni potiliag and a distinct red edge. The flower does not: differ

O he aa ey TSS ys KUMEA

119

The leaves of this species, growing at Kew, were too eres to be

A tested for fibre

5. Sansevieria zeylanica, Willd., is a very well known and well-
marked plan is a native of Ceylon, and, long before Linnæus, was
figured and isertbea by Royen, Commelinus, and Plukenet. Thereare
8 or 10`leaves in a tuft and they are semi-circular in transverse section,
1 or 2 feet long, rounded on the back, deeply channelled down the face,
3 or $ inch thick in the middle, in colour dull green, copiously banded
with white, with a distinct red margin. The peduncle and flower PE
are each about a foot long, the flowers being rather smaller than in
guineensis, but quite similar in structure. Itis well figured in Redouté’
Liliaceæ, tab. 290, and in the Botanical Register, tab. 160, in the pi

In Ceylon re species is known under the Singhalese name of
Neyanda. Tt i indigenous in the hotter parts of the island, and the

: Pre yielded Tey it is used in numerous ways, such as strings, TS

k 8
a Reba, Moorga, or Marool. Sir William poe in the Asiatic Re-

searches,.Vol. IV., p. 271, at nba > zeylanica under its ancient
Sanscrit name of Moorva, and he that: “ «Fr om the leaves of this
lle

“ plant the ancient Hindoos abiaihed a A very tough elastic thread called ` :

k « Maurvi, of which they made bowstrings ; and which for that reason,
‘ was ordained by Menu to form the sacrificial sone of the military
ass

“class.” Dr. Roxburgh describes the plant as common on the jungly
salt soils along the coasts, growing under the bushes, and hp propa-
on almost every soil, from the slips which issue in great abun-

com Horne wakes the following cay on hoa plant at Mauritius :—
everal species of Sansevieria are co n here in waste amii near
s ie sites of old gardens, and by the edt sides. They are not so
ye < readily nor so cheaply atao on land as the aloës vert. "But they
“ yield a good fibre, which is used for cordage, &c. It has the reputa-
“ tion of being one of the strongest of fibres. Itis known by the name
* of mace | ‘ing hemp and Moorva.

pint by retting or by simple bea and scraping. Full grown leaves
yield at the rate of 7-87 per cent. ty weight of the green leaves. Owing
to the smallness of the individual leaves they are difficult to clean Hy

machinery, but if it were possible to vans the fibre vad a chemical
pami this plant pa ERAF of great commercial valu

Oo
hoobilt from Ceylon; a b Dr. G. H. K. Thwaites, under the name
of Neyanda fibre; one labelled Moorga or Bowstring hemp, from
Jamaica, from Mr. D. Morris, 1884, with the following note attached : `
—“ Longest leaves 34 to 4 feet eine narrow, mottled, unarmed, very

“of the leaf, or seed.” There are also samp m the Botanic
den, ae sen can; from Mysore, obtained from
the nia um, besides rope sand twine frora areraria a twine from

hi d nose
y Mr. J. A Ferdinandus:
a qe of paper hal ne ae from Fe shies: gi actin and some fibre
dyed in two colours (red and blue), from Madras, by Dr. Hunter,

120

Bowstring HEMP,
Sansevieria zeylanica, Willd,

a. Flower laid open, b, Seeds,

—————— es wiles ais = x

121

Samples of fibre of S. zeylanica prepared at Jamaica by machinery;
in 1884, were described as follows by London brokers :—(a.) “ Beautiful
“fibre, rather heavy and hard, He be whiter, value very uncertain,

colour

é . per ; $
“growth, fairly well cleaned. Value about 307. per ton.” (c.) “ Might
= Be e It is almost too good for roping purposes. Worth about
4 i pe rt Bas

Of Sai cylindrica, Bojer, an excellent napre and a full
account by Sir bes liam so will be found at tab. 5,093 of the
Botanical Maga It is a most “distinct and curious looking plant.
The leaves are e oylindrical, tee’ in horizontal] section, faintly sulcate all
round, especially in the young state, obtuse at the end, arching, reaching
when n fully developed a length of 3 or 4 feet anda thickness of about

; raceme

a ncle is about a foot long; the e u K
with clustered cylindrical flowers just like those of guineensis in
structure, bu bout an inch long. It is spread across South

Africa from Zanzibar to Angola. Our Se plants were received by
the Foreign Office from Angola in 1859 under the name of Ifé and an
abundant supply of its fibre and ship’s ae and other ropes manu
factured from it were shown in the Portuguese Department of the Paris
Exhibition in 1858.

In the description attached to the figure of the plant in the Botanical
nig beatae mentioned above, Sir William Hooker adds the following
particu

* About tires years ago (that is in 1857) there were received at the
“ Foreign Office, and ‘tran sferred to the Admiralty, samples of a

“peculiar fibre and cordage under the name of Ifé, said to be derived

‘from a new plant at the Portuguese settlement of Angola, west coast
“of Africa. These were accompanied by some apparently living
“ plants, which were placed in the lade of the Féreign Office, and
“by the kindness of our valued friend, G. Lenox-Coningham, Esqr.,

“ vegetable products, and I was there agreeably surprised to find most

“ extensive samples, in the Portuguese Department, of the raw mate-

rial fibre, and manufactured articles, ship-cables, rope, beautiful

Sdorieee &c., of the same material, and amongst ‘The Products of
ort.

y m
“*sevieria angolensis, this latter being a MS. name of Dr. Welwitsch
“‘for a remarkable species of Sansevieria, with long stout terete
“leaves, which is in cultivation at Kew. The cordage and ro
“‘made of this plant Kaa to a eye of excellent quality, whatever
“experience may prove them to be.’ Experiments recently made
“ with this cordage Da mao Mg to be the strongest and tted
“i “for deep-sea sounding of any fibre known ; indeed this is the less
“ surprising, seeing ar hse species of Sansevieria (the well-known
oe zeylanica and guineensis, for example) are cultivated in almost
“all tropical countries ides pommi nt of the strength and durability of the
“ fibre, under the name of Bowstring Hemp.
O samples of S. cylindrica fibre in the Kew Museums there is one
specimen from Mauritius, sent by Dr. Duncan; fibre of the Probo and
rope and cordage made from it, probably S. cylindrica, Sierra Leone,

122

Commodore ‘A. Eardley Wilmot, H.M. S. | * Rattlesnake. ” The fo pe
ing note accompanies this specimen : :—“Grows abundantly, can
“easily propagated.” ‘There is also a specimen labelled Mokosi fibre
and leaf, probably S. cylindrica, used for soning cordage, &c., marked
S. E. Africa , T. Baines, Esq.

“ Specimens of fibre prepared from blañta growing at Kew, by Death’s
fibre machine, were described by Messrs. Ide and Bi aa as follows :—
“This is the second best fibre amongst t the samples sent, and except
“that it does not e as strong, it is almost equal to iE. longiflora.
“ Value 287. per ton

. We have at Ky a oe specimen, as well as living. plants, of
8. sulcata, which appears to be an unpublished name of

bands or markings. A smail sample of the fibre of S. sulcata was pre-
pared, and the brokers’ ei iad upon it was as follows :—‘ Similar to
“fibre of Furcraea cubensis and of about equal strength. It is, how-
ge Te, and E would is compare with Mauritius hemp. Value

“ L

It is Snia possible rap paer species of Sansevieria may be found
in tropical Africa, while more or less distinct may be under
cultivation in colonial gardens, The illustrations eee given will assist
in the determination of the species named. Specimens of. any others
will be ee mast for the Kew collections.

[NOTE ADDED, 1894.—Sansevieria Kirkii has flowered at Kew is figured in
the Botan ead Magazine H 7357). An interesting Sansevi ‘erie, P enibi as
a. coabutghisen. chult. has been found completely naturalised at Antigua, and
is likely to prove very tetat for fibre purposes. It has the habit of a very

c . Finally, a feet interesting s s, Sansevieria Ehrenbergii,
5 in the next Article, has been received in ë detoa and living state from

Somali-land. It produces peat fibre

As regards machinery for the extraction of fibre from these plants, ti the
subject is one of considerable importance. Machinery is in use in
Vural and Mauritius for the Fear gn of fibre from Agave and
Furcraea leaves, and machines are said to be made suitable. for the
treatment of leaves of Sansevieria and others. We cannot do better,

however, than refer to t e particular literature given on this subject.
i ;

n Spon’s Encyclopædia, Div. iii., pp. 923-930.
chemical extraction of fibres from plants s there are sev

methods aF experimental trial, some of which may prove ati :

successful,

Sections of leaves of species of “Sansevi vieria :—

IB. guineensis. : = longiflora. se
= S. Kirkii. S, thyrsiflora. : ft
S et $ ae sf nee eee
. 8. sulcata. - ; tno eet L

- Note.—Where, as “ui ma, 1, 2, 3, 4, two- sections are given, the lower. is th
— of. the leaf, onl the other exactly nme the middle or ng part of the leaf.

the
y grow rte a much larger size

124
XL.—_SANSEVIERIA FIBRE FROM SOMALI-LAND.

(Sansevieria Ehrenbergii, Schweinf.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 129-132.]

The increased attention devoted to the production of white rope fibres
in the Western hae appears to have had a stimulating effect also in

the East Indie The production of fibre from Agave vivipara in
Bombay and Manila is now followed by a fibre piee from Somali-
land from a singular species of Sansevieria. This fibre was first

received in this country as an “ Aloe ” fibre. It was soon noticed, how-
ever, that it possessed characteristics differing from all ordinary “ Aloe”

fibres, = an inquiry made by this establishment through the Foreign
Office has shown that it is one of the many so-called Bow-string H
and pecichly yielded by Sansevieria Ehrenbergit, a plant first
collected by Dr. Schweinfurth, and of which little or see was
known until it was described ‘by Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., in Journal
of the Pinte Society, xiv. p. 549. Its locality is he stated as
“between Atbara and the Red Sea.” The details in regard to its
utilisation as a fibre plant are aan in the following correspon-

e :—

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Royal Gardens, Kew, March 29, 1892.

I AM directed by Mr. Thiselton-Dy er to acknowledge the receipt
of a copy of a Report on the Aloe Fibre of Somali-land, [Foreign
Office Miscellaneous Series, No. 225, 1892,] communicated to this
establishment.

2. This Report is of an interesting character. It would be desirable
Pa obin a aea e sample of the fibre for the Museums of Economic

tan

It Sold be useful also to obtain a large leaf from the plant yen
the fibre and, if possible, a few small plants for growing in the
collection.

The leaf and young plants would travel very well in a dry box

without. any packing, and provided with holes in the sides for

“Thise selton-Dyer trusts that the Secretary of State will approve
of the kind offices of Lieutenant-Colonel Stace being invited to obtain
the specimens mentioned, and I am to add that this establishment will
be prepared to pay any RR TP expenses that gr be incurred.

č:
Signed "D. MOR
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., ab a ssistant Dicken
Foreign Office.

Sir E. BARING to the MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.

My LORD, Cairo, February 17, 1892.

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith to your Lor dship a
Report by Lieutenant-Colonel E, V. Stace, Her Ma sjestyi . Consul at
Aden, regarding the-Aloe Fibre of the Somali Coast Sery
I

(Signed) ve ‘BARING.

125

ALOE FIBRE IN SOMALI-LAND.
Lieutenant-Colonel E. V. STACE to Sir E. BARING.
SIR, Aden, January 31,

foll
Aloe Fibre a the Somali Coast Protectorate, my object being that,
should there be no ee the subject might be brought to the notice
of the various Chambers of Commerce in England, with a view to the

of Bombay. This was sent to pe and the reports have just been
received. I must state here that the fibre was prepared in the roughest
and rudest manner by ignorant Somalis in the manner described in the
accompanying copy of a memorandum which I wrote on November 22nd
last, yet the price obtained was, I think, a very fair one, and might be
considerably increased if the fibre were ‘properly prepare

. The report of the Bombay Company (Limited) on the fibre sent by
the Government of Bombay states that it was sold at the fee of 167. 10s.
per ton. “Our London brokers valued the parcel at a

“ would meet with a ready sale.” And again, “ This fibre compares
“favourably with the many new types we see from various countries,
“ which are frequently too poor in colour, or too short, brittle, and full
“ of pith. Yours is of good strength, very nice colour ‘and length.”
The brokers Piwan ee the fibre “all very nice colour, an
“ strength and clea This seems a very saleable eels if
“ once introduced. ”
need scarcely say that the small quantity sent was very much
against a better price being obtained ; the sale was by auction of what
oh ans but a sam
There are an quantities of the Aloe growing in Somali-land.
The people themselves will do nothing towards making a trade in the
fibre ; indeed, they have not the means to work it profitably, though
they use it extensively themselves for ropes and other articles. Ihave
ecimen growing here (Aden) over 7 feet in length, though I admit
that this is exceptional, still I am reiri that the wild plant might be
materially improved. I have no knowledge whatever myself on the
subject, but I have thought that if the existence of the e pa th value of

; Se.
E. V. STACE.
—The specimen mentioned in paragraph 3 of the attached
memorandum, as “ sent to England,” was merely a small hand-parcel,
The larger parcel, sent through the Government of Bombay, was the one
reported on by the brokers, as mentioned in this letter above.

MEMORANDUM regarding the “ Aloe” Fibre of Somali-land,
The following is gathered from various sources in Bemis and
ce I have never seen the fibre prepared myse
he plant is not cut, it is pulled out of the lama sharp
ER are cut off; the plant i is then divided in two down the centre ;

126

the pieces are then beaten with a stick until they become soft, The
fibre is extracted by placing the divided plant between two pieces
of wood, which are fastened tightly ena and the plant is pale
through them, leaving the fibre. This is placed in the sun to dry

for about half an hour. No water is aea s the Somalis say that that,

blackens the fibre. The plant should sr treated as soon as possible
after being pulled up to prevent the dryin sap.

egarding a specimen of the fibre sent ve England (similar to that
sent to Bombay), it was considered that the fibre should be whiter, and

that it was-rather short; but that any quantity of the same as sent -

would be well received, and it was valued at 217. to 227. per ton. It
wanted ae bleaching i in the sun and washing in water, and should be
well clea

: Death’ . s palont fibre cleaning machine costs about 707. ; it requires
either water-power or a 5 horse-power steam-engine of English make to
drive it ; nee costs 1507.

If the aloe is left lying for a day E two in the sun it ruins it; it
should Al treated at once, and under s

know of no water-power atin any reasonable distance of the

coast.

5. There appears to be any amount of aloe within reasonable distance.
I have heard that it would be much improved by being properly culti-
vated, such as thinned in places where it is growing too thickl

6. Labo our is obtainable at the oo epe but the Somali is ex-
tremely saif ia it might be necessary rt Arab labourers at

mport
first, though regular adsployaadnt for the Somali who swarm as idlers
b

about the ports, would be very desirable.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
SIR, Royal Ga rdens, eR, June 27, 1892.

I AM leai by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you, in reference
to my letter of the 29th March last, that a case emag young par
stems, leaves, and fibre from Somali-land has been received a
the utenant-Colonel E. V. Stace, C.B., Political. Toet and Consul
a

ess ant is n “Aloe” r Agave 1 like that yielding Bombay

re. o pla nt is a Sanay eria, one species of which |

(Sansevieria zeylanica) yields po well-known Bow-string hemp of
India (Kew Bulletin, May 1887, pp. 1-11). The Somali-land plant is

probably Sansev evieria Bhirenbergis e e a described in T

The flowers aa not yet been received. The plant is enis a very
interesting one, and its existence as a source of a valuable supply of
fibre is a fact that will be sure to awaken uenia amongst commercial
men in this country.

Mr. terracing i desires hi express his thanks to the Secretary of

State for the prompt manner in which his wishes have been met in this
matter, and he would peenei pA ask that the obligations of Kew may

127

be conveyed to Lieutenant-Colonel Stace for the admirable way in which
he forwarded the specimens to this country.

e, &e..
(Signed) D, MORRIS,
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., Assistant Director.
Foreign Office,

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, London,

SIR, June 27, 1892.
WE duly received your oe of the 18th instant, accompanying
a sample of fibre from a plant known as the “ Aloe of Somali-land.”

ith the exception of its colour, its LEETE is perfect, and even

as it is, we value it to-day at 25/. per ton. We are of opinion that if

care were taken to improve the colour, a eah higher price

would be readily obtainable, perhaps as much as 507. per ton, if a pure
white fibre could be attained without loss of oe and lustre.

(Signed) ioe AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

NOTE ADDED, 1894.—Good photographs of Sansevieria Ehrenbergii in flower
were received from Lieut.-Colonel Stace in July 1893. The plant has been figured
d i i x 2,269,

and gaskets in Hookers Icones Plantarum, pl e dr g the
wers ed upon careful sketches supplied to Kew by Dr. Schweinfurth, bhe
author of the species. The Kew herbarium still requires e parera of the dried

flowers, and Suse Lieut.-Colonel Stace has kindly promised to s

XLI—SANSEVIERIA FIBRE FROM BECHUANA-
LAND.*

(Sansevieria sulcata, Bojer.)
[K. B. 1889, pp. 222-224.]

In n February of the present year Sir Villiers Lister, Under Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, drew the attention of Kew to the fact that
Mr. James Nicolls, of Mafeking on Lake Ngami, had in a report to the
Colonial Office stated that “the Makouba tribe is famous for the
“ beautiful fish nets manufactured by them from the fibre of a species

“of Cactus which grows in great abundance along the es and

question, applica on was made to the Colonial Otfice, asking if ES os

* NOTE ADDED, 1894.—The original account of this fibre in the Koo Battin
under, Buazé fibre (Securidaca longipedunculata). On receipt, later, of
7 eeren of the plant, it was shown that the fibre was -yielded by a ajoit of

128

the fibre from which the ya are made, could be obtained for the
museum of the Royal Garden
The following feos Sieadanive gives the results of the inquiry :—

CAPE GOVERNMENT to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Government House, Cape Town,
89.

My LORD, April 27, 18
ITH reference to your Lordship’s Despatch, No. 68, of the 4th
ultimo, I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a

letter which I have received from Mr. mis Nicolls, forwarding a
specimen of the fishing nets made by the natives living round Lake
N ;

The net which accompanied Mr. Nicolls’ letter has been forwarded
by parcel post.

(Signed) ` gies Doulas ROBINSON
vernor and High Commissioner.
The Righe Hon. Lord Knutsford, G. C M.G.,
&e.

Mr, NICOLLS to Sir H. ROBINSON,

British Bechuanaland, Mafeking,
YOUR EO April 16, 1889.
the honour to acknowledge the r receipt through Sir
sidney shippard of ete communications from Lord Knutsford and
e Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, in reference to fish nets made
= the natives nia ke Ngami = Taan oned by me in a report
made for 7a pE some time s
I have much plea: in now forwa iig ‘by post this day a specimen
of the nae in inao shal should feel happy if the authorities at Kew
would be willing to accept some. The net I sent is the joint property
of Mr. Robert Hicks of this place and myself. Some months since I

m . Nicolls, Bel
Meath, Ireland, and I have not the slightest doubt but that she would
be only too wing to present same to the Royal Gardens, if application
were made for
I beg to bewin for information a short description of the plant from
which the nets are manufactured,

(Signed) ea “A. NICOLLS.
The Right Hon. Sir eee G. Robinson, a ani MG:
&c.

{Enclosure, |
FISH NETS from LAKE NGAMI and the BOTLETLE RIVER.
The fibrous plant from which the Makouba tribes cate their nets is
ake and the

ý ;
most a height of about 3 feet, The stems, or, more properly, stalks,

129

averaging about 1 inch in diameter, the points of such stems being
furnished with a wonderfully sharp spear-like head. The fibre is rather
thicker than that obtained from flax, and when freshly drawn from the
279 very closely resembles fine fishing gut. In fact it has been most
ccessfully used for angli x purposes in the Botletle River. It can be

nets after using them. It may be interesting to note that in t the
iapirabie thickets formed by the plant, that beautiful and rare ielien
of the spotted bush buck of the pete and Botletle Rivers finds secure
refuge from the attacks of man an

Mafeking, April 16, 1889.

N.B.—Mr. Nicolls, on his return from Lake Ngami, at the close of
the present year, will be most happy to furnish the authorities at Kew
with specimens of the roots and stalk of the plant in question. At the
same sey = has to S his regret that, pra to the carelessness of

n charge of his waggons on his journey from Lake Ngami
last year, i entire number of specimens of plants, &c., with very few
exceptions, have been unfortunately lost.

8.
Signed) JAMES NICOLLS.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
Downing Street,
SIR, May "99, 1889.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the laia to
transmit to you for your information, with reference to the letter from
this department of the 23rd instant, the papers noted in the subjoined
schedule, which relate to the fibre fsh n neta from Lake Ngami

(Signed) ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
The Dire
Reveal: Gadna Kew.

Mr, NICOLLS to Sir S. SHIPPARD.
British Bechuanaland, Mafeking,
Your Hoxou April 16, 1889.
In © sclera to the minute of the 12th instant and forwarded
to me by direction, I have the honour to state that by post this day I
forwarded to his Excellency the High Commissioner direct a opon
of fish nets made by the natives around Lake Ngami. I regret having

As I propose proceeding to t nr Bae District this year I shall be most
happy to supply the Bede ie of the Royal Gardens at Kew with a
quantity of the fibre on my return.

I have, &e.,

(Signed) JAMES NICOLLS.
Sir S. Shippard, K.C.M.G.
&e. &e,

8895 I

130

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW:

Downing Street,
SIR, April 16, 1890.
WITH reference to the letter of the Colonial Office of 29th May
last, I am es by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit
to you for your information a copy of a report which has been received
from the High Commissioner in South oes on the subject of a certain
plant from Lake Ngami, sent direct Ags

(Sighedy ” gre G. W. HERBERT.
The Directo
Ro aa Gardens, Kew,

Mr. HICKS to Sir H. LOCH.

Grand Hotel, Diep River,
YOUR eyar March 13, 1890.

I BEG to ea ato po of the roots and stalks of the plant
which the Makoulba natives of Lake Ngami ma ake their fish nets from.
These are the specimens p omised by Mr. James = fais of
Mafeking, April lth, 1889, to the authorities i Kew Gard

m, &e.
(Bignon) ” ROBERT I. HICKS.
Sir Henry B. Loch, G.C.M.G., C.B.

These specimens entirely agree with Sansevieria sulcata, Bojer.
have never had any flow nee S. aE and should be much obliged if
Mr. Nicolls could get som

s. Mixed with the bundle of °S. rodga was a single plant of a species,
possibly S. Volkensii, Gurke.

XLII.—SISAL HEMP.
[K. B., 1887, March, pp. 3-8.]

Under this term are included fibres derived from probably more than
2s species of Agave, and it is probable also that one species of Furcraea
used. According to the locality where the industry is carried on or
ió port of shipment the fibre po in Yucatan is called Sisal Hemp,
which i = the recognised name in the aep market; or Jenequen or
Henequen Hemp, which wodi appear to be the t more commonly

erm
aag in ym United States. Pita is another Central American fibre but
whether the produce of an A A. americana) or of a Bromeliad

gave (
ae atas Plumieri) is not quite clear. Probably it is loosely applied to

As regards the species of. Agave yielding Sisal Hem Miller first
described A. rigida (Dict. Ed. 8, 1768) in the following w eerie “ Long,
‘narrow, stiff leaves, entire, and terminated by a stiff black p

ronis to Miller, Pita fibre is derived from Furcraea gigantea, which wo ould
make it identical with Mauritius Hemp. Dr. rb ies 1e, ps Sad cca hand, mentions
Agave Tatli “ as furnishing a fine fibre called Pita

131

“ These leaves are seldom more than two feet long, little more than an
“inch broad, being of a glaucous colour. The side leaves stand almost
a ne but the centre leaves are folded over each other and
“enclose the flower bud.”

This may be accepted in a large sense as the representative species of
which there are several sub-spec cies and varieties cultivated by the
natives of Yucatan from time immemor desa

According to Dr. oo (Trans. A icad. Science, St. Louis, Vol.

Dec ;

now applie
r. Baker ha as given a HEN o of the Genus Agave in the Gardeners’

Chronicle (Vols. VII. and VII I., New Series, 1877). The plants men-
tioned below are included under the Group Rigidæ, having the edge
of the thin horny leaf without any distinct border, and the teeth (when
present) small but distinct and deltoid. He remarks that this i is a con-
siderable group of which A. lurida and A. rigida may be regarded as
the types intermediate between the groups Americane and Aloidee,

From a study of plants at Kew, Mr. Baker was inclined to look upon
A. Ixtli, Karw., as the type and A. r igida, Mill., A. elongata, Jacobi,
and A. sisalana, Perrine, as synon yms or varieties. But as in the
place A. rigida, Mill, , has the priority in point of time, and (if we follow
Dr. Engelmann) also represents the old aboriginal fibre plant of Yucatan
(the Ghotans}, K would be better to retain this as the aggregate species
and place the others among the varieties which have arisen in course of
long cultivation in differant parts of the peninsula of Yucatan.

We have then—

A. RIGIDA, Mill.

var. 1. A. Ixtli, pect a reine Hk.f., leaves 14-2 ft, long,
teeth dist
2. A. at Jacobi 3, leaves 4-5 ft., glaucescent and
toothed. “Sac

3. A. sisalana, Per e { ; leaves 4-6 ft. long, pale ace,
not Les generally without teeth. “ Yaxc

r. Engelmann in s cited above mentions that the oneal
plant of A. rigida was, assomlinip to Miller, brought from Vera
but his own speci collected in Y y Dr. Schott. He

u
states that Dr. Perrine and Dr. Schott independently studied a
described in Yucatan this a pam, with its different forms

economic uses Sepoy Doc. 300, Washington, March 12th, 1838), ‘the
latter in the Re of the Agric cult natal Department at Washington for
1869. According tc to Dr. Engelmann, “both agree that there is a common

“native species in Yucatan, called Chelem by the aboriginal inhabitants ;
“ but from time immemorial a number of varieties, all ounn by
“ much longer leaves, and one also by the absence of m spin
“and differing among themselves in the quantity and ee of their
“ fibre, have teen cultivated by the natives of Yucatan, and are a staple
“ product of that country to this day, furnishing the well known Sisal
‘“ Hemp. The people know them as Taigin Jae or Henequen
9 ‘ (Perrine), and diskagnich. as Dr. Schott reports, the Yarci (Yashki)
‘as furnishing the best quality, and the Sacci (Sacqui) with the largest
“quantity of fibre, Chucumei, larger than the last, produces coarser
8895 12

132

“doubt to Miller’s old A. rigida, is 1-2 feet high ; leaves 14-2 feet
“Jong, and as many inches wide, contracted above the broader base

“with smaller ones interspersed, dark wn; terminal spin ch
“ long, 1? lines in diameter, straight, or often somewhat twisted, terete,
“ scooped ou at ut not channelled, dark red-brown, a dar

upwards, l-inch longer than the perigone ; anthers 10-10} lines
s

stamens.
Irtli, which in 1872 flowered in the gardens of the late M,

“ hilum (in many other Agaves I find the hilum more basal, a charac-
“ter which may be of some value). I believe this is the first time
“ that the flowers of the Ixtli have been described ;* they identify the
“ plant with the old A. rigida, or at least the above-described Chelem.
+ A. Karwinskii, Zuce., is probably the same thing,

A “With the name of longifolia I designate the variety known as
Sacei (Saequi) and extensively cultivated in Yucatan ; it is princi-
£ pally peinrnished by its much longer spiny leaves, 4-54 feet long,

es i

‘ i ; ‘ n i, p
‘to this form if the description did not expressly mention a channelled

arg
a i aa the subsequent Indian wars. With this Agave, however,
i ~i 7 been successful, as it is now fully naturalized, and is quite
«ot lundant at Key West and the adjacent coast. Dr. Parry found it
3 there in full bloom in February 1871, and gives the following de-
2 Scription of it :—trunk short; leaves pale green but not glaucous, 4-6
* This remark made r. i i i 5
The ietlioides form (Agave e E danii Wat Snes red by. ‘Sir J. D.
ooker from a plant which flowered at Kew in 187], (Bot. Mag. t. 5893.)

133

“ feet long and 4~6 inches wide, generally smooth-edged, but here and
bag there bearing a few unequal, sometimes very stout and sharp teeth ;

“ feet high, panicle 8 feet long and half wi largest
“ plants examined had 35 branches in the panicle, the largest (near the
“ middle) 2 feet long, uppe ower ones sh are

“

“equals 12-14 times the width), probably the form of the terminal
spine, the character of the inflorescence, and, above all, the form and
“ proportions of the flower and its parts, remain constant, and perhaps
“also the proliferous character of the inflorescence of some species.”

In a t on fibre plants prepared by the late Director of the
Botanical Department, Jamaica, in 1884, it is mentioned that with
regard to the value of Agave rigida and its allied forms as the sources
of the Sisal Hemp of commerce, there were two important points deserving
attention. The first was the universal increasing demand which exists in
all countries for this fibre; and the second was the drought-enduring
character of the plant and the simple and economical treatment which
it requires at the hands of the cultivator.

<4
®

Asan example of what the probable returns may be from a Sisal
Hemp plantation, it is stated by Dr. Perrine that each plant at four or
five years old yields on an average 25 leaves per annum, the aggregate
weight of which is one “arroba” or 25 pounds. Out of this weight of
green leaves there is obtained by hand scraping one pound of clean,
marketable fibre, which at 38/. per ton is worth a little over fourpence
per pound.

according to the circumstances of the locality ; but where good faci-
lities exist for the transit and preparation of the leaves, and especially
with the aid of simple and effective machinery, the costshould not exceed
one penny per pound. Hence the net returns may be set down at about —

l. per acre per annum. ae

i34

The export of Sisal Hemp exceeds that of any other article of Mexican
growth. The export value of fibres from Yucatan in 1883 reached the

58
Dr. Schott, in the | Report of the Department of Agriculture, United
States of Frisia, for 1869, remarks that “while other products of

“ which easily survives the effects inher o the nature of a riverless
“rocky desert, and the severe trials of a six inca? tropical sun. For
Fà knowledge of the Sisal Hemp plant,” continues Dr. Schott, “ its
“ culture and uses, Yucatan is indebted to the Maya Indians, the direct
“ descendants of those remnants of the Toltecs who, after the fall of
“ their empire in the valley of Mexico, emigrated to Central America
“and Yucat

An gaii of the Sisal Hemp industry in Yucatan has lately been
published by the Government of Jamaica. This was furnished by
Mr. Stoddart, who for a time was practically engaged in the industry.

ing to this writer the plant known locally as Sacqui (probably according
to Engelmann, the variety longifolia) is most generally cultivated. This
ne said to Age eld the largest spe of oo which is shee by

land
the ‘ition, ne quantity of fibre yielded would be comparatively sma small.
For convenience of carriage and general management level land is
preferred.

Plantations are established by simply pears the land of ae and

crub. Stumps are uprooted to give an even surface. Sree sa dis-
Givan ntage. Plants are generally put out during the rainy engot at
12 feet by 6 feet (equal to 605 to the acr a)i in A niapi to their
size. All fibrous roots and lower leaves are removed before planting,
to facilitate ner growth. It is estimated to uit “four shillings and six-
% per acre to line, dig holes, drop suckers, and plant.” A well
established plantation has an extensive system of roads all converging oD

e works, which latter are placed in as central a position as possible.

After planting, the chief cultural operations are con nfined to keeping
the fields clear of weeds, a nd remov ing suckers which grow ar around the
parent plants. These latter are utilised to extend cultivation by being
planted in nurseries, or are thrown aw wage Their removal is considered
necessary to the success of the plantation.

A fibre plantation started with plante about 14 feet high, begins to
yield in about three years after planting. ioe appearance of the

le,” or Agre spike, is watched, and when 3 or 4 feet high it is

cut out. Otherwise the usefulness of the amet for fibre purposes would
immediately cease,

SER Bee

ES Se Bape gues Sila See eee Ene a A

135

_ The length of leaves cut for fibre should not be less than 3 feet; their

edge of the cart road, and are (oe by drays, carrying 1,500 leaves

S
to a load, to the works. Cutters, pei ny and machinists are paid so
much ee 1,000 leaves.

nts.

After the 5 ot planis. passed through the machine it is placed on a
drying stand fully exposed to the sun and thoroughly dried. If it is
desired to bleach the fibre to a high degree of whiteness it is left out all
night and during the next day mat carefully turned. The fibre is made
up into bales by means of a screw or hydraulic press, care being taken
to keep the fibre straight and pr davon n ‘rin nges

Each plant when matured yields 30 to 35 leaves per annum, and the
return of oe is at ~ — of 1,000 to 1,200 pounds per acre, or about

half a ton per acre per The net return = a fibre plantation in
Yucatan » estimated at Baen 4l. and 5/. per
Plants ived at Kew from Yucatan marked « Sisal He emp”

TOW miie in the Succulent House No. 5, and lately an eapo
was made to test the quality of the fibre yielded by them.
bre was extracted by Mr. W. E. Death’s fibre machine, and the
following r s was pp re diag it from Messrs. Ide and Christie,
fibre b “ros ie f Mark Lan
“We are in receipt of the jjáreol containing a leaf of — rigida and
“sample of hemp made from leaves grown in the gardens. ese are
“most interesting to us, and we have much iai in reporting

“ 27l. per ton in London. You will see from the statistics given in
“ enclosed circular that this material is an im pra one and is exten-
“ sively used both in England and America.. It enters into competition
“ with Taik Hemp and was regarded as an sfraliaraat of the latter in
“rope ; but as its price is now nearly as high as that of Manila the
i a E e not the same inducements to mix the hemps.

XLIII.—FIBRE INDUSTRY AT THE BAHAMAS.
[K. B., 1889, pp. 57-61.]

At the request of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the geen
correspondence is poen in the Kew Bulletin, epa a fibre
industry at the Bahamas, in which the Governor,
takes a asap personal itore: A supplementary ois. is added, giving

136

the most recent information which has reached Kew respecting fibres
from Agave and other plants :—
COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
Penne eo
SIR, mber 24, 1888.
I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to jas imin pr you a nis of a

despatch from the Governor of the Bahamas, enclosing

ular which he has addressed to the Resident and Assistant- Resident
Justices of the Islands, on the present position and prospects of a fibre
industry in the Colony, and to state that his Lordship would be glad if
a copy of the circular could be inserted in the gè seed

The Director, (Signed) JOHN * BRAMBTON.
Royal Gardens, Kew.
Sir A. SHEA to LORD KNUTSFORD.
Government House, Nassau, N.P.
My LORD, November 22, 1888.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lo rdshi ip six printed
copies of a sei which I have caused to be addressed to the Resident
and Assistant Resident Justices of the Bahama Islands on the subject of
the present position and prospects of a fibre industry which i is panus y

to have engaged in developing this PI © and whose operations

I have, &c.
(Signed) A. SHEA,
The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, Governor.
&e. &e. ¢:
[Circular.]
; Colonial Secretary’s Office, Nassau, N.P.
SIR, November 22, 1888.

{ AM directed by his Excellency the Governor to er your
attention to the important question of fibre cultivation, now so large ely
EES the minds of the public, on on which it is essential soll the
fullest information should be disseminated.

uring his Excellency’s late sheesed from the Colony, he was enabled
to gather some instructive particulars, which strengthens his faith in
ee pe the fibre industry is to play in the speedy advancement of the

ony.
eroti the good offices of the Crown Agents for the Colonies in
London, the following statement was obtained from Mr. Thomas Bra
a gentleman of greatauthority,to whom a sample ofrough rope made fro

ee NOR ee

137

Bahamas fibre was submitted for examination. Mr. Briggs states, under
date September 3rd, 1888 :—“ This material I consider equal to ver

“importance. I consider it to be a very superior article for spinning
“ in yarns for rope-making, and unless in bulk some ingredient should
“ be found to counteract its apparent good qualities, it should find a
“ready sale at the price I name.”

is testimony is highly satisfactory, and in the United States the
article is not less fully estimated. It is, moreover, a stable commodity
or commerce in which serious variations of value are not to be looked
for, and this goes to rid the work of production of uncertain and risky
conditions,

we have in these Islands. We were aware that the plant is independent
of drought, and this is Mr. Stoddart’s experience. It was also believed
in this Colony that it takes about three years after a to bring the

pounds of fibre, and he corroborates the opinion held here that the plant

_ thrives best on rocky and- impoverished soil, and that it is shunned by

cattle, and consequently free from injury on this caused ae
_ Mr. Stoddart’s estimate of production, which it is not means t
impeach, admits of a large abatement and yet leaves the enterprise full

of promise. Ata fair price he makes the money value of an acre ano

The
s, and in lots to meet the circum-

land is obtainable on very easy terms, hates :
. To create the largest possible —

rm
stances of the labouring population

138

hands. There are nearly 2,000,000 acres of ungranted lands in the
Colony, and with the conditions of purchase, the facilities for prosei n
the fibre cultivation, and its value as a staple article of commerce,
countries are few that offer so fair a field for the reward of the Sai
and labóur that may seek + investment in this undertaking.

It is intended immediately to despatch a Commissioner from this
Government to Yucatan to make further inquiries, as it is of the utmost
importance to have the fullest information on the whole economy of
the cones in which the people of this Colony are now s0 vitally
interested.

m, &e,
(Signed) ' E, B. A. Tay LOR,
Colonial Secretary.

[It is desirable to add a few words to supplement the information
given in the interesting circular issued by the Government of the
Ba

This information is very similar (with the exception of one or two
points to be mentioned later) to that already published in the Kew
Bulletin for March 1887, pp. 3-8.

Mr. Stoddart’s report ‘(published by the Governent of Jamaica) on
which the estimates of profit in Mr. Taylor’s memorandum are base

as communicated by Kew to the Colonial Office for transmission to t the
Government of the Bahamas in reply to a despatch from Governor (Sir
soak Blake, date 24th January 18

It as pointed out at the time in par. 5 of the Kew letter, dated 15th
pirat 1887, that “the statements contained in the pamphlet are not
“ necessarily endorsed, either by the government of Jamaica or by
‘ Kew. It professes to be nothing mo re than ; an account given by a

some of the conditions under which the industry is remunerative in
ucatan.

years. Another important point to bear in mind is that Mr. Stoddar

merchants who would ultimately undertake the painted” of bali
shipping it. If the fibre is not properly baled, the cost of freight would

139

be so large as to greatly reduce the returns. Indeed the fibre in a loose
state is so bulky that it would be almost impossible to ship it at such
a rate as would enable it to compete successfully with fibres from other
countries. It is usual to pack this class of fibre by means of be draulie
. in bales of about 400 lbs. each. If the wie teeters ors in the
Bahamas take up a fibre industry, it is evident that s ne possessing
capital should fs pr epared to purchase the fibre in ever quantitice and
pack it by means of suitable presses ready for shipment. There are no
grounds, however, for supposing that a fibre industry based on Agave
and Furcraea plani and judiciously pursued, can be reinii than
satisfa
Siileciios of fibre plants was received at Kew about two years ago
(from the Government of Bahamas), and it was stated in a letter dated
the 16th May 1887, that among these specimens there was no species
exactly answering to that yielding the sae lee mp of commerce, The
fibres of No, 2 (Furcraea cubensis), and No. 3 (Furcraea cubensis, Med
inermis), were the most valuable, and these are said to be used partly as
source of commercial fibres in ionii. The true Sisal Heike plant is
Agave rigida. This may be abundant in the Baharia: but no specimens
were received of it. Other fibre plants received at the time mentioned
were Agave lurida and Agave americana var. variegata, the latter a
variegated form of the common American Agave. These latter are of
little value for fibre as compared with the true Sisal "He emp plant.
Specimens of African Bow- string hemp aoe guineensis were
also received, the fibre of which is of high va
A fibre industry has been in existence in Maantlan for some years
The experience gained there might be of service in the Bahamas,
especially in regard to the initial difficulties to be overcome in esta-
blishing a new industry.
The market value of this class of n and the permanency of demand
for bi has bee fully Bash pe Sion ew. A summary furnished by

197.; 1886, 212. The highest price paid was 327. 10s. Od in pastas
1879 to February 1880, the lowest price was 17/7. 15s. Od. in January
and February 1886. Recently there has been an increased demand for
whit te fibres, with a corresponding rise in prices. In the United States,
Messrs. Crocker’s Statistics, dated the lst December, gore the pA at
8 to 82 cents per lb. (equal to about 37/. to 39/. per

Agave fibre from Bana eke prepared by id) wie virait Tast
December at 15/. 177. per Mauritius hemp prepared by
machinery from Fun gh se gi inten (known as the green hs or green
Agave) was valued: good, 34/. to 35/. per ton; “fair, 331. per ton;
common, 307. per ton. ED. M.]

XLIV.—FIBRE INDUSTRY AT THE BAHAMAS—
(continued.)
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana.)
[K. B., 1889, p. 254.]
In the Kew Bulletin for March last, p. 57, maha was given
respecting a new fibre industry at the Bahamas. Since that time

140

ee of the leaves of the plant have been received at Kew, and it
has now been possible to determine the fe ai as shown in the following
tar addressed to the Colonial Office

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to the COLONIAL OFFICE,

SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, July 18, reel
WITH reference to your letior of the 14th February 1887, a

subsequent correspondence on the subject of the “ Pita” fibre plant of

the Bahamas, I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to ee you

he has lately received et Sir Ambrose Shea specimens of ve of

this plant, which have now enabled us to identify it.

2. When a gar ce ot various fibre plants growing at the Bahamas
were forwa to w two years ago, a description of which was
forwarded with my letter of the 16th May 1887, the present plant

was not among them. The various species of Agave are extremely
difficult to distinguish, and it is gni possible that the pan described
as No. 1 Agave lurida was sent to this country under mpress sion
that it was identical with what is known locally as the “ Pita pla ant.”

3. The “Pita” of the Bahamas, which it is hoped will give rise to
$ anocossful local industry, from the specimens of leaves that have now

ached Kew, is a most interesting and valuable plant. There can be
little doubt it is Agave sisalana of Perrine, now generally recognised
as a variety of Agave rigida of Miller

4. A good description of the plant, by Engelmann, is quoted in the
Kew Bulletin for March 1887,

. This plant has doubtless reached the Bahamas, where we under-
stand it is anii naturalized, from Florida and Key West. It is the
produce of the plants originally introduced to Florida by Perrine about
40 years ago. _ The pat of teeth on the leaves, their extreme len

plant are qualities whick render it one of the ae if not the best, fibre
En ete known species of Agaves and Furcreas.

. The steps already taken by the Governor Port the Bahamas to
sa the utilisation of this plant and Seta hivah a local fibre
industry are fully justified by the intrinsic merits of this Agave, and by
the reports which have been obtained in this country on the quality
and value of the fibre

* xe *

I have, &e.
Edward Wingfield, — C.B., (Signed) D. MORRIS.
Colonial Office

XLV.—FIBRE INDUSTRY AT THE BAHAMAS—.
(continued).
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana.)
[K. B., 1890, pp. 158-161.]
The development of an important fibre industry at the Bahamas has

already been the er ras £ antan in the Kew Bulletin (see March 1889,
p. 57, and Dabar 1889, p. 254).

As indicating the ese ract h of the industry from an American point
of view the following Report, prepared by the United States Consul at

sles —

14]

Nassau at the boginnipe 4 of this sears will be read with interest. This
Report is reproduce actly as it appears in the Reports from the
Consuls of the Unted States, No, 114, March 1890 :—

CONDITIONS OF THE SISAL INDUSTRY IN THE BAHAMAS.
REPORT BY CONSUL MCLAIN, OF NASSAU.

One year ago I made a report to the Department upon the culture of
Sisal host in this colony, calling attention to it as a new industry just
being introduced, and which promised to bring substantial prosperity to
these islands in the near future

During the year, and especially within the last few months, so many
letters have been received at this Consulate from various parts of the
United States making enquiries upon the subject, that I am satisfied a
statement touching the present condition of the toma would interest
many of our people, and I therefore submit the followi

rogress made in the baer eee ng Si eal culture in pex
eet during the past twelve months is marvellous. One

a nag
acres at Inagua, and has begun operations.
Me oh Munro & Co., of St. John’s, att octane have obtained a
P

company on the same island. Mr. Alex. Keith, of Edinburgh, Scotland,
has tuken 2,000 acres on Andros Island, and is working upon it. But

Ma any a e raien i land have not been reached at all as yet on the
files, the Surveyor-General’s Department being hard pushed in the
matter of surveys ind” locations, whilst new applications are being

cultivation being as great as the condition of labour in the colony will
justify. The number of acres of Crown land already tes of is
about 120,000 acres, whilst pending a on file, and not yet
reached, will amount to at least 200,000 m

142

This substantial withdrawal of Crown lands is creating some move-
eee in real estate—as is natural under the circumstances-—bet ween
vate par ‘pa some old pr — changing hands at pe ices double and
Donia their supposed values two years ago. Perso uying private
lands and cdlnvating them will share in the bounty ‘of 1 per cent. per
roe provided by law on all fibre raised and exported. Private lands
n New Providence can be Poum EER for from $8 to $12 per
ies and a less on the out-isla

ding from 40 to 60 cents per day, and finding themselves. Each
month, however, witnesses a large increase in the number of those who
find remunerative employment, and pleasant relations obtain bape
employers and employed. The labour pasion n has been and is
that here, as elsewhere, requires Soon treatment; but it has ee
skilfully met by Sir Ambrose Shea, t e Governor, who, long ago
perceiving that to AEEA msi to A upon adjoining lands would
induce sharp competition in wages in thinly settled districts, adopted the
plan of scattering the Hee LE the different islands, or in localities
remote from each other on the same island, so that each settlement
should have its share of the benefits of the new industry, by obtaining, 5
fair wages, employment for its local labour. In this way, also, a surplu
of labour at one point and a scarcity at some other has been E

peee of fibre continue to be “eee by nearly every steamer,
a a “ala plantings ears the materials. It is not likely that ship-
ments in any quantity will be possible under two years, but after that
ime an enormous pec may begin to be looked for, increasing
steadily as cin say p come pa stg until the annual exports of the
colony, which now average about $600,000, will leap well up into the
millions, as a moment’s ns re will show
It is a very low estimate to expect half a ton of fibre per pees and a
very low estimate to call it worth $100 per ton, = it is worth over $200
per ton in the world’s markets to-day. Wine n the present E
of land sold and applied for, to wit, 300, 000 a nR is bearing, which
ought to etre within five or six years, it will produce 150,000 tons a

year, worth $ ,000, an increase perity Laue more like
a fairy tale than a strong probability deduced from reas 8
et acres is but a small portion of the Sacalia lands

within the limits of the Bahamas,

It is estimated that about 6,000 acres of land have already been
planted in Sisal (a plantation once started needs no replanting for many
years), and that many additional ones have been cleared and made
ready ra the plants, the obtaining of which has been almost im-
possible, the industry being seriously retarded thereby. The prices
paid for plants have risen from 6 cents per dozen to 36 cents, so great
has been the demand ; but the price will now Cahn: rapidly, since the
supply of plants is EPER EROE enormously, about 2,000,000 being now

available for planting, and others coming on t r Tke Pita plant
is being found on all the islands growing wild, and the stock of old
plants is very great, From the centre of the old plant rises a pole

143

years ago only noxious weeds have all at once become worth $20
apiece for pole plants alone. Quantities of old plants have lately been

developed in the southern portions of Florida. The plants are found

hi tt

the propriety of looking into it, and of calling the notice of the people of
Florida to this possible source of wealth and prosperity. The con-
ditions of soil, climate, &c., which make its culture a success here may
not obtain there, but the simple fact that the plant is found growing
wild in Florida is of itself a consideration that should warrant an
investigation at the hands of the Department.
: e unexampled success of the Sisal industry, in so brief a period,
in this colony is entirely attributable to the business-like, systematic
manner in which it has been managed by the present Governor, Sir
Ambrose Shea, who has all along taken a most earnest interest in the

and has practica

ear
great energy and prudence, overcoming numerous difficulties, sur-
mounting obstacles, encouraging the faint-hearted, until now the people

in this colony. It has passed far beyond the experi ge,
‘8 giving daily evidence that it will become a source of wealth to all
voncerne ombined conditions of soil and climate, especially

1S a plant of unfailing growth, it will live without rain to moisten the
soil, you can scarcely exterminate it if you try, it requires but little
cultivation, and at an expense below that of almost any other agricultural
product, and its value is substantial. ,

„^8 two thirds of the trade of the Bahamas is now with the United
States; as their only steam communication with the outside world is

m :
and New York; as their increased wealth and prosperity means a
larger and more profitable commercial intercourse with our own country,

144

we should view kain coming development of their arians set ests with
pleasure, and with the w warmest wishes for its omplete
In conclusion, I would add that I have sent “i this ‘nail four ee
of the Bahama fibre for the information and satisfaction of the Sta
Department, liasing that the same would be of sufficient interest z
justify me in so doing. These specimens were not specially pper
but are only fair samples of the average fibre which is now bein
and shipped from the colony. Two of them have still attached a atab
or portion of the butt end of the leaf, which was purposely not passed
through the machine, showing the character of the Sisal plant when
react
, THos. J. MCLAIN, jr.
United States Consulate, Nassau,
January 20, 1890

XLVI.—FIBRE PRODUCTIONS IN THE CAICOS
ISLANDS.

[K. B., 1890, pp. 273-278.]
The Turks and ies Islands lie pene 21° and 22° N. lat. and

71° and 72° 37' W. long. Their area is 169 square miles. The most
ee dere Ble Grand Turk, is 2} titles long and two miles trend: It
con 2,500 inhabitants, being half the total population

= islands were originally settled from Ber muda in the 18th
century, and formed at first a portion of that colony. In 1799 they
were transferred, for purposes of government, to the colony of the

ues

Salt-making is the only industry of any importance, the quantity
annually gathered exceeding 1} million bushels. Sponges are found in
some quantities on the Caicos bank, but = Aiii collected by Bahamas
schooners and carried to Nassau. There ne sponge-curing establish-
ment on the Caicos Islands. The litrat of the Manila fibre (or
bin plant) is being extensively fitoduced: with every prospect of
uccess

Practically the whole of the food and household necessaries are im-
being The commercial intercourse is almost wholly with the United

The inhabitants are of mixed European and African extraction, the
proportion of whites to coloured people being larger than in most of
the West Indies.

The following correspondence relates to = oe which is being
made to — the cultivation of fibre plan

ane ee SST Sov Lt ee ee ee

145

ROYAL GARDENS, ied to COLONIAL OFFICE.

no
Turks sf rN TORG on the subject of fibre plants.

2. The specimens of leaves mentioned by Captain Jackson have duly
arrived at Kew and they have been carefully examined. The leaves

marked A. and pales “Pita” taeda in conjunction with the specimen
of fibre enclosed belong to the true Pita or Henequen of Yucatan
(Agave rigida var. sisalana), and are identical with the apne yielding
the valuable fibre which has rage attracted so much attention at the

dD.a

Bahamas, The leaves marke e derived from the same aa but
the leaves in this instance gs furnished witha few jie. a circumstance
which often occurs in this and other species of Aga The original

wild plants of Agave r igida were plentifully pie, With teeth. “The
present ùnarmed varieties have been selected for cultivation as being
more readily handled. The three amaii living plants ininda with the
leaves A. zya D. were also ay true “ Pita” Sue

3. The plant known locally as “ Manila,” gnc supposed
by Taa Falter as eget) in his letter ‘of p rd July, “to be
“the Sacqui or Henequen of Yucatan, of lighter colour and having

cubensis. This is ee Eeoa nearly everywhere in the West
Indies, and is kno n Jamaica, Tobago, and elsewhere as “Silk
Grass.” It is Pra ‘allied to the cant yielding Mauritius hem
yields a good fibre, but it cannot be regarded as so saladhia a plant as
g “ Pita.” Where this latter is plentiful already, or easily Shtate
n large ne, it would not be desirable to devote attention entirely
to the “ Silk Gra
4. It -will be seo than an examination of these specimens from the
Turks Islands has proved very interesting. Captain Jackson has
eoryoees valuable service by drawing ne ba the existence of the
“Pita” in these islands, and there eason why
Sita fibre fndaners should not be established here. The apes |
the Turks Islands “Pita” with that of the Bahamas is a fact t
should alone suggest some sw being taken to improve the condition af
the people in these Settlement

Sir R. G. W. Herbert, K.C.B. Signed)” D. MORRIS.

COLONIAL OFFICE TO ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

SIR, Downing Street, February 25, 1890.

AM directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 21st instant, ee specimens of fibre
plants sent home by the Commissioner of Turks Teds, and to inform
you that a copy of it has been anti to the Governor of Jamaica
for communication to the Commissioner.

am, &c.
The Director, Gim ROBERT G, W, HERBERT.
Royal Gardens, Kew,

146

S1R, Downing pRa October 8, 1890.

I AM cote by the Secretary of Sta e for the Colonies to
transmit to y r your peg eres , Papers "relating to botanical
paises in several West Indian rone

The Director, (Signed) ae G. W. HERBERT,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

The COMMISSIONER, TURKS ISLANDS, to the COLONIAL SECRETARY,
JAMAICA,

(Turks Islands, No. 76.)
IR, Grand Turk, August 19, 1890.
VING just returned from a tour of inspection round the whole
“ the Caicos Islands, during which I was able to visit all the lands
lately taken up for fibre cultivation, I have the honour to submit to his
ohare the Governor a short report on the present prospects of this
indus

gr Grand Turk in a small schooner on the evening = the

5th instant, in company with Mr. Hance, the American Consul, we
arrived early on the following day at the west point of East Cais
better known as “ Breezy Point.” The island — upwards of

25,000 acres, and is held on a lease, without rent, of 99 years, of which
M

Companies Act to register as a limited Sate com y.
aa At present, about two-thirds of the island is held as a ere
there being about 1, ead on the island, and there is a
considerable quantity of cave earth (guano), about 200 tons of hiak

have seen % any other part of the Caicos. Itis chiefly oddiar tae i

earth, freely interspersed with limestone rock, rich in phosphates, the

fortilising power of which is amply attested by the luxuriant growth
anchorage i e anc

n
up to 300 tons, and could easily be made available for larger craft by
the removal of a few isolated coral patches.

4. The only obstacle to the assured and early success of the company
working this eed is the difficulty of obtaining ae ient plants of
the — variety (Agave rigida var. sisalana), but it is one which I
hope shortly overcome. At present, the company has the
Danis of sufficient plants to stock about 200 acres, but they are ready
to clear 2,000 acres a year if plants can be had. The labour for this
land is drawn from Grand Caicos, where, as reported in my letter
No. 67 of the 22nd July 1889, there is no Government land available
for the people, and they have hitherto been forced to hire land at
was ae nts.

re joined at Breezy Point by Mr. Leslie, the magistrate -=
the ‘Ce District, and, leaving there Be the Tth i nstant, we = proceeded
to Lorimers, on Grand Caicos, to the fibre plantation Pati by Mr,

147

irregular lots among thick bush, and in the six months he has he
the land Mr. Hance has made no effort to clear or arrange his planta-
tion, but has confined himself to gathering the mature leaves. He
assures me, however, that he intends at once to clear and plant out
regularly, and has also promised to dispose of his surplus suckers to the
lessees of Breezy Point.

6. Mr. Hance has erected a stone store and dwelling combined, and
has put up a 10 horse-power vertical engine, capable of working 5 or
6 “ Raspadores.” At present he is only working one “Kennedy”
machine, and the result is not satisfactory, though I have little doubt
that this is greatly owing to the entirely unskilled labour at his
command. During my visit, which extended over two d he was

h
machines at present in use must be equally extravagant, or else the
l he

to some extent at all events, as, at the next place visited, I ound
numbers of plants of the Manila or “Silk Grass” (Furcraea cubensis)

. The labour for Mr. Hance’s lands is, like that for Breezy Point,
m

h e

. I had intended visiting the extensive though thinly populated

settlement of Bottle Creek on North Caicos, where I am told there are

numbers of Pita plants on private lands not yet worked, but the state

of the weather made it dangerous to risk the passages of the reef, so,
G

brought us, I took my own open boat and, starting at 9 a.m. on the
morning of the 9th instant, and sailing across the Caicos Bank, reached
Kew Settlement on North Caicos at 11 p.m. the same day, a very hot
day’s work under an August sun, across such shallow water,

. ew there are no Pita plantations, nor is it desirable that there
Should be, as the land is richer than in any other part of the Caicos,
and is required for, and should be, the market garden of the other
Settlements. This year has been one of such intense drought that the

to lay out some fresh lots during this visit, as well as to survey sume of
the roads to “ tie ” the previous surveys. o.
10. I found at Kew about a couple of hundred Pita plants growing in-
places choked up by bush, so I had a suitable spot cleared, and the
8895

“uoo

148

plants removed to this, and set out at regular intervals to form a
Government nursery. It was here that I observed the large specimens
of silk grass mentioned in paragraph 6 of this letter. These plants were
introduced here from Jamaica in 1883- 84 by Mr. Plummer, the Instructor
in Agriculture, sent up by Mr. Morris at Mr. Llewelyn’s request. They
have certainly thriven marvellously, though, as far better results are
obtained from the Pita, it is unlikely that we shall be able to put them
to much practical use
11. Our schooner having returned from Grand Turk, Mr. Leslie and
I left on Thursday morning for West Caicos, the waste lands on whic.
have been recently leased in accordance with a ee contained in
your letter, No. 4269/6302, of the 28th ultimo. My visit was only for
the purpose of forming an opinion as to the. pest means of surveying
these lands at the least expense to the lessees, as I am most anxious to
afford every possible encouragement to the new industry. Otherwise I
should not undertake this work, as repeated absences from Grand Turk
are very inconvenient where the whole of the executive work is centred

b m ga n
send, and to obtain the services of a surveyor from abroad would entail
an expenditure which the lessees of the land are not prepared to meet.
As the work is hajtek: for the success of the new imonei; I have
promised to do it, and propose to return there early next month.

12. That this ani of West Caicos is suitable for the Dira cultiva-
tion is proved by the fact that in cutting the bush from the small
portion of land which the company has been able to clear, since they
were allowed to go to work a fortnight ago, sgh he Pita plants in good
condition, and growing strongly, were found, which were before hidden
in the bush, which is so thick as to be abooliitely impassable. I found
that the manager of the company had his house half built, and had
some 30 acres of land in an advanced state of preparation, and he hopes
to begin early in October to set out the plants, of which they have

already upwards of 200,000. The labour for this property is drawn .

from pre ee gaco Gave Hills), the poorest Settlement in these
islands, and one in which it has hitherto been necessary to distribute
provisions to the see and infirm almost Sega a necessity whic
abundance of labour will entirely remo

with cockro:
obiainsble here, and indeed Asch nly safe one in heavy weather.
n conclusion, I may say that the saat of my visit has been a

conviction that the future oe the fibre industry in the Caicos isan is-

assured, if no useless obstacles or unnecessary restrictions be

to harass the companies now commencing operations. The land 3 in

every way suitable, and the management of the companies possess

energy, ability, and capital to direct them. The directors and share-

se are not speculators, but men whose fortunes are involved in the
beyond the success to individuals, however, is the

un ing.
preiera to the condition of the outlying Settlements, hitherto

149

the home of want and distress. With ample, ners well paid, and con-
genial labour, always to be had for men, women, and children, for the
nature of the industry provides occupation for all, "a sufficient livelihood
at least will be within reach of all who care to work, and it is not too
much = orem that the near future may see a ped a sai contented

community replace | the half starved and not much more than half
civilized “ wreckers ” whose names have ere “a by-word and a fear”
to many an unfortunate a whose vessel has been swept b

I have, &e.
(Signed) H. JACKSON,
Commissioner.

XLVII.—SISAL HEMP AT THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS

[K. B., 1892, pp. 217~218.]

The progress made in a SISAL HEMP industry at the Turks and

E Islands i is discussed as follows in the Blue Book Report genia
r 1891 :—The cultivation of the Pita (Sisal) plant has made fai

sien asiieclally i in the Caicos Islands, and the mei from the planta-

f
raising pita mathe and extracting the fibre, registered under the com-
panies ordinance, pe there are several private plantations. A small
shipment of fibre made to New York within the year from one of
the latter, and the Ho quality fetched a cent a pound more than the
second quality—an equal price to the be Bt from Yucatan. This speaks
well for the anality of the fibre which can be produced in these islands,
and promises a bright future for the local fibre industry.

XLVII.—BAHAMAS INDUSTRIES.
[K. B., 1891, pp. 175~177.}

One of the most interesting circumstances connected with:!the
economic development of the Bahamas Islands is the gee attention
devoted within the last few years to the panung of Sisal hemp (Agave
rigida var. sisalana). In a recent report in the Blue Book for the
year , Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., the Governor of the Bahamas,
supplies the following | particulars respecting this industry :—

Fibre Cultivation.

St teady progress continues to be made in this industry, with increasing
faith in its value and ee A report of the cultivation to the
present time has been prepared by order of the Government, a
onsen strictly accurate, would not convey true impressions to those a
istance

150

The report speaks of 4,100 acres being already planted with
2,500,000 plants, but it states that there are also 1,300,000 plants in
nurseries, Thich: being in course of growth, adds 50 per cent. to the
active cultivation, making an aggregate of over 6,000 acres. Plants
are now kept much longer i in nurseries to lessen the cost of weeding,

ch is an expensive operation, and annually attended to after the
plants are set out in the fields.

There has been some question as to the time to bring the plantings
to Saatuivity, but four years is now the accepted period, while plants
retained in the nurseries, as above Akid, will mature in three years.
There is but little to add to former reports on this enterprise, which has
passed out of the experimental stage and will not probably present any
new features of interest until exports of fibre begin, which will be,
on a moderate scale, in 1892, then Aeae annually into proportions
of increasing importance.

The value of the fibre, like that of other producte, will, of course, be
subject to market conditions from time to time, but in the natural order
of things it will ever be the main export, and, regarding all the sur-
rounding circumstances, it is difficult to see how can fail to pay

the fibre well ; on the process is wasteful, and the correction of this
mplished. ith s

stake, we must pee inventive genius will, be ound equal to the

The treatment is by a solution of crude petroleum, and this
Government are now in communication with the Professor. If the
results meet our requirements, a most important end will be attained,
whioh will have the further advantage of enabling small cultivators to
dress their own leaves instead of being compelled to sell them at a loss
to a large neighbouring planter, who is able to procure a machine.
e process is applicable to other and most valuable interests in this
colony. Many thousands of tons of pine-apple leaves are now annually
left to waste. The fibre commands a high price fori 607. to 80/. a ton,

the tender fibre without injury. The pr oposed mode would seem to
meet this difficulty, as all strain or friction is avoided, and the result

an article of much value, adding substantially to the returns of pine-
apple cultivation, and this process Snes be ies aren to the growing crop.
It is understood that the same soluti y be used many times, and, if
present hopes are realised, the Doa. will be admitted free of the
duty now imposed.

151

XLIX.—_SISAL HEMP INDUSTRIES.
(Agave rigida, Mill.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 21-40.]

A remarkable development of the banat of Sisal hemp in the
Bahamas has taken place during the last three years. The Governor,
Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., has caiiad such widespread interest, it
might be termed enthusiasm, in the subject, tha : emp-growing has
become, for the moment, one of the most p the new industries
of the tropics. Frequent inquiry has been made “ae Kew in regard to
the Lani ican the best qualities of Sisal hemp, and information has

t by official and other bodies to enable them to judge of the
suitability of the plant for cultivation in other = The position
tak y Kew in this matter is a very simple one. The various
varieties and forms of Agave Sisters Mill., the ARA from which the

have sprung, have been cele studied, and living specimens have
been added to the collections in the Royal Gardens. In this respect,
the collections of fibre plants at Kew, at the present time, are probably

urther than this, an effort has been made to furnish from time to
time in the Kew Bulletin. such information as could be obtained
respecting the methods of cultivation and the incidental conditions of

possessing, on the spot, immens e quantities of plants of the best variety
known to yield Sisal hemp. This y variety peor ego known as Agave
rigida var. sadana) is of rapid grown, m is easily handle d.

nomic:
As a last resort there is the somewhat crude and clumsy machine long
used in Yucatan, but it is probable that before any lengthened period
has elapsed a machi ne of a more suitable character will be forth-

In the meantime, efforts are being made to establish a fibre industry
in Florida, where, more than 50 years ago, plants of Sisal hemp were
introduced and partially established by Dr. Perrine. A special Report
prepared by Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, of the Department of Agri-
culture at Washington baa chee apa ar Report No. 3, 1891],
has lately been issued on the subje In this Report an account is
given of the distribution of Sisal ae plants in Florida and the adjoin-
ing Keys, and it is recommended to utilise these as the starting point of
a regular industry. Mr. Dodge says “ what can lone in the Bahamas
. <1 have reason to believe can ree accomplished in this country [Florida]
ve the soil, the climate, and the plants. The com-
sig es: of capital and inventive genius with these conditions must
= < Work out the problem, if, indeed, the question is not already peee
solved.” A further account of the efforts made to establish Sisal
ban plantations in Florida is given later.

152

A small but promising effort is being made to grow fibre at some of
the Turks and Caicos Islands, and plants obtained from this source
and shies Florida Eia been introduced into most of the West Indian
mer

the wisdom or otherwise of embarking in a fibre industry at the pronomi

im t the close of the article, a statement is given of the average
price per ton obtained for Sisal hemp in this country during the last 13
years.

aoa TAN.
Et bars oe the Sisal Hemp industry in Yucatan has
already been n the Kew Bulletin for See 1887. Biase that
time an effort ] pa cy en made to obtain t from Yucatan a repre-

sentative collection of the various Agaves Enaid in that country for
fibre purposes

Through the kind offices of the late Mr. Augustus er, Her
t Vera ls

Majesty’s Consul a Cruz, a large plant with a tall stem and
flowering panicle was received at Kew in May . The plant was
dead on arrival, but it has ziem been prepared as a museum specimen,
and is now deposi ited in Museum III. The dimensions of this plant are
as follows: soph of stem (aov — leaves) 4 sist ; circumference of
stem 36 in.; number of leaves on stem, 50; length of leaves about

fis ‘poonich of leaves 34 in. ; sees of peduncle 14 ft. The
branched panicle was received in an incomplete aot oe but the

The
T are faraikod throughout with anini black teeth about L pi apart.
This plant belongs probably to the ur elongata (Agave rigida,
var. elongata). It is evident that in Yucatan the plants cava for
bre are largely composed of this variety. We earn, for instance, that
in harvesting the leaves the Indian who cuts off the leaves is followed

y an Indian woman, “ who with a pee cuts off the spike or thorn- .

“ tipped end and the ‘thorny side he = ready for the machine. 2
In the case of leaves without teeth, such as ar e by plants of the
oe aaa it = ; necessary to cut off the terminal

By vesting.
In addition to the large plant received from Yucatan, there were

received two lots of small plants. The first of these was received on ~

the 3ist May 1890, and represented apparently about five distinct hoa
A, rigida, and a gool
number of A. rigida var. sisalana. The others ssakencitenk forms not

easily determinable in a small state. A set, with the exception of the `

later. Th rs were all distributed to the Botanical Gardens at
Singapore, and to the Botanical Se: at Fiji and Antigua. The
second lot of small plants from Yuc ved at Kew on December 16,

On arrival there were 30 ane Bat and 11 alive. The latter |

were, how renee, so small and sickly that, weakened by the cold to-which

they had been exposed, it was impossible to save them. This att empt —

to introduce a representative collection of Agaves from Yucatan, in

153

pite of a considerable sum paid for expenses, was singularly un-
fortunate. It may be mentioned, however, that Merida, the head-
pre of the hemp industry in Yucatan, possesses only an unpaid

Vice-Consul, who is but partially under the control of Her Majesty’s
Consul at Vera Cruz. It is due to the latter to state that he endeavoured
to the utmost of his power to assist this establishment; and if he had

not been so remotely placed the result would have been far more
satisfactor

dreited respecting the Sis al Te (Hene uen) Jaden in Yucatan.
The ariig has -o been very fully treated in the Kew Bulletin,

and it is only necessary to add a description (with wo odcut) of the
atoi adopted for Tacrieied the leaves quoted in the Report of the

- S. Department of Agriculture, p. 25.

“ This is done by the Indians, who are almost nude, with a stroke of
the knife, or machete, at the rate of, for one hand, 2,000 to 2,500
leaves per day. Following the Indian who cuts olf ‘the leaves is an
Indian woman, who, with a knife, cuts off the spike or thorn-tipped end

cut, prepare, and get the leaves to the cleaning machines. On all the
large haciendas visited were little railways into the fields, upon which
on cars, drawn by mules or oxen, the henequen was taken to the mill,
and the waste was ice away.”

5,
EAD

¢
Ons

P,
Ea

YAT.
Sa.

aso
y
D

A Sisal Hemp Plantation in Yucatan.

s will be seen from the above wood-cut, a Sisal Hemp plantation .

aia be systematically laid out, and to work it ——— ly i it is

desirable it should consist of a tolerably large area. It has bee

in ot to fibre jn gs a in Janine that “small plantat w etio
pay. A e tract is necessary for the panot mical `

= pridoeition of fibre, so that the work o cutting the leaves = :

154
“shipping the fibre may be systematically continued for the greater
“ part of the year.”

As the weight of the green leaves is so large in proportion to the
yield of fibre, their conveyance from distant parts of the plantation to
the factory must involve considerable labourand expense. For instance,
if every 100 tons of green leaves will yield only about 234 to 3} tons of
dry marketable fibre, it is evident that an immense quantity of useless
pulp has to be conveyed to the factory and disposed of as conveniently
as the circumstances will admit.

Fibre estates should therefore be established on moderately level
ground where light portable railways could be laid, or on moderately
sloping ground converging on a single point where wire ropes could be
used for sliding the leaves in portable bundles to the factory. The
experience gained on sugar estates in cultivating large areas in the
tropics and in conveying heavy perishable material to a central point
would appear to be generally applicable also to Sisal Hemp estates. As
in sugar, so in Sisal Hemp, the advantage will ultimately rest with such
estates as are able to reduce their working expenses to the lowest point,
and compete successfully with the produce of countries like Yucatan
and the Philippines.

The South American Journal says that “the bulk of the henequen
“grown in Yucatan is sent to New York, and that the export has
“grown enormously. In 1878 the total value of the export from
“ Yucatan, as shown by the Custom House returns, did not exceed
“710,124 dols., since which period it began to attract greater attention,
“and in 1878 the figure almost doubled. The following shows the
“export of henequen in each year from 1878 to 1889 :—

“ 1878, 1,166,504 dols.; 1879, 1,287,375 dols.; 1880, 7,495,467 dols. ;
“ 1881, 2,284,389 dols.; 1882, 2,672,107 dols. ; 1883, 3,311,663 dols. ;
“ 1884, 4,165,020 dols.; 1885, 3,988,791 dols.; 1886, 2,929,116 dols. ;
“ 1887, 3,901,628 dols.; 1888, 6,229,460 dols.; 1889, 6,872,593 dols.”

It is mentioned as a curious circumstance that the market price o
the fibre in New York increased almost pari passu with the increase
‘of exports.

From Messrs. Crocker’s American Statistics quoted in Messrs. Ide
and Christie’s Monthly Circular, dated 15th January, 1892) we find
that the total importations of Sisal Hemp into the United States during
the years 1889-1891 were as follows :—1889, 237,736 bales; 1890,
230,800 bales ; 1891, 286,700 bales. Of these latter we find 10

bal
into the United Kingdom (London and Liverpool), according to
essrs. Ide and Christie, were 20,296 bales. It is evident from this

the combined consumption of Sisal and Manila hemps
(known generally as “white hemps ”} we find the relative quantities
taken on both sides of the Atlantic to be approximately as follows :—

SATEEN ODL Sots See co RM mee NSE IT SEES 5 ey Siar

155
FLORIDA.

It is well known that plants of Sisal hemp were pepa to Florida
from Yucatan by Dr. Perrine in the years 1836 and 1837. It is to this
introduction that Florida and the adjoining Keys owe their present

ibre

distribution of Sisal Hemp plants in Torida, and he peels see
new and interesting facts respecting their a en introduction. In
illustration we quote the following paragraphs

“ Mrs. Walker informs me that the first introduetion of the plant from
Yucatan occurred in the years 1836 and 1837, a few plants having been
sent to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Cuba at the same time. O
plants brought to Florida, part were taken to Indian Key and the others
were planted upon ‘the Indian hunting ground,’ on the borders of
Biscayne Bay. It is also stated that when these plants had multiplied
to some extent the officers at Fort t Dallas, at the mouth of the Miami
River, 12 miles from this locality, were in the habit of gathering the

fees where it soon obtained a foothold. The plants set out on
Indian Key multiplied very ae and a few years after the destruction
of the sherri: and the death of Dr. Ponie at the time of the Indian
massacre, a schooner load of =e young pista were gathered and taken
away, though it is not stated where they w

“From this first introduction of the py r da var. sisalana into
Florida the plants twee rapidly, especially on the mainland, being
commonly transplanted to the gardens of the early settlers of south
eet he ape for the sake of ornament.

plant introduced into Florida Dr. Perrine, for fibre culture, and
considered by Dr. _ Engelmann to be ‘the most valuable of the fibre-
producing Agaves

“This is the forà that I found growing along the entire southern
coast of Florida, on my recent survey, from Cape Canaveral on the east
side, around to Charlotte Harbou ur on the west or Gulf coast, and
including many of the Keys.

“ The most interesting tract oe along m T aites of the coast was
found on the point perhaps a mile below the railroad station and wharf
at a spins Here I found a thicket of these ig pat , both the smooth
an

156

Worth, I found another fine nursery of perhaps 100,000 plants, the
property of Mr. A. M. Fields, who is quite enthusiastic on the subject.
Fully 50 per cent. of his plants are not Agave sisalana, however, but
a species which was subsequently met with at many points a along the
east and west coast, as well as on the Keys, doubtless Agave mexicana
[since determined as A. deci piens]. At Addison’s Landing, near
Cutter, T found myself on tha. Perrine grant, though g Addison
informed me that the plants were chiefly growing on his own section,

i out

cultivation, and states that these have descended from the comparatively
few plants which were on the place 25 years ago when he first
occupied the land.

“The tained planting, he states, was done by Mr. Charles Howe,
who was associated with Dr. Perrine. He has both the spined and the
smoo ved Varieties, but makes the momie a Leas that the
latter ieaie mn much faster than the form As a matter of fact, I
found plants of the spined form at this sabe. ee Nats few and far
between. From this point I sailed southward, but found
nothing of kius interest until piyes Maissoinbe Key was reached

where some of the most pal erb plants observed on the trip were poom
In one thicket, to which it was almost EE to obtain mrg sav
at the expense of torn clothing and lacerated flesh, magnifice nt plants
sere seen, where the tips of the a pees two feet rata a man’s:
ea
“ Indian Key, mers Dr. Perrine lost his life, lies just below,and beyond
it is Lower Metecombe. Other Keys o of the grou up are Lignum Vitæ,
Shell Key, and PEA e eee oo upon all of which the true Sisal Hemp
plants are found in abundance. A very rough estimate of the old dane
in this group of Keys would be a hundred thousand, though in making
the estimate I have relied largely upon. the statements of the intelligent
hamians living upon them. Superb plants were examined
by me at Fort Myers, on the Caloosahatchie River, and at other points,
though se were no such thickets as seen on the Keys.”

BAHAMAS,

rec p es t
Bulletin of the Botanical ae aa Fana Wo 24, October 1891,
it is peed that 12 months ago there were 4,199 acres ‘of land in the

d a quarter
plants in nursery beds ; and from root suckers and bulbils (called pole
plants) there would be available during the ensuing six months about `

two million plants more ording to this peor the total mene
of Sisal plants actually siting in the Bahama the close of
ear 1891 would not be far short of six millions.

The distribution of the ti d the methods
wA we oper rs pursued in the Bahamas are T aribo in RE following

onthe peopl of Abaco, Harbour Island, Petes Me Island, Rum Cay,
Exuma, and Grand Bahama, where the largest n of Sisal plants
are met with, have for many years past been in the ho Babit of mäktig 6
small quantity of-rope for home use, from the fibre they extracted from

LD RES Gin kr eee

157
the leaf of the Sisal by the primitive method of bruising and macera-

“In Abaco are the ‘headquarters’ of the Sisal industry; for it is on
this island, and some of aa Vadjseoni cays, that the largest cultivations in
the colony je Begin at Hole-in-the-Wall, Mr. J. S. Johnson,

200 eee. rete with 130,000 plants, some of which,
ae two se ago, have leaves pied 3 feet long. Mr. Johnson has
also two other cultivations on Abaco, namely, one at East Creek, Little

“The B shank ‘Fibre Co., Limited, of which Mr. Abbot is the
manager, has a See of 150 acres at Broad Creek with 73,000 plants,
and another field of 108 acres at Joe Creek, with 62,000 plants. These

i nts. iti

t m h
another at Great Guano Cay, both of which were planted some years
ago, and are yielding thousands of pole plants (bulbils) as well as a
large number of suckers
“ Cherokee Sound has confined sel mostly to nursery planting, and.
I saw several bingo tg of such plants growing about this settlement.
“The Mun o Fibre Company, oni ed es Mr. T. Trumble, com-

eri
“ The company intend ee plant their fields with cotton between the
Sisal, and I understood Mr. Trumble to say that seed for this purpose:

five of Death & Ellwood’s cence worked by a 15-horse power steam
engine. These have been employed in cleaning Sisal leaves purchased
from persons who have fond Base pm he yiel of cleaned fibre

seen. This was planted by Mr. ecient E. Roberts two years ago, and
contains 140 se with: 107,000 planta. ©: -f eges were *
least 25,000 suckers then in the field, ama Mr. Roberts assured m
that he had irana y removed 47,000 suckers. This field was pe
planted with dwarf cotton between the Sis

“At Hope Town, Mr. Thomas Russell * æ * has about 20,000
plants, some of which have been growing half a dozen years, an
these he expects to gather eects pole ete (bulbiis) this year, in
addition to a large number of suckers.

“ Another gentleman of the same name, now residing in Nassa
has a very fine nursery at Black Sound, containing many thousands of
7enoR = ?

“ Propagation.—The plant is propagated in two ways, namely, from
the young plants furnished by the pole (bulbils), and the suckers a whieh 3
are thrown out from the roots. On the plant reaching maturity, a pole-
15 to 20 feet in height grows out from its centre, on which a number *
of blossoms appear borne on arms which extend laterally e:

158

upper part of the pole. In about six months after the appearance =
the pole, bulbils that develop into young plants ad varying i

length from 2 to 4 inches, and in number from 1, to 2,500, aiid
aT more. They are then gathered and set out 8 or 9 inches
h way in nursery beds. In six months they will attain a

otk of 8 to 12 inches, and they may then be transferred to the
d.

“Suckers are plants which grow out from the roots of the parent
plant, and in congenial soil are produced in 12 ee = masts: me

sugar cane. After the removal of the sucker, the shoot is cut up into
lengths of two or three joints. These bits are then planted in nursery
beds, and in a short time each bit will produce as many suckers as there
are joints. This method has the two-fold advantage of speedily in-

way, ies Tx, TXS 1x 9, 8x8, and 9x9. The Munro Company
at Abaco plant three rows 8 feet apart, with 7 feet interval between
the plants, ond leave a ucs of Pe ie mam every ourth row.
e Bahama Hemp Company, Limited, u Mr. Abbot,
dua four rows 8 x 8, leaving a BAe “of 12 feet between every fifth
row.

planters have planted the spaces between the Sisal plants
with some other crop, either ground provisions such as pigeon-peas
n

stron d,

ways that such auxiliary crops be not too thickly plats planted. ‘The slight
holier they afford seems to be beneficial to the Sisal plants in their
early growth, and tends to suppress the growth of weeds, thereby
lessening the cost of keeping clean the field, besides yielding a remune-
rative crop. Sweet potatoes should not be "plan ted in a Sisal field, at
least not until the plants have attained a growth a a foot and a half to
two feet, as the vines very soon ines ien field and completely envelop

that really good rich na i: is ipaa for its successful cultivation,
but merely to remove the impression, if such there be, that the plant

ill ive in dry arid sand, or on rocky land void of soil. Worn out
‘ provision ’ and pine-apple fields appear to be well suited to its culti-
vation, while on broken, rocky surfaces, containing innumerable
‘potholes’ and crevices, in which is deposited the sun black or
red earth, the plant luxuriates,

|
|
|

159

“ Crop.—The length of time required for the production of the
first cutting of leaves may, I think, safely be regarded as four years from
the time of planting. A great deal ees upon the size of the plants

. . . 5

su S
inches, without doubt the leaves will aani a length of 4 to 5 feet, and
be fit to cut, well within the period named. I have seen thousands of
plants with leaves from 2 to 3 feet eee that had been growing only two
years ; and I have also seen ben that I was told were three years old,
from which leaves had been alre

leaf and 1,440 Ibs. of cleaned fibre. If the estimate be reduced to
35 leaves, there mo be 31, Z lbs. of leaf and 1,260 Ibs. of fibre, and
this is certainl ery m modes t estimate. To gu uard a against all possible
ae pr the yield of fibre per acre can be safely placed
at half a

Considerable interest has lately been taken in endeavouring to trace
the source from whi oa the Bahamas have received their present supply
of Sisal Hemp plan The Bahamas Sisal (or Pita, as it is call
locally) is identical with that existing in Florida and the adjacent
Keys. We have trustworthy evidence that the Yaxci Sisal plant (the

y the Govern SS BARREA Ta 1846. For this purpose 36 families

they were taken somewhere to the south, as "it was found that has
would not ERON much further north des the spot originally intended by

. Perri
In 1871, the late Dr. Parry found the Agaves in Florida, and he
describes them as having “ pale-green but not glaucous leaves, 4 to 6 feet

“ long, 4 to 6 inches wide, generally smooth-edged, but here and there,

160

“ having a few unequal, sometimes very stout and sharp teeth.” This
riL seh eee agrees with that of Agave mye var. sisalana,
Perrin he plants were then widely distributed at Key West and the
mir iee coast. They have lately (1891) been carefully examined again
by Mr. Charles Dodge, with the result already given.

As the islands of the Bahamas are adjacent to southern Florida, and
there was regular intercourse between the two places about the time
of the introduction of the Agave — it was only natural to assume
that the Agave now so abundant in the Bahamas had been origina
introduced from Florida. They nad found in the southern islands a
warmer and more equable climate and had spread rapidly throughout the
Archipelago. This view has, however, been strongly contested by Sir

illi i .G., for o

; h
the Agricultural "Record of Trinidad, January 1891, p.6. According
to his Excellency’s view, the Sisal Hemp plant was introduced to the
Bahamas 2A ne ae Mr. C. Nesbitt, a former Colonial Secretary, who

“ forty-five 0, viz., in 1845, procured from Sisal, Yucatan, a
“few h aaa: phints of this are aoe had them set out at his country
“residence three miles from Nassau.” Further “Mr. Nesbitt was
“much struck with the vigour of “the plants when grown in New
“ Providence In 1851 he reduced a great number of the
“leaves of this plant into wis and placed “samples s of them in the
“ Nassau Mus At the same time he sent specimens of them to

“ England, and | received vary “Seviitecakte suites’ in regard to their value
“from London.’
Whether the whole of the Sisal plants now growing in the Bahamas

been derived from those first introduced by Mr. Nesbitt it is now-

have
impossible to say. It is evident, however, that this gentleman was fully
aware of their economic value, and he deserves great credit for the steps
he took to bring them into noti E

The E of Mr. Nesbitt’s introducti tion of Sisal plants into the
Bahamas is given by Sir William Robinson as 1845. This would be
about eight years after their first introduction into Florida by Dr.

errine and about the time the Sear SER were engaged upon the
Perrine grant to establish regular plantation

This latter fact may or may not have a barti? upon the q
There re is, ho ‘ahs -= another point worthy of consideration, and it

is apparently i not ahs: Flori a and Baha nt, but one with glaucous
A giar with teeth. This is the form nearly always described
a plantations in Yucatan, and pl f this are

almost ietaciably brought from Yucatan as the true thing. The plant,
"a come pe ves and of a pale green colour, was specially selected by

r: Perrine from his personal acquaintance with it, while Consul for —

ampeachy.

If Mr. Nesbitt also obtained this particular variety for the Bahamas
direct from Yucatan without the special knowledge of its occurrence
shire possessed by Dr. Perrine, the circumstance is a singular coin-

In the meantime, however, while we accept the claims so ably put
forth by Sir William Robinson on behalf of Mr. Nesbitt, and trust
that further investigation will confirm the fact that these islands owe
to a Bahamas man th

e introduction of a Laer which is calculated to —

produce so great an infi fut sperity, the probei
is that the plants-now e Bahamas w re originally y obtained bot
from Florida as well as pine the intelligent efforts of Mr, Nesbitt.

EEES

161

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS,
These islands were once included under the Bahamas, to which group
og Re geographically belong. At present they are under the Government
J

In ba ones of a visit made by the Commissioner eini Island to
Lorimers on Middle or Grand Caicos in J uly 1889, h
“ Shortly after sunrise on the morning of the 10th Guat tI started
k to Bourbarra, about four miles distant, and on the way there I
visited the Pita plantations which have been established by Mr. Alfred
Stubbs, of Cockburn Harbour. This gentleman, whose e grandfathe en
e last slave-owner on the Caicos, whose house still stands, owns not
pe than seven to eight piny acres on this Island (Grand Caicos)
alon d is by slow ghee beineing portions of this under
cultivation i in fibre plants. His system has been to lease his land to
the ‘farmers’ (or ‘planters’ as ihe call themselves) at the rate of
about two dollars per acre per annum, under the conditi ion of their
rear.

planted oak about half of which is now fit for cutting. His plants are
placed too close to each other, and have not been kept clean, but they are
ould fu

ong. Some plants that I saw in the village enclosures, whic
received proper attention, were much finer, the leaves being stout and
well-coloured and not less than 4} feet long

. The fibre eres planted out by ae Stubbs a I believe, the true
‘pita.’ [Specimens have since been received at Kew, and they are
undoubtedly pens rigida, var. aus. ] They are exactly similar to
those found in Florida and the Bahamas. They have but one thorn, an
ases at the end wot the leaf. They have all ai grown from mapati
plants

e people are most anxious to start fibre cultivation on their own
account, but I could not advise them to do so, until I can see my way to
ensuring a sale for their leaves, as of course they could not buy
machinery for themselves. Although the Government have but spa
land in that district fit for provision farms, they have about 2,
fit t for Pita, most of which : in eecalleit position for affording wale

i arefu

ations ipea able to induce earen persons here to form a company an
‘mport the necessary machinery.”
The further development Api a fibre industry at the Caicos Islands
has been already fully ey ribed. It appears that at West Caicos Pita
Plants in good’ co nditio were found growing in the bush. The
ean er of a fibre sensei (lately formed) had land in an advanced
of preparation for planting purposes, ae he hoped in October
(1890) be set out plants of which upwards of 200,000 were already
in h At East Caicos (Breezy Point) as were 15,000 to 20,000
acres s suitable for Pita cultivation, and some 200 acres have been already

JAMAICA.
As might be naturally expected, there has been considerable effort
— to introduce plants of Sisa 1 hemp for Sprea tal trial in
i n

162

The steps taken to obtain Sisal Hemp plants for Jamaica are detailed
in the following extract from the Annual Report of the Botanical
Department for the year 1889 :—

isa m

only through a special
request from the Colonial Secretary to the British Vice-Consul at

teeth on the edges of the leaves, has for some years been growing in
the Bahamas, where it was probably introduced from Florida. A
specimen of the fibre was shown at the Colonial and Indian a
1886) b

be exercised in the investment of capital in the enterprise. I shou d
hesitate to recommend its cultivation in any soil which is not suitable
to it, and at the same time worthless for other cultivation.” :

A later account of the Sigal Hemp plants at Jamaica is given in the

for experiment at a very small expense, or in large quantities for laying
the foundation of future fibre farms, * * *”

163

BRITISH HONDURAS,

in the neighbourhood of Corosal, where the climate very closely

and of the fibre locally prepared from them. The specimens were
labelled respectively “ Yaxci or Henequen verde (green henequen);” and
“Sacci (Sacqui) or Henequen blanco (white henequen).” Both sorts
were apparently varieties of Agave rigida, and referable to what is known
at Kew as Agave rigida, var. elongata. The fibre prepared from these
leaves arrived in a somewhat soiled and damp condition owing to the
fact that it had been packed with the green leaves, which had fermented
in transit. The report made on this fibre by Messrs. Ide and Christie,
dated 17th December 1891, is nevertheless of a satisfactory character :—

“We have been favoured with your note of the 15th instant with
regard to the specimens of henequen fibre from British Honduras. We
do not make much differ e i

might be obtainable. As we have mentioned in previous communica-
tions, colour is of importance in all so-called ‘ white hemps.’ Although
up to the present only small lots of Bahamas Sisal have come to this
market, the colour and preparation have, as a rule, been excellent, and
producers in British Honduras should likewise give them every
attention,”

TRINIDAD.

The following account of the introduction of Sisal Hemp plants to
Trinidad is given in the Annual Report of the Superintendent of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, for the year, 1891, p. 14.

“ Fibres.—Agave rigida, var. sisalana.—During the year we obtained
from Messrs. Reasoner Bros., of Manatee, Florida, 10,000 bulbils of this
Plant, and 2, from another source. Of this number, 7,700 have
been distributed to various applicants. The remainder, deducting usual

sent to the Convict Depét, are included in the above numbers. oe

“The plants arrived in splendid order in the form of small bulbils, t.e.,
small plants without roots. They were placed in beds close together
for convenience of culture, and as soon as properly rooted were trans-
planted at a wider distance, where they have thriven remarkably well.

WINDWARD ISLANDS. : :

A good deal of interest has been shown by the Governor-in-Chief,

Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, in the introduction of plants of Sisal
ne © the Windward Islands, Le

164

At the Grenada Botanical Station, the Curator, in a Bulletin (No. 9
eee hie: states that “there are in cultivation about 2 acres

f Sisal Hemp. These were planted ou eres to Stoddart’s method,
viz., 12 feet eae rows, and 10 f n the rows, on a rocky hill-
side facing the west, and therefore ily exposed to the sun. For
the sake of eee to half of this cultivation light shade has
been given ite planting a row of corn between the rows of Sisal Hemp,
and it is worthy of notice that the plants so shaded have made far
greater aa than those without shade. It would seem, therefore,

rather an advanta age to give the plant slight shade, at any rate
Hise the first few months of its growth.”

In the Report of the Curator of the Botanical Station at St. Vincent,
dated the Ist August 1890, it is stated that “ two thousand plants o of
“ Sisal Hemp (presumably Agave rigida, var. sisalana) have been
x higahten from Florida. One hundred and thirty of these were found
“ on arrival to be perfectly useless, and 1,600 were distributed. The
t eaa 270 were retained for the Botanic Gardens, where the
“ largest plants were placed in the most suitable ground at my disposal,
“ the rest ae planted in nursery beds, whence later on they will be
“ transplante

In connexion with introduction of plants of Sisal hemp to St.
Vincent, it may be mentioned that in August 1890, Mr. J. H. Hart,
FEL S, Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens, Trinidad, drew
attention to the existence of an Agave in St. Vincent, in the neighbour-
kood of Calliaqua, very similar to what may be regarded as the wil
state of Agave r sgt It was finished with teeth and it yielded youd

165

and a note upon them was given in the Kew Bulletin for January 1892
p. 4, which is reproduced below

s ‘Agave rigida, ar This is is the most valuable and most variable
of all the Agaves. It is common and quite at home in the Riviera
gardens and flowering aly. I had an opportunity of studying its
character and range of oaoa far better than I had ever done before,
and of seeing several forms with which I was not previously acquainted.

he commonest forms on the Riviera ue the characteristic small
distant nearly black teeth, and agree very well with what have been
described and figured a s A. Irtli and a Shkoda (Bot. Mag. t. 5893).
In Dr. Hern’s garden, id just on the French side of the boundary
gorge at St. Louis, I saw a form with leaves much thicker than usual
a wn thick at the base) and formin 1g a less ao rosette. The plants

d A. Cantula and A. mea in the Riviera gardens are forms of
a. ae Mr. Hanbury h st flowered a spineless form that e
very well with the vry h na of Yucatan and Florida. I a

quite satisfied now that A. Houlletii, oie is nothing more a an
undeveloped sisalana, and the same holds good with a plant called A.

lævis. One panicle of this species at La Mortola was producing copious
bulbils. The peduncle, including the rhomboid panicle, does not reach
a greater height than 12-15 feet. The bract leaves, like those of Agave
amer ee are small and distant as compared with those of A,

La
var. tithe A fine photograph of this was recently sent to Kew by
r. Todaro which is now in the Kew Herbarium. Agave Candela-
brum, Todaro, may on further acquaintance prove to be Agave rigida
var. elongat
WEST AFRICA.
In April 1890, there were received, through the Colonial Office,

ocal
perseparilla.” The leaves were evidently those of one of the numerous
rms of Agave rigida. They had smal, e black teeth, and the
lariana spine s0 aa oo of the e leaves were thin
and rigid in texture and of glaucous sesi co ajea It is evident from

e has been
associated with any species of Agave. It is possible that introduced
plants of Agave rigida may be found in other West African Colonies if
they were specially looked for. Their presence so far is interesting as
snowing how widely diffused many new world plants have become even

the old

EAST INDIES.

The species of Agave aerie yielding commercial fibre in the East
Indies have proved to be either i. americana a A. vivipara. Investi-
gations undertaken by Kow during the last three years have shown

k x :

almost earen at the present time, and is quoted (January 15th, 1802)
at de. to 11s, per ton. The stock at Liverpool is given at 5,136 bal

166

Plants of the ere above-mentioned, received through the India ag
are now growing in the Kew collections. Manila aloe fibre (to be dis-
tinguished from the well- ence pens hemp Leite from Musa
textilis) is also apparently prepared fr es ivipara. This is
quoted (January 15th, 1892) at 14s. to 16-4 per Penta desi of leaves
of the plant Prepa g this fibre were lately stb from Mr. Alexander
Gollan, r er Majesty’s Consul at Manila, and the above deen
was confirmed. Fibre from Agave americana is pepared for local u
both in India and elsewhere in the East Beart a he probable that
-— ee exists only here and there a ens, and we are
not a of the occurrence of the cnavibed: phy cil Agave dick.
var. mane anywhere in the east. neo of this have lately
distributed in small quantities from Kew to the oe Gardetit
at Calcutta, a ome abt Ceylon, and Man uritiu

Recently about 1,000 plants were "fbr warded from Kos to the Botanical
Gardens ad amti and the Government of India has since taken —
r nang in a larger quantity far experimental trial in different parts of

FIs
At the request of the Governor, Sir John Thurston, who is keenly
interested in the development of n w industries in this remote British

spite of the long time necessarily occupied in transit by way o f Sydney,
the plants have arrived in good order, and the reports received of their
growth is very jaiote

FIBRE MACHINES.

Until very recently the only machine in use in Yucatan was a clumsy
affair stated to be a native invention, called a “ mE eR ” Rude as this
piece of mechanism is, it is said that a native will clean 20 leaves a
minute with it, though with a SeSi per-centage of waste of fibre.
Whilst raspador is said to have been supersed on some e plantations,
it is saap or less generally used at the present time for extracting the
immense quantities of Sisal Hemp exported. The average work of one
machine a claimed to be 7,000 leaves per day with two feeders or
operative

167

The above is a representation of one of the Yucatan machines taken
from the Report of the Department of Agriculture, U.S.A. [No. 3,
1891.] The following description of it is quoted by Mr. Charles
Richard Dodge :—

“ It is simply a wheel, like a 4-foot pulley, 6-inch face, with pieces of

foot apart. This wheel runs in a heavy wooden case. When working
well it makes about 110 revolutions a minute. The leaf is put in
through a small hole in the case, and being held by a strong clamp, is
allowed to whip downward as the wheel moves around. A heavy block,
like the brake of a car-wheel is, by lever, brought to bear on the leaf,
pressing it against the revolving wheel. In a second the pulp is
crushed and thrown into a pit under the wheel, and the fibre is drawn
back, one half of the leaf being cleaned quicker than one can follow the
motions. The leaf is reversed, and the other end cleaned in the same
ner.”

In the Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, July 1891, a
report is published of the results of experiments with the Weicher fibre
machine at Jamaica. The machine was driven by steam power, and it
required four persons to feed it and remove the fibre.

run properly, owing to the fact that the steam plant used was defective,
i idth, &e. But,

despite these drawbacks, the operation of the machine was said to be
decidedly satisfactory, and nearly all present were of opinion that, under

extracting therefrom 3,000 Ibs. of fibre.”

uring recent years. Some of these are of undoubted merit, but it i

and wasteful machines have hitherto been adopted with apparent success,
re of a peculiar character. Labour there is so cheap that cultivators
can’ afford to carry on the industry under circumstances entirel
ited to other parts of the world. Numerous improvements have,

168

however, been lately made in English and American machines, and
there are good grounds for believing that the problem will be ultimately
solved. The point requiring special attention is to ensure continuous
action in sere the leaves to the machine, and so save the time and
trouble of reversing the leaves se the whole length can be cleaned.
The automatic feeding attached to some machines whereby the leaves
are presented sideways may meet this, but so far such an arrange-
ment has not been tested for a sufficient time to judge of its practic-
ie The nie eee: which will soon be felt in the Bahamas

satisfactory m of utilising the extensive fibre plantations
established in those daad wil call forth strenuous ae on the pa
of those interested in S c Mauritius a ine for

extracting the fibre of Furcraea gigantea has here in use for some
years, and it appears to give satisfactory results, This is fully described
later. The labour in sate is chiefly supplied me Indian coolies.
ARKET VALUE OF SISAL HEM
view of the large aay increased production of Sisal Hemp in
Yucatan, and the extensive planting which is taking ot in the
| Flori

review the prices which have been realised by Sisal emp of good

quality in this country during the last 10 or 15 years. By the courtesy

of Messrs. Ide and Christie, aoe brokers, of 72, Mincing Lane, E.C.,

we are in a position to place on record the average prices per ton of
p in t n

average prices h
follows :—* 24/.; 271.; 28L ; 281. ; 971.; 211.; 191.; 210.; 331.3; 3713
tele 30/.; 261. The average price for the whole a is 282. 10s.

op, and 2/, per eri higher than when we last noticed.”
A dry that the market value of Sisal Hemp has shown oe
fluctuation of late years.
_ Tt has already been shown that the bulk of the sor Hemp produc ced
in mp in dl is shipped to the United States. The pri ag for Sisal

ee ar we can nly give returns of prices in the United States,
scores on the 31st December 1891, for the last three years a
o

1889, 8§ cents. per pound (407. per ton); 1890, 6 cents. to 6ł cen nts.
(nominal) ee to 29/. per ton) ; 1891, 4} cents. to 48 cents. (200. to

In the S the complete returns kindly placed at our disposal

in regard to Sisal Hemp in this country cannot fail to be of service ==

169

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170°
- L.—SISAL HEMP IN THE BAHAMAS.
[K. B., 1892, pp. 141-143. ]

The following interesting account of the fibre industry in the
Bahamas has been recently communicated to Kew by his Excellency
Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Bahamas :—

Sir AMBROSE SHEA, K.C.M.G., to ROYAL GARDENS, KEw.

Government House, Bahamas,
DEAR SIR il 11, 1892.
I HAVE asked the Crown Agents to order in the meantime §
copies of the Kew Bulletin for this Government, and I have notified
parties wishing to become subscribers that I will have their orders
forwarded,

I notice you give a good deal of attention to our fibre cultivation.
It is really a most promising pii a ise and I believe will financially

realise all reasonable expectatio

It will not become what is anita a boom, for the production is
necessarily a gradual movement, but as far as the future of the industry
can be inferred from experience and existing facts, the calculations of
its progress and value may be made with an unusual degree of certainty,
so stable are its general conditions.

e growth of the plant is unfailing, it wien: proof against drought
and every known adverse influence. It matures fully in four ig and
then yields 10 or 12 annual crops without further cultivation. The

recent experim

it takes a dye readily, and eminent fibre merchants in London have
informed me that they only desire to be assured that they can depend
on a supply.

Such a state of facts is full of promise for the future eet omeed of the
colony. The ee a is now beginning, T e whole for the year will
be from 150 to 200 tons. There will be an increasing pioa in the
succeeding years, and a careful estimate places the output at 14,000 tons

n 1900. At the low price of 207. a ton this would give an export of
280, 0007. which, added to the fatal export of the colony (130, ase o
makes 410,0007. eight years hence (to which the intervening years
be a steady approach), and we thus have in view apro oduction more en
three times of any in the experience of the colony.

ut there is no reason why it should rest here, and it can be predicted

with as much safety as can belong to any forecasts into the future

in ten years of the new century the industry will big reached a
result of 50,000 tors, the value of which can be readily se

In these estimates I have taken due account of the competition ahh
this colony has stimulated by its enterprise, and the price I have named
will satisfy dealers in the article that I am under = influence of all
necessary restraint in this respect. I donotthink many of our imitators
will be successful, for it Ay songs special combined conditions of soil and
climate to > produce such a fibre as ours, and in a spirit of self te i
the Legislature has extended pe tee years ra Act now three years
existence, wick prohibits the export of fibre plants from the serie
This must aff e TR re which has been spoken of, for some of
the places in question had been relying on supplies of plants from our
growers when the first prohibitory a should have expired.

e cultivation in Florida has been proposed, but this is not seriously

The- isi ior, wages much more than double
whit is paid here, and there i is a well-known liability to frost, which is

neat i teh est

171

fatal to fibre growth. As far as the best informed ju udgment can at
present be a guide, we have no u

io rbe
in the future the fibre cultivation in this colony will be placed below the
limits of profitable saved ure. The Government have restricted for ten

number of the people the advantage of employment, and a disturbance of
the labour market is also guarded against. One of the many attractions
of this remarkable industry is in the fact that oe are all but im-
possible, for they will have no oo basis. The crop may remain
unharvested for months without injury, and the good sense of the people
may be safely relied eh to recognise this fact, and also to make them feel,
they now do, that men of means coming to the colony to engage in its
fortunes are its best 1 ner are and this is being brought home to
them by the improvement in their condition arising from the operations
in which capitalists have already engaged.

I am, &c.
(Signed) A. SHEA.

LI.—SISAL CULTIVATION IN THE BAHAMAS.
[K. B., 1892, pp. 189-190.]

The following further fntiriRón pi rad the Sisal Hemp or Pita
cultivation in the Bahamas is given he Governor’s Report on the
Blue Book for the year 1891 (Colonial Bopo No. 44, 189

‘23 Fibre cultivation makes very satisfactory sachin and there
about 8,000 acres Lome. out. Atleast 6,000 acres will be aldo f to this
area in 1892. er addition would be made ‘put that the sippi of

K a a AA in the near future at least.
plantin, ow esam atid will, be about 150 to 200 tons in 1892,
and this will thiseatios be an increasing Enn but a careful estimate
shows that it will not reach beyond 14,000 to 15,000 tons up to the
year 1900. The subsequent cst will og mu ash more rapid, but

in no reasonable view of the circumstances can the export from the

colony have a marked effect on ‘the market for oe years tocome. It
i w , four years is the

crop, — further sm for i> or
forcing the crop, and immature cuttings are to be specially aapna

The fibre is at its best after due time has been given for its gro

unwise methods will be sarili dealt with by the Government in the
hest interests of the colony. There is much yet to be learned in

hig
grap aaron with this enterprise, but it is satisfactory to know that, with
resent imperfect knowledge, no serious mistakes have been fallen

172

nto. Experience will no doubt lead to a lessened expense of cultiva-
iien, especially in the matter of weeding, that E hitherto been a large
item, but in which it now appears a reduction may be made. The
highly important question of labour is well ardal, and the whole
quantity of one hundred thousand acres may be brought into cultiva-
tion without strain on our present resources. The plant, being con-
fe weird the best of any known growth, a demand from abroad has set

be encouraged, and for this and other reasons t ct passed three
s ago, to prohibit the export of plants, has se been extended
rs more. e

by outside ager and the progress of the colony be consequently

retarded. would be difficult to assign a limit to the future advance

of the sates ce the growth of thisremarkable industry. Though the

land provisionally assigned to fibre cultivation (one hundred pye:

ig will in time yield 50,000 tons, there seems no reason why eve
ea

S gre
if is markets of the time shall admit of its profitable disposal. It is
generally thought that, from the excellence of the fibre, it will find its
way into other fields for its use besides rope-makin and recent experi-
ears prove that it takes a dye demesne, indicating its Aig age to
in fabrics, and to some extension of demand on this account.
There i is the further ground for the oai ane ‘asa for Bahamas
hemp in the peaks that it can be produced more cheaply than any
own fibre of equal value, and it may be inferred that it will hold its
own at ae | against the influence s any probable competition with
which it may have to contend.”

LIL—SISAL HEMP HEMP INDUSTRY IN YUCATAN.
[K. B., 1892, pp. 272-277.]
A general review of the Sisal in Ey a in various parts of the
world is giv an in the pena pi A Beto account of the fibre

bunts was some precise and detail formation respecting the
various machines in use in Yucatan for extracting the fibre. It was felt

that the — of the whole industry depended ina great measure upon
this one poe

At the reque uest of Sir Ambrose Shea, Captain ` Jerome Stuart,
the Resident Justice of Long Island, was de eputed to proceed to Yucatan
with instr sage to study the wikis = subject of a perenne and
production in that country, and draw a comparison between the circum-
stances of Nace and Bahamas as regards soil, climate, and the
general healthiness of the plants. Captain Jerome Stuart gave par-
ticular attention to the character of the machinery used for extracting
the fibre, and he gives the results obtained from each machine. This

is report will be read with Heron There are apparently no

insuperable difficulties met with in Yucatan in extracting the n from
Agave leaves. The total exports of fibre from Yucatan are

173

annual value of more than a million and a half sterling, and if, as
is shown by Captain Jerome Stuart, this large and valuable industry
is capable of being continuously carried on by means of machines
in regular use, e, there should be no difficulty in selecting one or more of
these machines for ase elsewhere. The only advantage possessed by

countries,

REPORT on the FIBRE INDUSTRY of YUCATAN addressed to Sir
AMBROSE SHEA, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Bahamas, by Captain
E. JEROME STUART

n accordance with instructions received from your Excellency on
the 15th ultimo, I sailed on that date for Yucatan, for the purpose of
comparing the soil of the Bahamas and its adaptability to the fibre

i A f :

Agaves planted, and their liability to disease: the character of the
machinery used for extracting the Henequen fibre, and the cultivation
and — management - bie crops.

When in Yucatan I visited 28 Henequen estates, and ae careful
inquiry r ieee the honour k submit the following report :

THE SOIL OF YUCATAN COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE BAHAMAS.

Sind heey in the “fibre producing district” of Yucatan is gravelly
and st and varies in colour, being black, brown, and There
cay ed of land in the district, similar to that on most of our islands,
and known as “mixed land.” The soil has an average depth of 8 inches,
and is underlaid by soft limestone rock, similar to that of our “ Pine
Barren ” lands.”

The largest fibre fields in the State are to be found on this shallow
stony soil, ap hie yield of fibre is greater than on the deeper soil 30
miles further and.

I could not, prms looking at the fibre fields of Yucatan, doubt for a
moment that "the fibre fields of this colony are equally good; and if the
growth of plants is any guarantee of the virtue contained in the soil in
which they grow, I do not hesitate in saying that the soil of the Bahamas
is equally as good as the soil of Yucatan.

Any one who will look over the grounds of Fort Charlotte will see
the soil, trees, and weeds of the fibre fields of Yucatan, with this dif-
ference, that the soil there is more stony.

THE DIFFERENT SORTS OF AGAVES.

There are several species of Agaves to be found in Yucatan, but as
two only are of chief commercial ‘value, I confine my report to those two.
The Henequen.—The kind of fibre plant growing in Yucatan, and
known as the Sacqui or —— en, is a different and distinct Agave
from that of the Bahama p
The plant is hardy, and ee when cultivated, an average life of 18
are and propagates itself by sending out “s uckers ” Bed: m its roots.
s Henequon eo rigida, var. Aohgalid > ires eo five to
eight years’ growth to produce a marketable ee "3 feet) of fibre,

174

The leaf from which the fibre is extracted has e piam at the point, and
spineg yn its edges, and averages 34 feet in leng

bre of the plant is white, but be iis kida to that of the
Bahama Hemp, is rated in the market at “from 6l to 8l per ton
lower

The Ba hama Hemp.—The Bahama Hemp plant [Agave rigida, var.
sisalana] differs from the Henequen inasmuch as the leaves are
without spines on their edges; and the fibre is superior in texture. The
plant matures from two to thr ree a yeas earlier than the Henequen, and

as an average life of 12 y Like the Henequen, it propagates
itself from suckers, but is dis ani of producing over 2,000 plants
from the pole that grows from the centre of the pa nt.

The Bahama Hemp is found both in Yucatan, where it is know
as the Yaxqui, 'and in Cuba, but it is not oe cultivated, as it
requires a more congenial climate than these countries afford. In this
colony the plant luxuriates, the length of leaf being 4} feet to 5 feet,
weighing 14 to 2 lbs. In Yucatan a leaf of the Yaxqui ‘from a plant of
the same age would measure 3} feet, and weigh 11 ounces only.

THE PLANT’S TENACITY OF LIFE.

The Henequen and Bahama Hemp are the hardiest of all the
Agaves. Their power to withstana drought is almost incredible. I
have known plants of the Bahama Hemp to lie on the ground for
three months, exposed to the rays of the sun, and when planted to grow
with the greatest vigour

It has never been known for these plants to be troubled i any
disease. No ‘fon ngus or insect can apparent amage or affect them;
and in 1883, when ths locust devastated the State of Yucatan, the
cattle and birds died of starvation, and men were on the eve of
despair, the only green living plants to be seen were wks different species

March last, when a few of our farms were affected; but after cutting off
the ends of the injured leaves there was nothi a gels of the trouble,

* At date of 20th June 1892, rated at 6l, lower,

175

I walked through hundreds of acres of the Henequen, but beyond
oee that a leaf here and there had a few inches dried on its end,
‘Similar to what is seen in this oes and Cuba, the plants were per-
ae healthy and free from disease.

KIND OF MACHINERY USED.
| . There are several kinds of machinery used for extracting the fibre on
Í the different estates.
hose cleaning less than 75,000 leaves per day use the large common
wheels, Raspador and Barraclough ; and those cleaning from 80, o
120,000 per day use the oh and erat i a machines, the

Rachine break dowi or get out of order, leaving 70, 000 or 80,000 leav
on hand, and there be no means of cleaning them, it Sronlà involve a yen
of over 4 000 Ibs. of fibre

Cleaning Machines.—The Raspador is a 54-inch “wheel,” said to be
invented and manufactured in Mexico. It requires a two horse- -power
engine to run it at a steady rate of 200 revolutions per minute, at which
speed the best results are obtained. Oppa acity 500 lbs, dry fibre per day
of 10 hours ; requires the services of two men.

The Barraclough, ah Pe! To Barraclough & Co.,

Spain; requires a 16-hors zeg z ower engine and the services ‘of two m
1500 a boy. Pia 7,000 lbs. dry ore. per day of 10 hours. Cost
dollar

TO
| The Death and Ellwood machine, onra by W. E. Death,
of Brixtòn, England, requires a 3-horse power engine to drive it at a
velocity of 400 revolution per minute, and washes the fibr re when
e ike t ne

e as the S Their thas being smaller, require a STEA
of 500 revolutions to the minute to give good results. Beyond cleaning
4 greater number of leaves, they do not appear to do better work, as the
ao of loss is as great in the one as the other, and the fibre is
ly as clean.
thas and Boilers—The engines used were from 6 to 80 horse

176

The estates running 60 to 80 horse-power engines have two boilers,
using them alternately every 15 days.
ess,—Most of the small estates use small screw presses, baling from

3 to 8 bales daily. The large estates, baling 16 to 30 bales daily, use
hydraulic ia pe by Appleby Bros., London, and Fawcett
and Preston, Liv

Locomoti tig Teena y Rails, éc—The locomotive cars are made of
wood, 20 feet by 4 feet. i“ rails are of iron with gauge 3 feet, and
sleepers o of shtik 2 feet apart

way trucks are of iron or wood; they are 12 feet by 3 feet.

Ap et sleepers of iron with gauge 2 feet 4 inches, and sleepers
2 fee

ties tram cars with rails are se hai by Charles
Wood, Trees Tos Works, Middlesbrough; Englan

CULTIVATION OF THE AGAVES.

The Estates—There are 200 Henequen estates in Yucatan, varying
from 500 to 28,000 acres in extent, having a total inet of 105,000
acres syrmi cultivation, employing 12,000 tadika labourer
argest and best estates are on the rocky gravelly moia and they

are ad from 100,000 dollars to 500,000 dollars each. Each estate is
managed by three hal miese Pas attorney, the manager, and assistant
m The largest of them employ locomotives for hauling in the
se Aeres from the fields, others using tramway trucks or carts drawn by
mules o

Witited with less than 800 acres under cultivation erect one Raspador
for Hats 100 acres. Those of 1,000 acres use the large automatic
m

Fiariâg the Fields—The size of the perean on the estates
range from 250 to 3,500 acres. They are laid out in fields or sections
of <4 to 200 acres, and contain from 600 to 900 eaer to the acre.

en preparing the fields the land is cut during the dry ppt is
then ious to spring up, after which it is “sprig weeded,” and t
after the first fall of rain. The stumps fet cut close to the saat ge:
as to be out of the way of the leaves of the plants, and to facilitate the
running of the line for opt and getting r rows straight.

Planting—The plants are “ ees out” on the different estates at
various distances, being 6ft. by 11 ft., 5 ft. Bie 11ft., 4ft. by 11 ft.
6ft. by 10ft., 5ft. by 10 ft., 4 by 10ft., 6ft. by 9 ft., 5 ft. by 9 ft.,
4ft. by 9 ft., 6 ft. b 8 ft

The rows are kept perfectly straight, for if they be ae there
would be the greatest difficulty in getting through the fie

en planting, the labourers tt a small line with the p E E
which the plants are to be “set out” knotted on it, and a pole cut t
the length that the rowsare to be a srt A man and a boy are stip yed
at each line. The boy drops the plants along the rows at the distance
marked on the line, and then removes the line to the next row, dropping
the plants as before. The man does the planting, and is responsible for
the rows being straight. When coming to a rock the planter does not
turn aside, but goes on, and places the plant in the row a little beyond.

The row system facilitates weeding, admits a free current of air and
sunlight, which is necessary to harden and give strength and texture to
the fibre ; allows the labourer to cut and bring ont the leaf with despatch ;
and, what js of the greatest importance, gives room for replanting the

177

“eld hon os life of the old plants is about to terminate, which
t be e if the plants are growing over the field irregularly.
Sake of lela than 15 inches are not planted.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CROP.

Cuttin ting.—In Yucatan the vane one err in five to see years.
In the Bahamas the Bahama Hemp matures in three to five y

To neglect cutting the leaves after the plant is a. retails its
growth, which causes it to “ pole,” at the appearance of which the life
of the plant i is ended, and the planter, after reaping a few leaves only,
must then plant his fields afresh. On the other hand, when the cutting
is regularly attended to, the life of the plait i is prolonged, the plant will
produce a greater number of leaves, and fibre of a greater length and
superior quality,

The plant is cut every three months, when seven to nine leaves are
gathered. The leaf is taken from the plant with a “clean cut,” making
the cut down and inward at an angle of 45 deg.

Cleaning.—As soon as the leaves are cut they are taken to the
machine for cleaning. The cleaning is so arranged that one-half of
the leaves to be cleaned is taken from the cuttings Of the day previous,
and the other half from the cuttings of the same day, as in this manner
the work can be commenced early in the morning, and steadily carried

r leave in from the field. T

leaves are not allowed to accumulate beyond half a day’s cleaning,
for if left to dry beyond the second day they become hard, and the fibre,
when extracted, will T ae rk,

en the Ra aspador sed for extracting the fibre two operators are
required ; one stands “ prer left of the wheel and the other to the right.
The operator on the left taking a leaf fastens the small end with a lever
to prevent the whole of it being drawn into the machine; the larger end
_ is inserted and cleaned ; the other operator then hauls out and reverses
the leaf, putting in the uncleaned end, at the same time taking a turn
with the cleaned end of the leaf around a brass cleat which is fitted to

an: e
pressure required for cleaning the leaf, finally drawing out the clean
fibre. In this manner 14 leaves per minute, or 8,400 leaves, are cleaned
f

with the Villamore, Prieto, or other automatic

one-half of the leaf, the chain taking it along, where another wheel

=e the other half, ape then throws out the clean fibre at the Neg
- Twom a boy are employed at the machine, one

oie! that the leaves enter the machine on their length, and that ais s

not ride one on the other ; one to attend to and regulate the machine,

e a the boy to receive the fibre as it is brought out by the endless

As 8 soon as the fibre is extracted it is dried, for if allowed to remai
without being exposed to the sun immediately after cleaning it shearers
dark and pe otted.

Yie

-° Acre.—The yield oe fibre from an acre of Henequen is
from ] ,000 Tbs. tol a lbs. aie um. The number of plants usually
set out in an acre is 650 a an average of 33 leaves from each

plant, and from 50 n "70 Ibs. of clean fibre to the 1,000 leaves. Making
an average calculation of 650 plants to the acre, 33 leaves from “each
8895

178

plant, yielding 60 lbs. of fibre to the 1,000 ani im the Sade would be =
follows :—33 x Te oe = 21,450 leaves yieldin :
clean fibre per um. The planters never mab epea tae of their
returns, as experience shows them that their crops can be relied on with
almost complete certainty.

Cost of Working and Profits—The at ee his crop to

cost for cultivating, cutting, cleaning, baling a arketing from 2}
cents to 3 cents per lb. At the present price o Abr, 5 cents per 1b.,
taking 3 cents as the cost of Taon an acre yielding 1,287 Ibs.

would give a net profit of 25 d

After comparing the soil aa plants of the pees with ape
Yucatan, I assure your Excellency that the one compares most
favourably ie the other ; and that we have in this colony ace re-
quirement t for t he development of the enterprise, and I am most sanguine
as to the aftitmato result of the Bahama Hemp industry.

(Signed) E. JEROME STUART.

LIII.—POLING IN AGAVE PLANTS.
[K. B., 1893, pp. 315-321.]

The progress of the fibre industry in the Bahamas has been fully
noticed during the last four years in the pages of the Kew Bulletin.
At the pr resent time the earlier plantations are approaching maturity,
and it is anticipated by those interested in the subject that the export of
fibre on a commercial Saas aps _— begin na year.

In the meantime a ques of some importance has arisen in regard
to the duration of life se poer pa sort of Apai cultivated for fibre
purposes in n the Baham

This is botanically psa wh as meN rigida, var. sisalana. It is

rk green, smooth-leaved sort (with no marginal teeth) originally
introduced, either directly or indirectly, from Yucatan. There it i
known under the aboriginal name axci.

The plant more generally cultivated for fibre in Yucatan is a glaucous-
leaved sort, armed with small, black, marginal teeth (Agave rigida, var.
elongata), known locally as "Saequi. The Bahamas plant, the Yaxci,
is still also found in Yucatan, but apparently it is not specially selected
for general cultivation.

gave plants, a oe pa grown in green-houses in this
country,and sometimes pu
months on lawns and spree is that commonly called the American
aloe se eed americana). Such plants produce nothing but leaves for
the greater part of their life. In this state they may last for many

ans of increasing the plant. This,
however, is a purely vegetative reproduction. The exact life-period of
Agaves in northern latitudes may vary from 10 to, possibly, 50 years or

re. On account of this aig soni longevity eae succulent
plants they are sometimes called Century plants. In the tropics, grown
under natural conditions, these plants BE ine last longer than seven to
12 or 15 years. Sooner or later, however, within the periods above
mentioned, m = peeking on the A A under which r are
placed, they th w up a “pole” or flowering stem. On will
Papai rar appear the flowers, the patios yrfa seed, iol poten

179

plantations. The result of the inquiry at Kew is given in the following

correspondence. It is so far satisfactory that, with care and judgment

on the part of those directly in charge of the plantations, there need be
ty in the Bahamas than has been i

nurseries, and the work of the plantations need not at any time be
seriously interrupted.
Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
[ Memorandum. }

plants, which seldom exceeds seven years. four years at least are
needed for the growth of the plants before they are fit for cutting, this
only leaves between two and three years of cropping, in which the planter
must recover all the capital expended in theif cultivation. y sug-
gestions by which the life of the plants might be prolonged and poling
prevented are invited, as the early poling will gravely affect the success
of the industry. ko

D . .

THE MONRO FIBRE CO., LIMITED, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
DEAR SIR,

subject under review.

Our plant, or “ Bahamas Hemp” as it is now termed, is an Agave
With dark green leaves, which are spineless except for a thorn at the
tip. From all accounts it is identical with the “ Yaxci” of Mexico.

_ 1. The life of the “ Sacqui,” which is that generally grown in Yucatan,
18 said to be from eight to 16 years after cutting has been begun. Can you
tell me whether our variety enjoys as long a life or not ?

8895 M2

180

o Agaves put out during their life a certain fixed number of
leaves, ‘the normal quantity varying but little between Manta of the same
species, or is there no regular limitation in this respect ?

4 output of leaves on a plant is variable, would cutting thems
as they enti be likely to increase it, and, judging from analogy
otherwise, ought the cutting to be made several t a year ora re kiiy
particular seasons ? Also, would cutting the ree have the effect of
prolonging the life of the plant by retarding its polin

It may seem strange to ask for such information A we have the

established there SEENEN does not seem to have been much obser-
me bestowed upon its nature-or the circumstances of its growth.
sily perceive the necessity we are under of obtaining a
clear indetstanding on the points raised in this letter, as, for instance,
en it wi

how to prolong the life and increase the yield as much as possible.
I need not say how thankfully any assistance you may kindly give in
this direction will be received.
Yours very obediently,
The Director, (Signed) J. GURDON.
‘ Royal Gardens, Kew.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
Royal Gardens, Kew.
DEAR Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, August 18, 1893.
WHEN your brother was last at Kew n left with me a memo-

known as the “ Bahamas Pita” or Sisal, reach their maturity.
He also ached whether anything could be done by processes of cultiva-

the literature of the subject the references are very few and the language
is vague and ee In the enclosed memorandum I have given

a brief summary of what has been recently published it may be
vossible to draw some Kenaa conclusions from the facts D stated
3. The observations in —— to the Sacqui of Yucatan do not, it is

ak Slants ‘cultivated She over a large area the ex oie in
Yucatan may not be far from what will alienated obtain in the

4, The e latest information from Yucatan is furnished by Mr. Pierce,
the Vice-Consul at Merida. He States that “a Hemp plantation in
on asta for some 15 yee This is TR conclusive as regards

|
|
|
l

PE a A

181

; d smaller
or its period of maturity will be hastened. The practical outcome of

very particular when cutting the leaves to cut them as close as possible
to the stem of the plant. In other words, they consider it undesirable

on
“snag” is inevitable. This, howev
leaving the central stem of the plant eventually quite clean. I am not
prepared to attach much importance to this matter in relation to poling.
It is undesirable as a matter of economy in fibre, and it may also have
some effect on the general health of the plant.
produce an unti
altogether the practice of close cutting the leaves should be systemati-

ole at seven years, others at a later period. It is unlikely, if properly
treated, that they will all pole over a large plantation at the same time. If

the fact is realised, or at the first sign of poling, there need be little

eut. The
tend, as mentioned above, to prolong the vegeta

182

and retard poling, Theoretically, oe there is no ground for sucha
supposition. Sor the other hand the cutting of immature ‘leaves would cer-
tainly have a contrary effect. The plant would be likely to be weakened
by the process, and the subsequent leaves borne by it would be smaller
and weaker. The exact period when the leaves are to be cut should be
carefully studied. Ag a general rule the leaves are ripening when they
are gradually falling from the erect into the horizontal position on the
plant. Also there may be some indication in the colour of the leaves.

depend upon the

I am, &e.
(Signed) D. MORRIS.
J. Austen Chamberlain, Esq., M.P.,
, Prince’s Gardens, S.W.

[Memorandum. |

THE LIFE OF SISAL HEMP PLANTS.

There are numerous species of Agave (popularly called Aloes)
belonging to the natural oy coasted ‘yllidee. They are almost all
monocarpic perennials. That i ey grow on for a number of years
producing leaves only; finally thuy flower, and this they do but once in
aA el pue that sera is apparently determined by the nature of their
environ Usually Agaves under cultivation in this country live to
a raat a e. On this account they are sometimes ne century Te
In their native country they live for seven to 15 years.
the monocarpic species hav e flowered and pedaced Hads or bulbils
(pole plants) they die. The following notes refer to the Sacqui (Agave

rigida, war. elongata) and to the Yaxci or Bahamas Pita (Agave rigida
oar sisalana) :—

become exhausted, “it is oad to are at proper ena by the sides
** of the old plants or between them, young shoots which three years
“ afterwards (and upon the failure of old ones) will be fit for cutting.”
A new field will gt? “be kept up without any loss of time or suspension
of work.” (Sisal Hemp, its adaptation to Jamaica, p. 4.
(6.) Mr. Stoddart describes the poling as follows: “This happens
when the plant has arrived at cutting age and the plants are not cut,”
en the pole begins to come out and gains a length of about
“three or four feet, it is customary to ent it off close without injuring
“ the leaves. These leaves will then mature and be fit to be taken off
“ before the plant dies.” (l.c. p. 7.)
si (c.) Poling appears to be accelerated (1) by the leaves not being cut
when they have arrived at maturity, (2) by the plants being exhausted
by numerous suckers allowed to remain around their base, (3) by care-
less cutting of the leavés. Stoddart, on this latter PAE says: “If the
stump (or base) of the leaf be left of any length on the trunk it

: 183

“ seriously injures the plant, spoils its vigour, and makes its existence d
“ short one’ š
sake Mr. Pierce says : = hemp plantation in wees lasts for some
; 15 years on good land the crop commences in four years
‘or earlier, whilst on ae ground from six es or more.” (F.0O
Report, 1892, p.
©) Mr. Do dge, discussing the Pita or Yaxci plant of Florida and
Bahamas, remarks that in one instance, on very poor soil, he noticed

na 10 rs for ndary
“line had hardly made any growth.” (Report of C. R. ee on “ Fibre
Investigation in the United States.” Washington, 1893, p

Mr. C. T. McCarty of Ankona, Florida, says: “ With pe an sisa-
i lana sends up its pole at seven years on our best lands. So
“ far as the plant is concerned the ‘ poor land’ theory has no foundation
“in this locality. Our strongest and finest plants are on our best land.”
(Dodge, l.e. p. 15

-) Mr. Me rrick Shaw, Polk County, Erie, describes a Sisal Hemp

plant under his observation as follows: “The original plant growing on
“ the soil, of which a sample was sent, poled R seven years old. Twenty
7 “layers of leaves had been cut from this plant, and the lowest of those

“remaining measured x hag 9 inches in —_ y 5 inches in width at
“the broadest part. out 100 suckers had been erent: from (the
“base of) this plant a sae elsewhere.” Dodge

g.) . Dodge figures and describes a plant with Uine barely a foot

big. which had thrown up a slender pole to a height 8 feet or
more. He adds: “I was bs hs ed by residents on India an Key
“that this premature blossoming of a young plant or sucker while
“yet attached to the par ant root is not of uncommon occurrence.
E Le: p.
ew, August 16, 1893. D. M.

baad added.-~The plant Cais in Mauritius, and gie what
, xnown as Mauritius Hemp i e Green or Feetid Aloe (Furcraea
pane). The value of the Fc is Rape 50,0002 annu
This cae is similar to an Agave, both i appearance and habit,
o

ing. The oi peen in Mauritius with regard to poling of the
Furcraea has a s triking resemblance to what has been obena a
Auei to the Ta in Yucatan. M. de Chazal, who has

: Sie in time so that as the olda ones die out cutting from the young ones
. “Should begin. Over-cutting the leaves is common In
‘is generally held to be injurious to the plants, weakening their gro

“and causing them to flower and die prematurely. People in Mencitjus

i84

“say that by cutting only the mature leaves the growth of the plants is
“ not weakened,and | thus large fine leaves are obtained, yielding long fibre
“ of the finest quality. But I have never heard the idea expressed that

“ longs the life of the plants to its natural limits. It comes to this, that
“ what is said not to shorten the life of the plants i in Mauritius is said to
“lengthen it in Yucatan—a case of arriving at the same a from
“ opposite directions.” ]

LIV.—WEICHER’S FIBRE EXTRACTING
- MACHINE.

[K. B., 1893, pp. 141-144.]

This fibre-extracting machine is constructed by J. J. Weicher, i”
Liberty Street, New York. It is now on trial in this country un
Mr. Weicher’s supervision at the 7 Works, Printing House rt

oad, London, N.E. chief interest at the present

leaves of the Sisal Hemp plant, so largely planted at the Bahamas and
elsewhere. This brief per is therefore almost entirely confined to the
treatment of leaves of this so

Recently, accompanied by ‘Sir Alfred aa Governor of British
Honduras, I accepted an invitation to see the er machine at work
on Agave leaves obtained from the Riviera. The oy were those of
Agave americana. They had been cut about a fortnight, and hence
they were not in the best possible condition for being experimented
upon.

The Machine.—The machine consists of a drum fitted with beaters,
and a feeding table mounted on an iron frame ee 14} feet long and
24 feet wide. The whole structure is of iro Bited with beaters

m s

‘Mauritius, and the “ Raspador ” of Yucatan, The leaves, as in these
machines, are presented endwise, and are cleaned by the beaters attached
to the drum. About one half of each leaf is cleaned at one time. It is
necessary to — the position of the leaf before the other half can be

cleaned. ere is, however, no reverse action, and in this respect the
bi sine —— possesses an advantage over other machines of the

The p, eed Table.—The feed table consists of an endless band
osed vi flat iron laths fastened across two iron chains. The band

185

four or five leaves. These may be any length up to about eight feet,
and the quickness of the cleaning depends very much upon the activity
and aptness of the operators.

Serving the Machine.—For regular working a man and two boys are
required. The man and one boy attend to the feeding and the changing
of the leaves, while the other boy takes out the cleaned fibre and hangs
it up to dry.

The Trial.—The machine was worked recently at intervals for
about an hour. It readily cleaned Agave leaves of various sizes, som

There is an arrangement of levers to allow for yielding in case of very
thick leaves, and the machine was not clogged or stopped during an

is, however, is not an

part of the cleaning. It may be adopted or not according to loc
circumstances,

Particulars of the Machine—The following particulars were

obtained from Mr. Weicher, The total weight is 3,100 pounds (avoir-

is 14) feet long by 2} feet wide. The power required is 10 horse-
power, giving 500 revolutions per minute. The inventor has worked
the machine in Yucatan for a period extending over nearly three months.

tons of green leaves in a day of 10 hours. Allowing the leaves to yield
3 per cent. of fibre (in a prepared dry condition), this would be at the
lowest i i

(at 4 per cent.) of 896 pounds per day. s could be judged from
the recent trial these returns are not improbable. It is, however,
Impossible to offer a definite opinion on the subject. e actual

capacity of the machine can only be determined by continuous working
on a Sisal Hemp plantation, and with operators who ave become
thoroughly accustomed to it. Ina Report on the Sisal Hemp industry of
Yucatan, prepared for the Government of the Bahamas by ptain
E. Jerome Stuart [Kew Bulletin, 1892, p. 275], it is stated that the
Weicher machine “ requires 12 horse-power engine and the services of
“three men. Capacity, 2,500 Ibs. dry fibre per day of 10 hours.

Mr. Weicher judiciously disclaims all responsibility for the capacity
here given. He prefers to indicate : E n saying that the
t f o

For comparison from actual working it may be mentioned that the
Yucatan Raspador (with two men) acting on leaves of Sisal Hemp will

chine (also with tw actin ea re
Aloe (Furcraea panto will turn out only about 214 pounds of dry

186

fibre per day. The difference in these returns may be due to the
different qualities of the leaves, a a is evident that, so far, neither of
these machines working on a commercial scale is able to turn out more
than 400 pounds of dry fibre per

The conjectural figures given by Mr. Weicher require therefore to be
received with due reserve until the performances of the machine have
been fully tested.

Summary.—I may add that I have seen most fibre os e
have been brought forward and tested during the last 12 yea
sh yet in a position to say that any machine has fulfilled all the

onditions necessary in Sie ng Sisal Hemp fibre. The whole of the

Mauritius hemp (from Furcraea gigantea) exported from that island is
cleaned by the Gratte, locally made and naur about 307. [Kew
Bulletin, 1890, p. 98]. This has to be fed with one or two leaves at a

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very remunerative when prices are high. There is thet? little
or no inducement, owing to cheap labour, to ehh duce improvements
in fibre cleaning in Yucatan. In the Bahamas the circ prion are
entirely different, and a satisfactory nokis. is indispensa e
various machines that have hitherto sought to supplant me Gratie
and Nador such as Bh s sans ee the “Barraclough

ittle or no progress of ae Shite The Weicher machine
possesses distinct merit, and it is more promising than any (so far as I
have observed) with an automatic food table. It may be said against it
that it is somewhat heavy and intricate, and its price Ae yet ea
must be higher than either the Gratte or spador. lt
serves, however, to be tried under suitable arturo and chon
interested in the fibre industry of the Bahamas, for instance, cannot do
better than carefully test it on the spot. The inventor would then have
an opportunity of showing its capabilities in the presence of an
unlimited supply of leaves. It is impossible to do more in this country
than form an approximate idea of its merits. It may be added that it
is aimo for the machine that it will clean the leaves of Bow-string
hemp (Sansevieria), Banana (Musa mehi, and possibly also pine-
apple and Ramie. None of these, unfortunately, were available at the
recent

D. M.

LV.—THE PRIETO FIBRE EXTRACTING
MACHINE

[K. B., 1893, pp. 329--330.]
In Captain Jerome Stuart's report on the fibre industry of Yucatan,
already reproduced, mention was made of certain machines that
were being tried for the feo) gee of extracting fibre from the leaves of

aes
ia

187

the Sisal Hemp plant or Henequen, An account of one of these
mac hines, known as the Weicher Fibre Extracting Machine, now on
~ in this country, is given in the last article. Another machine
ntioned was the Prieto machine. Of this Captain soar Stuart
aro the following brief particulars :—“ The Prieto machine is manu-
“ factured by Puig and Ne egre, giorno pra It requires 16 horse-
“ power engine and the services of t en and a boy. Capacity,
ollars.

following letter received from the makers of this machine, it will be
noticed that they claim that the machine will clean 1 aoe -A
Thes

that are not based on actual trial. In fact, it is impossible to attach
any value whatever to such figures unless they are checked by some one
having a oe knowledge of the subject and perfectly unbiassed in
his judgmen
[ Translation. }
Señor ROMAN ROMANO to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
Calle Fontanella 10, ee

DEAR tam November “12, 1892.

PUIG AND NEGRE have sent us the grini report by
Captain E Jerome Stuart, of the Bahamas, as well as your favour of
the 2nd instant.

These pone meres were the first makers of our Sere nie for extracting
fibre of Sisal and Henequen, but afterwards we set up in this city our
works for making them, having already sent about 40 eas) ines, “ Prieto
Hermanos” system, “to the State of Merida de Yucatan (Mexico),
where they are working perfectly with favourable results for the farmers
who purchased them

We have no photographs or drawings to send to you, but we forward
an account of the wo siy ip does compared to the old grating wheels,
power required, and of the machine here for cas

Hoping that this information will be useful to you for the Henequen
plantations in the Baha

n, &e.

Ir
(for komaso EPORA Y PRETO)
D. Morris, Esq., F.L.S. ROMAN ROMANO.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of the difference between 12 of the present
SCRAPING WHEELS So and the LA VENCEDORA MACHINE,
system “ PRIETO HERMAN
People saat in 10 hours’ work.

La Vencedora. 12 Raspadoras.
for the feeder 20 scrapers (men).
» Carrying leaves. 7 carriers of leaves.

» receiving the fibre.
» Carrying it to drying room. : B88 a carry to drying room.
» Collecting the waste. o collect waste.

total people employed. 38 total people employed.

ic difference in favour of the La Vencedora machine is therefore
men,

188

Production of Fibre.

La Vencedora. 12 Raspadoras.
000 leaves scraped in the 100,000 leaves scraped 12
machine give from 230 to 235 raspadoras give from 165 ‘to 170
` arrobas G 833 to 5,960 Ibs.). arrobas (4,185 t 4,311 1bs.).

Difference in favour of the La Vencedora machine equals s arrobas
b 648 lbs.) increase per day. Cash price for machine in Barcelon
4,500 Spanish dollars (9282. 2s. 6d.) Power, 12 to 16 eer -power
(steam). Water is not required to wash a leaves. Total weight of
the machine, 9,500 kilogrammes (9 tons 7 cwts.).
(Signed) ROMAN ROMANO,
Barcelona,

LVI—SISAL HEMP IN THE BAHAMAS
[K. B., 1894, pp. 189-190.]

The aeaea information respecting a machine for extracting the
fibre from leaves of Agave rigida, var. sisalana, grown in the Bahamas,
will prove of aaeb interest, The machines hitherto tried to

consequence been felt rd to the future of this important fibre
industry. The sana patsblinhed 4 in the Bahamas are now arriving
at such a stage that a successful machine to extract the fibre is a
matter of the Sieh importance. The information appi to the
Colonial Office by His Excellency the Governor, would appear to show
that the “Todd” machine has, so far, proved so MEELES aa it is
likely to be universally adopted i in the Colony :—

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEw.

SIR, Downing Street, May 19, 1894.
WITH reference to your letter of the 7th July 1893, Tam directed

by the Marquis of Ripon to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from

the Governor of the Bahamas reporting upon a fibre-extracting machine

ipon proposes to forward a copy of Sir Ambrose Shea's

S to the Governor of Fiji, and his Lordship would be glad if you

ould be good enough to add oh Sheer PERONI which would be likely to
be of assistance to Sir John Thur:

Ta č.
The Director, Signed g EDV iD WINGFIELD.
Royal Gardens, Kew. : :

GOVERNOR OF THE BAHAMAS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Government rer Nassau, N.P.,
My Lorp 24th April 1894.
Wira reference to communications, eae anal otherwise, that
I have received from the Colonial Office during the three years, on
the ie enbjoct of machines for the extraction of fibre, o m which information
was desired for the Fiji Government, I have now the honour to acquaint

wee

189

your Lordship that I am at length in a position to speak definitely ofa
mac chine that is now in successful operation in this Colon
he machine in vege : one manufactured by a Mr. Todd, of

aie and have no doubt it will be universally adopted here.
It dresses the fibre perfectly and ey a minimum amount of waste, rg
though half a ton is all that a single machine will yield i ina day’ S wo
the principle i is so sound that all that is necessary is to increase the
number to meet "a required n

I may observe, however, it ‘ded not necessarily follow that the
` Todd ” machine will be ien where the conditions of the plant are
not similar to ours. I am not informed of the nature of the plant at
Fiji, but it may be instructive to know that the leaves of the Bahama
plant which hold the fibre are from four to six feet long, that they are
free from gum, and the threads separate without combing. Little
washing is needed, and the whole process of extracting, washing, and
drying is the work of one day.

I have, &e.
The Most Honourable (Signed) A. SHEA,
The Mar — of er EG: Governor,
&e. &e.

An account, ‘with an een of the “Todd” fibre ee tae
machine, is given by Mr. Charles Richards Doc a: in Report
“On the Leaf Fibres of the United Dele gprs y the Dorri
of Agriculture in 1893, pp. 25-26. Mr.

“The only new machine for cleaning Sisal ne per that has been
brought to my attention, since the publication of my previous report, is
the device patented in 1892 by J. L. Acosta, and manufactured by
Joseph C. Todd, Paticiiii, N.J.

a nio a of the obec 2 are set forth as follows :—

wash the fibres Otherwise the fibres iae ep cleaned an a syashed a
eing scraped, if it is desirable to avoi expense of the p
tanks. With a single man to put the leaves on the feeding chain, and a

190

boy to take away the clean fibre from the end of the pae it is
ae of cleaning iveedeaceutd 50,000 to 60,000 leaves in a day

“ I have not seen E this gece running on Sisal hemp leaves, but
wi its work on the lea of bear-grass (Yucca filamentosa)
furnished by the Department, the cleaning being accomplished in a
thorough manner,’

LVII—SISAL HEMP IN THE BAHAMAS.
[K. B., 1894, pp. 412-414.]

The gradual development of the Sisal hemp industry in the Bahamas
continues to be watched with a good deal of interest. It is now ina
position when exports of prepared fibre een begun to be made and its

value quoted as a regular article of comm An important statement
on the subject (in continuation of that ee Tu Bulletin, 1894, p. 189)
is contained in the following extract from th n ort on the

Bahamas for 1893, submitted by the Governor, Sir Ambrose Shea, to
“i 1101892) of State for the Colonies [Colonial Reports, Annual,

The export of Bahama konp eemi iieo in 1893 to 1,2007. as against
692/. in 1892. The area of Crown land now disposed of is 85,000
acres, "while about 15,000 acres of private land are also in course of
cultivation. The quantity eee at the end of 1893 was 17,000 acres
and an annual increase of about 6,000 acres will be the rate of progress.
The history of the origin and growth of this industry has so often
been written that but little remains to be said in that regard.
It will, hereafter, be a record of ee development and social
advancement which results now appear to be as assured as is possible
a the course of apea events. As far as ah welfare of the Colony is

ncerned there seems to be the minimum of uncertainty, for it is not
aunseivable that the =a of the fibre can go below the cost of produc-
tion, though the profit, as in ets case. of all commercial enterprises, must
ever be an uncertain and varying quantity. The export of 1893 was
far below the Se projaiong, ough not from want of an aoe supply of
the raw materi

The shortco ome ng was due to several causes. In the first place the
iy ini plantation, in which a an Americans ndicate is inter rested,

cleaned perfectly mo aste (Ke
Bulletin, 1894, p. 189). There can be but little doubt that this machine
will be universally adopted, as, besides its efficiency, it is cheaply
operated—a woman to feed the machine with leaves, another to remove
the finished fibre, being all the labour attendant on this process. It has
en for some time a subject of much tho ought as to how the small
cultivators were to utilise their labour where, as in the great majority of

191

cases, they were too poor and their plantings too limited to admit of the
cost of a machine. A piconet! solution, however, has now been found
which will be a great boon to this class and will bring the Lene a a
the industry home to the humblest peasant in the Colony. The pro
is as simple as it is available to all, and consists of a slit being meg! in
the thick end of the leaf, when it is torn asunder, leaving the inner part
exposed, and by then soaking it in salt water, which i is never far to reach,
in about a week the pulp may be removed by hand and the fibre
preserved. No waste whatever is found in this method; and it is under-
stood that a man or woman, or grown boys or girls, may turn out from
50 to 60 pounds of fibre as tie result of a day’s work. The plan is
ae adopted throughout the Colony, and what was for some time
med a missing link is thus effectively supplie

crc has always ws a certain amount of speculation as to the
effects of femmes on the fibre fields, and though the plants are so
hardy, the idea ome degree a disturbing one. The question has
now been satisfactorily tested. In August last, as well as in October,
the Bahama Islands were visited with Paes which did cbnsidebahta
damage to valpas kinds of property. In one or two cases fibre fields,
by unusual rising of the tides, were laid under water, and it was sup-
poded that in these instances much injury had been done to the plants.

eventually to be trifling. The ee ves were much knocked about, but
they finally Preen tod 5 a great extent, and they are now being dressed,
producing a fibre not much inferior to the best, but classed as No.
because of some en spots being discoloured which detracts va
the ‘appearance, though not, it is believed, from the strength of the
article.

Labour continues in good supply and is not likely to be a cause of
difficulty for many years. Railways are being laid down in the Ramee

und t

pounds of leaf yielding not more than Pig or five pcaile of
cer

Scutching machine has been accepted exports should go forward

moderately in 1894, but on a large and increasing scale in the following
and future years.

The conerally accepted standard of 600 plants to the acre is now in

s being changed to 800 and in some instances to 1,000. It

many ca
this Hessen number be not found to impede harvesting by the

u
inconvenient crowding of the a the af ield per acre should, of course,

ae y want of room for t the full development of the plants,

(Signed) A. SHEA.

ag ADDED, A $1, 1898.—The latest information in regard to Sisal
dis Daaa ts aaia tac the Sisal industry, by D. Mortis, 0.M.G., D.Sc.,
1300 Colonial Reports, Miscellaneous, No, 5, Bahamas. Since t that time the price

192

of the fibre has steadily risen. During the present year it hag reached 33/, per ton.
It should be borne in mind by all interested in the industry tha t the market for ga
fibre is liable to considerable fluctuation. Hence the cost of production must be

instances and the exercise of great economy Sisal fibre could be produced in the
ahamas at a poi of about 6l. per ton. If this were accomplished there would
always be a profit on the lowest prices yet reac

LVUL—SISAL CULTIVATION IN THE TURKS AND
CAICOS ISLANDS.
ER B., 1896, p 119.]

The steps taken to establish a fibre industry in these islands were
described in the Kew Bulletin, 1890, pp. 273-278. The plants under
cultivation were determined at Kew to be identical with those grown in
th mas (Agave ainis A further account of the industry
was given in the Kew Bulletin, 1892, pp. 31 and 32. In the following
extract from a letter addressed to the Commissioner, Turks Islands, the

Commissioner reports that the plants are in excellent health,
and the only difficulty is the want of sufficient machines to clean the
leaves as they arrive at maturity. Since this report was written it is
stated that machines have been introduced, and the export of fibre is
st to be greatly increased :—

RACT from a letter from the Assistant Commissioner, Cockburn
Harbour, to Genii oier, Turks Islands, dated 31st December, 1 =s
“ Of the Sisal indu ustry I cannot say much. At West Caicos ‘it would
seem, if output be the criterion, much is not tees done: what i
would appear to be directed to weeding, clearing and systematic culti-
vation, rather than to shipment of the clean baled products, A limited
number a the Blue Hills or Providence Cays people here get
employme

« Ty aay ecent visit to the scene of the wreck of the —— :
po

‘ Dorian’ I travelled day after day for a week through these
stretches under cultivation by the East Caicos Fibre pa ,
succession of regular well-ordered tracts of some 1,200 acres in all. The
growth and stages of maturity clearly aan mark the different yearly
plantings with ample roads and plant spac

“The crop is far the finest I have ete seen in the Bahamas.

hat :—
“The haee of rng or Bahama hemp from the Turks and Caicos
Islands is gradually the increase, the value declared for 1895 being
6207. With the additional and improved machinery recently put up by
each of the two companies engaged in this business, the output will
probably be much larger.”

NOSSO a a a NS NE ia SN, SI ne S ee nee els Rt ei oa

193

LIX.—FALSE SISAL OF FLORIDA.
(Agave decipiens, Baker.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. E lig

Ae pigidas van SAN in every respect oue to the plants now
so sorn plan n the Bahamas, Turks Islands, Jamaica, and elsewhere.
Amongst the Floridan plants Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, of the United
States ‘Department of Agriculture, found here and there some plants
which were evidently not true isal. or instance, “at Juno, about
“ ten miles further south (from Jupiter), at the head of Lake Worth,
“ I found another fine nursery of perhaps a hundred thousand plants, the
ead) of Mr. A. M. Fields, who is quite enthusiastic on the subject.

y fifty per cent. of his plants are not Agave sisalana, however,

Kew from Florida from Mr. Richard Dodge, and there is no doubt that
the plant which he had provisionally taken to be Agave ma and
mentioned in his report under the name of “ False Sisal,” an
entirely new species. In a Bipra] Aa ‘April 27, 1892, araeidiiig
Specimens, Mr. Richards Dodge states :—
s ee of Apoaurs, Washington,
ril 27, 1892

“T have just received from Biscayne Bay, So uthern Florida, some
blossoms of my so-called ‘ False Sisal,’ accompanied by niom
o-da

the others being in a semi-decayed condition and unfit to send. |
is the normal length of the erie found megye the Biscayne Bay
region and along ie ine of Keys. Those at Lake Worth, whicb is

rong,
as ces and of differest ih nce
These and other specimens have enabled Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S.,
the Keeper of the Her = arium at Kew, to draw up the following
description of the plant

AGAVE (EUAGAVE) DECIPIENS, BAKER.
ice demum 3-4-peda ali, foliis dense rosulatis ensiformibus

apicem sensim angustatis, facie sepissime concavis, spina terminali
pungente breviter decurrente, aculeis marginalibus nie vis atro-castaneis

ei ons sws Culture in the United States. Fibre Investigations, Report No. 3.
p. 4

8895 N

194

deltoideo-cuspidatis, floribus in paniculam amplam thyrsoideam dispo-
sitis, ovario oblongo, perianthii tubo brevi late infundibulari, lobis tubo
duplo longioribus, staminibus longe exsertis, stylo staminibus demum
equilongo.

Hab. Florida, Biscayne Bay, and Lake Worth. For all the material
from which the plant is described we are indebted to C. R. Dodge, Esq.,
the special agent for fibre investigations of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture. It is the plant “supposed to be A. mexicana,
figured on plates 7 and 8 of his report, No. 3, issued May 1891.

Caudex reaching a length of 3-4 feet, whilst A. sisalana, over the
same area, remains nearly acaulescent. Leaves densely rosuiate, very
rigid, ensiform, reaching a length of 4 feet, broadest a little below the
middle, where they reach 34-4 inches, narrowed very gradually to the

24 in. broad, very 00 and apple-green on both s

“not distinctly glaucous even when young, usually very concave all
down the face and convex rarely flat; marginal
prickles moderately close, deltoid, cuspidate, brown-black, not more
than a line long.

Peduncle with panicle about five times as long as the leaves.
Panicle 8-10 feet long, with a rather flexuose axis, and usually single
dense clusters of flowers terminating the laxly-disposed simple arcuate
branches. © :
Flowers arranged in dense clusters. Ovary oblong, finally 2 in. long,
fin. diam. Perianth greenish-yellow, an inch long; tube broadly funnel-
Shaped ; lobes complicate lanceolate from a dilated - base, twice as
long as the tube. Stamens 18-21, lines long, inserted at the middle of
the perianth tube; anthers linear, } in. long. Style finally reaching
to the top of the stamens. TE

Belongs to the section Rigidæ and nearly allied to A. rigida var.
elongata, Jacobi, from which it differs by it

glaucous even when young, broadest below the middle, and nar-
rowed very gradually to the hard point, which is decurrent for a short
distance as a narrow brown-black border. The fibre which it yields is
very inferior in tenacity to that of A. sisalana. I cannot make out any
material difference between the flowers of the two species. The name
decipiens refers to the plant being confused so easily with the forms

J. G. BAKER.

LX.—BOMBAY ALOE FIBRE.
(Agave vivipara, L.)
[K. B., 1890, pp. 50-54.]

The high prices lately obtained for white rope fibres have stimulated
their production in nearly every part of the world. The chief supplies
of these fibres have hitherto been obtained from the Philippines under
the name of Manila hemp (yielded by Musa textilis, see page 99),

195

more pae of Agave rigida, see page 130), Quite Kenit a fibre of
i ter i ce i i

under the name of “ Bombay Aloe fibre.” This was very imperfectly
prepared, and the price obtained for it was exceptionally low. In
fact, had it not been for the relatively large demand for white
rope fibres ape the ai two years this Bombay Aloe fibro would

cost of

A. specim en of Bombay Aloe fibre was presented to the Museums of
Economic Botany at Kew by Messrs. Ide and Christie in 1888, and this
ed to an ati pareet the plan nt dme i n Application was

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received at Kew. It 2 appears that Bombay Aloe fibre is prepare from
the leaves of Agave vivipara, L., in a crude manner by natives, and so
far no attempt has been made to establish regular plantations.

Agave vivipara, L. (Wight Icones, t. 2024 3 A. Cantula, Roxburgh,
Flora of India, vol. ii., p. 167), the “ Bastard Aloe ” of India, i is a native
of tropical America, but now found widely spread through various parts
of the Old World. It is said to be commoner in Upper than in er

in Bengal (Watt, Dict. vol. i, p. 143). Although resembling A. ame-
ricana somewhat in habit, it is more closely allied to A. lurida. The
dull green leaves are from 4 to 5 feet long, rather narrow and concave,
thin but firm in texture, ending in a brown spine about half an inch
ong. The teeth are seule brown and hooked, 4 to 1 inch long.
The flowers, borne upon a tall branched flowering stem, about 20 feet or
more in height, are greenish yellow. The specific name of the bi is

fall and ike roo “ Royle states that on a rich soil the plant is ae

** parous, wile 6 on a poor stony soil, and under a dry climate, seeds

“alone are produced.”

The utilisation of Agave vivipara as a fibre plant on a large scale is
apparently of a very recent date. Dr. Watt, in a notice of the gees
does not refer to it as the origin of Bo mbay Aloe fibre, and apparently
he was eg yr ote with the fact. The only reference to the bad is
a as follows :— The Oudh Gazetteer says it is chiefly grown as a hedge
“ (plant) to keep back cattle, but in the jails go ood ptt is prepa:

“from its leaves.” Dict. Econ. Prod. India, vol. i., p. 143 (1887).

As already mentioned, the Bombay Aloe fibre received in this
kaski is so badly prepared that it is practically meen About

> A . m e

: 196

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to INDIA OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, Kew

SIR, February 91, _
I AM desired by =é aeai oo to inform you that spec
men of white fibre, know “ Bombay Aloe fibre,” cae

been lately presented to the Kav ae sea “ot fammi Botan

2. From the character of the fibre it would appear that this is obtained
from Agave americana or an allied oS and rudely prepared by
hand. The price of this fibre is from 15s. to 18s. per cwt., ae Sisal
hemp obtained from Agave rigida is nila at 52s. to 54s. p

It is very desirable to trace the source of this Rent tne fibre.

For this patios it is necessary to obtain specimens of the plant
yielding i

4. Mr. This elton-Dyer is of opinion that as the Bombay fibre in-
dustry is apparently an established branch of trade, its value might be
greatly increased by the introduction of plants yielding the true Sisal
hemp, and by improvements in the preparation. The subject is of con-
siderable importance at the eet time, as white fibres are in great
demand and sell at hi

5. I am Papae to ae that the Government of India — w

to proc and forward to Kew specimens of leaves or sm

information as to the preparation and shipping of the fibre. On receipt
of these Mr. Thiselton-Dyer will be happy to furnish a report on the
subject, which may assist the ea ES rama of India in developing what
may prove an important native industr

I am, &o:
Signed) D. MORRIS.
J. A. Godley, Esq., C.B. \ ;

INDIA OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

India Office, Whitehall, S.W.
SIR, Mar ch 23, 1889.

of commerce, and to inform you in reply that a copy of the same
has ang i forwarded to the Government of Bombay for their information
and gui

The acta and information for which you ask will at once be
transmitted to you on receipt from Bombay.

The Director, (Signed) T i ra GODLEY.
oyal Gardens, Kew.

INDIA OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEw.

India Office, Whitehall, p
SIR, January 21,

197

Th x of a referred to has been forwarded separately to
your address by carrie

I am, &e.
(Signed) C. E. BERNARD,

Secretary,
The Dir Revenue and Statistics Department.
Royal Teta Kew.
{ Enclosure. |
ACCOMPANIMENT to the Bombay Government Despatch to Her
ajesty’s Secretary of State for India in Council, No. 52, dated 13th
re se
Report by the Offic ciating Director, Land Records and Agriculture,
No. 2262, a 23rd N Bien 1889 :—
Undersigned has the honour to forward by rail a box containing six
young shoots (useful for planting) kat a full grown plant of Agave
Serie the common species of Agave grown in the Bombay Presi-

D The
fibre] Kiih Bombay comes chiefly from the Bom je T mesh, riz E
Central Provinces. It is not possible to ascertain from the trade returns
details of the export feud’ in the Aloe fibre
he Bombay Aloe fibre is prepared from arti vivipara, Agave
americana being rare. The plant grows wild, but nowhere in abun-
dance. _Nor is it ‘ae cultivated "n for BEE ae

and Se it requires a p eadth than rri hedge planto, it is
reported to be not injurious t a nts in the vicinity. It grows well

near watercourses, and this habit of the plant is uk to A i piedat
by using it for live fences along boundaries of survey numbers which
are subject to a rush of water. pre uch places it is planted close
with a view to allow water only to pass through the fence and retain
silt. When planted sufficiently close it serves as a dam and prevents
entrance of rain-water of neighbouring fields. In the Bombay Karnátak
it is the chief An plant along railway lines. et Fencing i ii is planted

oF agai insta stone. After E tear what remains is fibre. In Bijápur
the fibre is sometimes separated by drying the avi and beating them
with a odoh mallets.

198)

ROYAL GARDENS, KEw, to INDIA OFFICE.
Royal a Kew
SIR, ruary 14, 1890.
WITH reference to my letter of the 21st Paat 1889, and
subsequent correspondence on the subject of Bombay Aloe fibre, I am
desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that t the spo =

— received a tK

hese specimens confirm the fact iat the Bombay Aloe fibre of
commerce is prepared from the leaves of Agave vivipara, L., an
American species of Agave now widely distributed throughout sub-
tropical and tropical parts of the Old World and some parts of India.
From the interesting report of the Officiating Director of Land Records
and Agriculture (Bombay), we Scone that the fibre is extracted by
certain depressed castes of n s by very crude and destructive
methods, and that so far no plist has been made to cultivate the
plant for fibre. They are chietly used as hedge plants, and are

3. It is evident, however, that the plants exist in Bombay in sufficient
ARIES 40 to supply several hundred tons of fibre received in this country.
Afte Splai anin h of the facts noted ee it might be found advisable
to pallets this species of Agave on waste lands in Bombay entirely
for the sake of its fibre; or the Sisal hemp plant, Agave rigida, var.
sisalana might be iniepdncet on a large scale. This latter yields the
most valuable fibre of any derived from species of Agave, and there is
little doubt it would thrive a well in India. The important fibre
industry of Yucatan, created entirely within the last 20 years, is now
of the annual value of about three-quarters of a million sterling. India
has, therefore, good grounds for devoting attention to an industry which
so far has established itself on a moderate scale in spite of adverse
circumstance

4. In ES ey to test the quality of the fibre produced by Agave vivipara
when cleaned by machines similar to those in use for the preparation 0
Sisal hemp in Yucatan and the West Indies, a few of the broken leaves
about a foot to two feet in length, taken from the larger plant received
at Kew, were forwarded to the Death’s Fibre Machine Company, 147,

enclosed (ma marke

5. The great difference in quality and value between these two samples
are well given in a report prepared by Messrs. Ide and Christie, a copy
of which is herewith attached. The value of the machine-cleaned fibre
ranges, according to length, from 25/. to 30/. per ton. The ordinary

e
about 27 ‘000K, or more than three times its se yalue. It appears
possible, therefore, without any extension of the present Agave plants

199,

in Bombay, to increase to a very arpreiable extent the return on the
shipment of Aloe fibre from the Presiden

6. Mr. Thiselton-Dyer has little aoe that the facts herein stated
will prove of considerable interest to the Government of India, and they
deserve to be widely known amongst those concerned in the Bombay
Aloe fibre industry.

I am, &c.
J. A. Godley, Esq., C.B. (Signed) D. MORRIS.
2 [Enclosure.]
Messrs. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, Mark Lane, E.C.,
DEAR on February 6, 1890.

za somewhat ce iim continued "exposure to the rai and were i
three times as long would be worth 30/. per ton to-day in London; if
twice as long 27/.; and, as it is, it may be valued at 25/.

The ordinary “ Bonta Aloe” of commerce presents a very different
appearance to your specimen, as, perhaps, samples in your Museum may
show. Its value to day is good 12/., common 5l. per ton.

| Yours, &e.
| D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. (Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIR.

LXI—BOMBAY ALOE FIBRE.—(continued.)
(Agave vivipara, L.)
[K. B., 1892, p. 283.]

In the previous article, an account is given of a fibre
known in commerce as Bombay Aloe Fibre prepare from Agave
vivipara, It appears that there is a varieguted form of this plant in
In pred aa recently through the kindness of a G. Marshall Woodrow,

jostinicns were obtained for the Kew collections. In ‘forwarding the
Specimens Mr. Woodrow supplied the following interesting informa-
tion :—

Mr. G. MARSHALL WOODROW to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
College of Science, Poona,
DEAR Sir, May 19, 1892.
IN reply to your letter of the 23rd April, I have the pleasure of
intimating despatch by pee, post of a box containing nine “Agave
vivipara variegata plants, with a mature leaf, and a branch with

ety
e two distinct forms of Aga ve vivipara, one has leaves
sic 43 feet in length by 2} inches in breadth at the broadest
which is near the centre; the other attains 2 s in length, but
is gpnoraliy fo much shorter, it is of the same breadth as the other moo
but somewhat thicker. The flowers are the aoa in bot
Marathee name is Guial.

200

The plant you refer to as having been received from the Bombay
Government in 1890 is of the long-leaved varie ty; the one I send now
is a variegated form of the short-leaved variety, it is a very ornamental
plan

I will be glad to send you a large ge if you can make use of
them, and can give a small plant of the Sisal Hemp in exchange; such
plants thrive in this climate. I have lately received two very small
offsets of a plant said to be Sisal Hemp, but I am doubtful of their
identification.

wo varieties of ana vivipara are grown as fences occasionally

field crops. ma expe eriments in growing the long-leaved variety
as a field crop some vie ago, but found that at the then price of the
fibre it would be very unprofitable to grow this crop where Sunn
(Crotalaria juncea) or Ambadee (Hibiscus cannabinus) would thrive.
much interested in ge statement that Agave vivipara is the
That na not kno

mb mp I pre
London market name. I baa not learned it, as the Kew Bulletin does
not reach me, except the part that gives the list of seeds available for
distribution.

Yours, &c.
The Dir (Signed} G. MARSHALL WOODROW.
Royal a Kew.

LXII—MANILA ALOE FIBRE.
(Agave vivipara, L.)
ES B., 1893, pp. Se

regularly met with in commerce, although the price realised for it was
always much below that paid for various sorts of Manila hemp.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Royal goe se ie
SIR, October 8, 1890.
: I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you gor a sample
of “ Manila Aloe Fibre” has recently been presented to the Museums
1

2. The plant yielding this fibre does not appear to be known in this
country. It is evidently quite distinct from Musa textilis, yielding

ordinary Manila hemp. Proba abiy it 2 a species of Agave, allied to
that peldine the Sisal hemp of ¢

3 er to determine the ba eal, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would
be glad it the Secretary of State would approve of a reference being made
on the subject to Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila, with a request that one

Le coe ee eee ee ee

201

r two moderately large st ome > the plant be forwarded in a dry box
fe this establishment. In the case of Agave leaves, it may be mentioned
that they travel very well if Poig in a perfectly dry state without soil
or any other material. If the box is pierced with holes to afford
ventilation all the better. It would add to the interest of the specimens
if the Consul could add a few words in regard to the methods employed
in preparing the fibre.

I have, &c.
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed) D. MORRIS.
Foreign Office.

FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL oe KEw.

SIR, Foreign Office, July 7, 1891.

WITH reference to your letter of the ” Sth of October last, I am
directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to request you to inform Mr.
Thiselton-Dyer that Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila reports that he
has forwarded to p Ga rdens, under the charge of Captain Wilson,
of the ss. “ Barden Tower,” a small box containing a few leaves of the
Manila Aloe plant (Maguay).

I am, &c.
The Assistant Director, (Signed) JAMES FERGUSON.
Royal Gardens, Kew.

Mr, Consul GOLLAN to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
British NEET Manila,
SIR, May 20, 1891.

I BEG to inform you ge under directions from the Foreign Office,
I, this day, forward to you a small box containing four leaves of the
Manila Aloe (Maguay), which I trust may arrive in good condition and
answer the parpom you have in view. I enclose a few notes from Mr.

the preparation of the

I send, in the same boas mall specimen of rope of ote strength
and durability made from ine fibre called “ Cabo nae
(Signed) reti GOLLAN,
Her Majesty’s Consul.

W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S.,
Director, Royal Gardens, Kew.
[Enclosure. |
PREPARATION OF MAGUAY FIBRE.

The leaf is first soaked in water until it rne quite soft and pulpy,
which takes place in about a fortnight. It is drawn between the
thumb and fingers, which easily mege off the Arer leaving a clean fibre
This is afterwards dried in the s

If required for immediate use, T leaf is first pared down on each of
its flat sides, and afterwards drawn between two pieces of cane lightly

* The fibre sent as “Cabo Negro” was the produce of the sugar palm of the
East Indies, Arenga saccharifera.

202°

aroei appi nothing but the fibres postin’ through.’ But this
ethod is a very wasteful one, as many fibres are broke
t the e many uses to which maguay is sj may be mentioned
that of violin strings, for which it is much appreciated by the natives.
(Signed) J. H. OSMOND.
Manila, May 1891.

The tea ays kindly obtained for Kew through the good offices of
Mr. Alexander Gollan, Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila, were received
in good pater They consisted of fresh leaves of an Agave in different
stages of growth, and there ers little difficulty in recognising them as
belonging to Agave sie oe deda A e Roxb.), the plant which
(according to Kew Bulletin, 1890 . 50) yields also Bombay Aloe

fibre. The distribution of this plant So far eastward as the Philippine
Islands does not appear to have been specially noticed before. Itis
originally an American plant, and it owes its spread in India, at least, to
its use as a hedge penk % keep back cattle. The local name Magua oH
given to it at Manila, is a generic coe applied by Spanish-speaking
people to numerous aes of Agaves. For instance, in the south of
Europe it is often applied to Agave americana, although this plant in
South America is distinguished as Maguay de cocuyza. In some parts
of Mexico Agave vivipara is known as Theo-metl.

The method of preparing the fibre at Manila, described by Mr.
Osmond, is very crude, and the result is necessarily unsatisfactory. The
process i een | is not at all well adapted for extracting the fibres
from leaves of monocotyledonous re The fibres are discoloured by
long i manatee in water, and dur the process of fermentation, ex-
tending over a fortnight, “the st eant of the ultimate fibres is greatly
weakened. It t may, therefore, = readily understood that the value of
Manila Aloe fibre is comparatively small, and it can only be profitable to
produce it when the price o ject dle fibres i is exceptionally high.
the last Monthly Circular (dated the 16th March 189 reid issued by “Messrs.
Ide and Christie, of Mark Lane, Man ila Aloe Fibre is dismissed with a
few words,—“ nothing doing, 17s.” [per ewt.]. In f e same circular
Bombay Aloe Fibre is described as “dull at 8s. to 13s.” [per ewt.].

pi
5

LXIII—MEXICAN FIBRE OR ISTLE.
(Agave heteracantha, Zucc.)
[K. B., 1887, December, pp. 5-7.]

nder the name of Mexican fibre or Istle, a short and somewhat
harsh and stiff fibre comes into the London market, which is used in the
manufacture of cheap nail and scrubbing brushes, and for various
purposes where a sabento te for animal bristles is sera ssrs.
Ide and Christie raantion “that this fibre is pretty largely imported for
“ brush-making purposes, and its value in London rioih ‘October ri,
“is 267. per ton. The range of value of late years has been 221.
“per ton to 50/. per ton. The fibre is quite unique as a meier
“ substitute for animal bristles, and is used in the manufacture of cheap
“ brushes of all so
The origin of this tbe oo fibre or Istle has been involved ina good
deal of doubt, but we believe that we have been able to trace its origin

I i a at E APENA. i

203

by means of material collected many years ago, and now available at
this establishment. Some specimens of a stiff fibre and brushes in the.
Kew museums were received from Dr. Parry in 1879, and said to be
derived from Agave Lechuguilla. Dr. Parry wrote the phige
to Torr rA ’s Botany of the Mexican Boundary, which was published i

1858, and he states on page 11, speaking of the vegetation of cs
oer. formation, “ Upon the rocky ledges a small species of Agave

“ grows in abundance. The low sea which are pointen with sharp
= « spines, are very troublesome to the foot traveller; they are, however,

of some use to the Mexicans, who employ the eae. i hey

“contain in making om oe The plant is known to the people
“ of the scree as “Le cha.

According to To orrey, A Oe ibid y of Mexican Boundary Survey;
p. 213, it appears there is a distinct species of Agave of this name
[Agave Lechuguilla, ns and *“ the fibres of the leaves are used
“for maki oarse rope, bagging, &c.” This species, by Baker, in
Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol. VIL. (new series), p. 527, is placed under
esau Poselger il, Salmdy ck. Engelmann, on the other hand, looked

n Poselgerii and A. Lechuguilla as identical m r ipt
hater acantha, Zucc., an described them under that.name ome
look upon Agave Lechuguilla, Torrey, A. Poselyerii, rere
ea A. heter EE a Zucc., as synonymous names representing =
and the same plant; and of these Agave heteracantha, » ha

priority as regards date, being published nearly fifty. years ago.

It would appear, therefore; that Parry’s specimens of ore and
samples of brushes made from it were derived from Agave heteracantha,
Zucc., the local name of which is Lechuguilla. This name is, however,

eans restricted to this species. Sereno Watson (Proceedings of
the American Seoul y, Vol. XI., p. 16) mentions “ Lechuguilla” or
“ Lechigilla the native name of Agave guttata- and A. variegata.
These latter Be species belonging to quite another group, and as
different as possible from A. heteracantha. ee is very probable, there-
TE, that by name Lechuguilla, re Kerrato in the West Indies,

a wide stretch of usage in certain paris of Masis and the United
Pn and that it is applied indiscriminately to various species. of

at Kew a very large collection of living Agaves in shik
are represented most of the species gate concern
n7 the cou s of Messrs. Death and Ellwood, Engineers, Leicester,
have been enabled to extract fibre from the leaves of Aga
hes ‘acantha, eg, A. xylacantha, Salmdyck; A. horrida, Lemaire ;
A. Kerchovei, Lemaire; A. lo ophantha, ‘Bclifede : A. ss
Haworth; and A. multilineata, Baker. All these yield a c
somewhat rigid fibre, but the fibre of A. heter acantha, allowing for the
age of the plant, comes neare est to the commercial fibre known in 1 Londo n
-as Mexican fibre o
All these species, it may be mentioned, belong ee a distinct set of
Agaves, the leaves of which are charaterized by a continuous horny

n the top
“ distinct horny béardor. of the ane aiir as the tee
~
ntioned here hat Baker desc: as = heteracantha,

y be me
al ‘oO, in Gardener's Chronioley VoL VIL few paner p. 369, been proved
to “new s) proposed by him to d describe it “under the ihamie of
multilineata '

204

The species of a which yield Sisal hemp and fibres suitable for
rope making and weaving, are discussed fully in the previous pages
Such fibres are Daitari 3 feet, and often 5 and 6 feet in len
They are soft and pliable, not so stout as the Mexican fibre or Istle,

and would scarcely answer the same purpose. This latter is generally,
only about a foot or a foot and a half in length, and is stout and
ri

id.

There is little doubt, reiter that Mexican cra or Istle is derived
from a group of Agaves with short leaves, and from the material avail-
able at Kew, the nant ite is strongly in favour of Agave heteracantha,
Zucc., being the species i! concerned. Indeed the specimens con-
tributed by Dr. Parry to Kew in 1879, aS direct proof on this point.

ince tie: above penne arks were written we have been favoure

Dr. Newberry with a reprint of an article of “his in vibe Popular Science
Monthly for SL, eet entitled “Food and Fibre Plants of the
“ North Am r India At page 10 we find he identifies the
n bata de a ‘of aie idia with Agave ee and attention
is particularly drawn to the size of the leaves, about a foot to 18 inches
in length, T ay the very strong eeeactel of the fibre contained in
them. : rry’s observations are :—

“ Another jei known but scarcely less valuable plant belonging to
the same genus at heal ae Bo Bonbon ? Eas aati heteracantha)
of tong ua and the unding cou Of this, the leaves

a foot to 18 tiation. tr length, a ie me in a tuft like those of

‘le donee plant (Agave americana). Though separated with some
difficulty from the parenc ere bet in which they are enveloped, the
fibres that traverse the leaves are numerous and very strong, and
rest eee used by the Meias for the manufacture of ropes,
Sack

n the Kew museums there are specimens of Mexican fibre as fol-
lows :—Prepared Mexican or Istle fibre, from Mr. A. Rowbottom ; fibre
used by the Indians for making ropes and coarse sacking, from Dr. Parry,
1879; a piece of cordage and Mexican hair-brush, made from Mexican
fibre, contributed also by Dr. Parry ; and Mexican fibre or Istle as sold
in London (value 267. per ton, received from Messrs, Ide and Christie,
15th October 1887.

LXIV.—MEXICAN FIBRE OR ISTLE—(continued).
[K. B., 1890, pp. 220-224.]

The source of Mexican Fibre or ae is Fise in the last
article. The fibre is prepared from one or more species of Agave, but,
as already stated, it is probable saa the plani known ye Lechuguilla
(Agave heteracantha, Zuce., Agave Lec echuguilla, Torrey) yields the
best qualities of Mexican Fibre or ‘Tatle used in the United States and
in Europe.

We are indebted to Mr. W. S. Booth, Belle Vue House, aia
for the following further account of this fibre, prepared from his
observations while travelling in Mexico, a few months ago :—

Mexican Fibre or Istle.

classed in England not according to the plant from
which it is extracted, but in reference solely to the district from which

205

it is supposed to come. Thus the district of Jaumave is understood to
send long, clean, fine fibre, and gives its name to what is considered to
be the best quality; Tula, a shorter and coarser fibre ; ; and last tly,
Matamoras, a short and soft fibre, somewhat “ woolly ” and “ off colour”

(i.e. brownish). Each of these three qualities varies considerably

Until lately es has paya definitely known about the plants from
which this fibre is extracted. According to the Kew authorities the
fibre is yielded ea Agave heter acantha and closely allied species.

he fibre known in Eng as Jaumave is purea pip aot ae
the Lechuguilla (Agave we acantha). sers kno as Tul
either from the Lechuguilla or the Palma loca (gave sirain), the
inferior re coming from the latter eri That known as Mata-
moras fib y be either from the Palma loca or from various forms of
the Espadillo, or again from T of Yucca, known to the natives as
palma baréta or alma real. Thes e palmas and espadillos are often
picked and decorticated indiscriminately and mixed as they come to

nd.

The various plants from which Istle is extracted are found at present
chiefly on the plains and rugged mountain slopes of the States of
Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi. The central
towns for the trade in the several States are : Coahuila, Saltillo ; Nuevo
Leon, Monterey ; Tamaulipas, Janmave, Tula, Tampico. and forme erly
Matamoras for San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi.

trade i is carried on in these States owing to the exporting con-
qéntences, but the plants exist all over the Republic. San

oes by far the largest business in fibre, exporting by sea from Tampico,
and sido from the different points on the railroad en route to the United
States. The heights at which these plants s grow, lie approximately
within the tierras templadas a and the lower regions ‘of the terras frias;
the former comprising “all the higher terraces and the central plateaux
“ themselves between about 3,000 and 8,000 e with a mean tempera-
“ ture of from 62° to 70° Fahr., and oscillating between such moderate

“ extremes as 50° and eee 3") vee latter “ all the highlands from about
“ 8,000 feet and upward

The soil of the Koanta slopes and wide plains i aaa - plants are
found, is of the barest description, hardly covering in many cases, on
the hillsides, the rocks beneath. Generally speaking it oy a detritus of
hard whitish limestone, and the traveller’s smarting eyes will soon force
on his notice the fact that ie fine dust of Lorne of the broad pan-shaped

grass. O
‘slopes of naked stones and boulders, the same plants are a oy in :
more stunted and dwarfed condition, and yielding a shorter and coa
fibre. Nearly all the accessible country is ee by Hacendados, mos
of whom live in the towns, leaving their estates in the hands of an
agent. With the erage ‘of a sage pose ive Indian tribes who live in

-the more inaccessible the untains, the rural population is :

ibl of
composed of uae: Sudinns anal "half breeds, both ca

lled peons.

206

These build round the hacienda their villages of mud, sticks and palm-
leaf thatch hovels fenced in with cactus and maquey hedges and mud
walls, and are quiet and docile, but lacking utterly any spark of intelli-

nt ambition. The hands who are not regularly ‘employed on the work

quantity is gathered naturally at the end of the year when the harvest
is taken in. The central mass of heart leaves (cogol/ho) in the plant-is
alone gathered, leaving the outside leaves (penea), or say about 70 per
cent. to waste, as the flesh of these outer leaves is found to be too hard
to work. Although a fresh crop of leaves springs up from the terminal
bud which was previously protected, this process prevents the plant
from flowering, thereby causing its decrease, as it dies after about four
years of this treatment. Having got his load of cogolhos, the peon makes
his way back to the hacienda, where he sets about extracting the fibre,
for ag when finished and dried he gets s from 25 to 50 cents* per

ba (25 pounds) either in money, or as is almost universal, in credit
at the ranch store. The price he receives depends largely on the
distance from which the cogolhos have been brought. Under the rude

peon seen preparing the fibre. With a bundle of raw Lechu-
guilla cogiilbiog at his left, the man sits with his legs stretched out on
either side of a wooden peg, about 8 inches high and 3 inches in
diameter, driven firmly into the ground with a slant to the left. Fixed
to this is another piece of wood about 3 — square, about an inch
above and parallel with the ground. About half an inch above this
table the peg ang a a werk in es to receive me point of the ¢tallador,
a blunt-edged ironscraper in a wooden handle which the man takes in
se right hand. The simple SRA ESE used are shown in the wood-cut

Tearing a cogolho to pieces, taking a leaf and dexterously stripping
the thorny margin oe its sides, he places a corn-c ca sph n the hollow of

(whic h the operator holds as if it were a spade handle), and the process
hi repeated for the other end (the base) of the leaf. When the pile of

causes some of the pulp to remain on the fibre and give it a green tinge

* Mex. dollar worth 38}d.

207

owing to.lack of pressure ; nog mc is leaving it too long in the sun or
air, which gives it a brownis

When a Lechuguilla has beii once pulled it is called atean imar
capona, a all succeeding growths of heart leaves will have withered

eave
seen on Istle fibre in this country. After each pulling, a P fibre of
succeeding leaves naturally becomes more stunted and co

he Haciendados generally bale the fibre in rough Tatle sacking in
200 Ib. bales, and when sufficient —_— is on hand it is sent “the
nearest central town or railroad depô t by trains of ox teams tiga carry

quently on the road ie rr to 20 days, slowing for areata
and Jaumave are about this distance from Tampico, San Luis Potosi, or

mountain passes. In the valleys a team can be seen at a great

distance by the slohd: ne white dust rising lazily around it. This dust

so fine and light that it hides the mules from the occupants of a

Ds running ‘before the wind. The mountain tracks are of the

roughest description. They are full of aap and deep hollows n

out by the mountain torrents, an roken wagons are as common a
irli a aa

e from plants gathered in the mountains is, as a rule, coarser
and kde than that of those gathered in the valleys. The greater
average length of the Jaumave istle is possibly accounted for by the
lower altitude and greater fertility of the district. The — of fibre
obtained from the Lechi aguillas and Palmas.-is about 5 per cent. of the

fine matting. The cogolhos of the palma loca, palma baréta, and palma
real go through exactly the same process as the Lechuguilla, with the
exception that, having much harder flesh, they have to be borled before
the fibre can be drawn. This boiling or steaming, which goes on until
the leaves are completely soft, turns the fibre a brownish colour, and at
the same time makes it ae. soft by dissolving the stiffening gum in the
flesh. Many men h ented seat which were to have revo-
lutionised this hand eee but all, up till now, have failed—not in
the quality of the fibre produced, ee ‘the ome have been ae ood i P
respect—but in the cost of working. In reeless deserts of Mexi
there is no fuel and no water. Machines bike hitherto kaare bólk;
Water, especially, for washing the fibre—an operation that is not required

in the hand process. Also with the best machine there is more effort

and system required, sr = nothing of the ormo of an intelligent
mechanic. A fortune is no doubt awaiting the 1 who can bri ing a
machine to bear suioaeatalle on the millions of seeds "of closely growing
agaves and yuccas of Mexico, whose fibres, besides their use in brush-

making, mats, and sacking, are available also for paper when properly
treated. Paper is already made from the maquey fibre in works outside
Saltillo (Coahuila). The stems of the palmas, Soe are a spongy mass
of fibre ready for oae and pulpi

The bulk of the fibre aohia from Mexico now goes to the United
States, where it is nsed for brush-making and for twine for reapers and
binders. A failure in the harvest in America will, therefore have an
appreciable effect on its price. England and Germany :

208

quantities for pase S but our imports come give saaniga hye
York. Such things as trade statistics are difficult to obtain in Mex

The only figures I have are unreliable. ere are no peel deilan
but as a rule it costs about $20 (Mexican) for every shipment crossing
the borders. This is made up of fees to Customs authorities on both

; aking to i
through. There is a tax of 4 per cent. on all transactions in the
Republic, but many large firms contract themselves out of this tax, which
is called Renta Interior, and is payable by the buyers. The present (1890)
price of the finest Lechuguilla fibre (Jaumave) is a 30/. to 35%. per
ton ; that of shorter and coarser sty Ss illa (Tula), 287. to 287. 10s. ;
and of inferior si petat and P as ete ‘about 22/. per ton.

Before closing I may perhaps that the Agave and Yucca fibre
industry is at present sae its infancy. If intelligently followed it might
become a very prosperous enterprise in man of our tropical possessions

0 i

aae yee of the development of the fibre industry in the
show what can be done by intelligent and systematic
action,
(Signed) W. S. BOOTH.

LXV.—MAURITIUS HEMP.
(Furcraea gigantea, Vent.)
[K. B., 1887, March, pp. 8-10.]

hemp industry was started at the Mauritius to utilize the large
number of plants of Furcraea gigantea, Vent., which had spontaneously

established themselves on low-lying lands near the sea coast 1s 18
oldest and best known species of Furcraea, and is no
universally spread throughout tropical America, and in India,

eylon, Mauritius, and St. Helena. The trunk below the rosette of
leaves reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet. The leaves are 4 to 7 feet long,
4to6 Fara ape at the middle, unarmed, bright green watt channelled
down the e scape or terminal flowering stem reaches a height
of 22 to 30 "Feat Like all the other Furcraeas this species produces

cultivation in England, the last time at n: being the autumn of 1874.

A full account, with g Le cy of the various species of Furcraea is
given by Mr. J. G. Baker in Garden se” Chvoni cle (1879, pp. 623, e
Furcraea gigantea is iruei: in the B Botanical Magazine, t. 2250 : Wight
Ic., tab. 2025 : Decandolle, Plantes Grasses, t. 126.

Although Furcraea gigantea, known locally as Aloés vert, is the chief

bre plant in Mauritius, there is evidence that Furcraea cubensis is also
aes there, as well as species of Agaves such as A. americana and
others.

Bojer (Hortus Mauritianus, p .393) Mentions aren apes vert (Furcraea
gigantea) as common in 1837, and states “ ontagne
“Langue dans les a v vides et les va ry ao habitations dans

209

“ tous les quartiers d’fle.” He does not mention pablo cubensis a

p Furcraea gigantea is supposed to have been Sia from South

; America to Mauritius about 1790. It has evidently found a congenial
home there, for Sitko any effort on the part of man it has covered
waste lands ‘and abandoned sugar estates to such an extent as to lay the
foundation of a considerable fibre industry. The leaves are often 8 feet
i > to 7 ine in br

and soon acts upon wrought iron ; it is said to produce cv panara
cast iron, while it is practically inoperative on brass and ¢
The p lant grows in all soils and up to an elevation of 1 "800 feet above
y level of the sea. It has, however, more generally disseminated itself
n the lowlands near so Pr and ona few of the abandoned sugar

eaten that have become too dry for cane cultiv
A fibre industry was saried at os Se apr 12 years ago, when
‘ the wet or retting ports s tried cut leaves were first "passed
3 through the rollers of a sugar mill Ea eee in copie for some days.

The fibre was then washed and beaten out by hand in running water.

This process was soon found unsuitable, as the fibre was discoloured and

rendered weak; consequently it obtained comparatively low prices.

Attention was then directed to extraction by means of a gratteuse or
hi

scntching machine. Many machines been tried, and
apparently the purely mechanical difficulties connected with cleaning
the fibre have been for the most part overcome. e amount of fibre

obtained from leaves of the 4 lobs vert was at the rate ‘of 3 per cent. by
weight of green leaves. The yield of fibre was at the rate of about 1}
tons per acre. A set of six machines, driven by a steam engine of 5 horse-
power (nominal), cleaned 1,155 pounds of fibre per day, which is at thé
rate of 197. pounds for each machine per day.

At one tim oat there were eight fibre or hemp companies formed, with a
total lates of Rs. 1,182,500. The total quantity of fibre exported in
1872 was 214 tons, of the value of 4,934/., which would be at the rate of
211, LBs. tes ton. In 1880 it had increased to 662 tons, which sold in
— at 287. to 32/. per ton. Some samples in 1882 sold as high as

to Since that time low prices have ruled, and this added to

the fact that the cost of production was considerably per tended

to discourage the industry. It is evident the industry was t started

to wo rk off ane leaves of self-grown plants which were ready at hand in
n

rendered the enterprise, for a period at least, unremunerative. , In the
returns of 1885 we find that Mauritius pomp imported to this country
amounted to 255 tons, of the value of 39/. per ton. In Messrs. Ide and
Christie’s monthly circular, Dec. 1886, Mansion “hemp is quoted “in

good demand ” at 23/. per ton.
The following erinu nka from Mr. Horne’s Report on the Agri-

stances under oheh a fibre industry was as started and the causes whi
have operated to produce the present- Seprono which in the interest
of the island it is hoped will be only of a temporary ¢ character :—

: “The industry of extracting fibres from the leaves of the aloés vert is
“by no t exhausted. There is ground for believing that it

8895 o

210

“* yet a future in Mauritius. aos fall in the price of this fibre in the
“ European markets broke several local companies that were formed
“ for the working of the aloe nen There was far too much money
ae in them to pay.”
* *

“ On many of the estates self-sown plants a in great numbers.

“ It was from the leaves of these that the companies made money and
“ paid large dividends when the price of the fibre wus good. The
“ plants nee grown ee on ee land, and their presence on it had

“ not cost a cent. In such cases results materially differ from those of
“ reaping the aie ra m F laid out plantations with low prices for
“ the produce. oil and climate of the localities eie to favour

“ the ih of che: Siei in such a degree that little expense need be
“ incurred in introducing it to new grounds. The plant produces
“plantlets in great abundance in this coiony. These plantlets grow
“ viviparously on the parent plant, and sme to it till they have
“ developed into almost perfectly formed plant When the young
K “ plantle ets drop from their parent they are ey fitted to stand by
ssp dage esing the want of roots they are perfect. The
oots are emitted as soon as the plantlets come in contact with the

F fend soil, even when they are lying on the surface of the ground.

ems, f i nt i

“and the facilities which it naturally affords for propagation and
“ increase.’

At St. Helena Furcraea A mica has been for some time under
cultivation as an introduced plant. Experiments on a small scale have
aa carried on, and samples of fibre have appeared in the English

arket. (Report by Mr. D. Morris, F.L.S., on the Resources of the
Tatiana of St. Helena, Colonial Office, African No. 275, 1884.)
i aa, Collyer and Co. reported in 1883 on fibre from St. Helena as
ollows :—

“Aloe fibre Sirah poser gigantea) St. Helena. Good lene ae
“strength, rather dull colour, generally well cleaned but with
“ runners untouched, snd barky. Value 28/. to 302. per ton. This
“sample is very differen t in appearance from the Furcraea gigantea
of ery lear owing probably to differences of both growth and treat-

“&“ men

SILK GRASS (Furcraea cubensis, Haw.).

While on the subject of fibre from Furcraea gigantea, it may not be
inappropriate to say a few words as rea the merits of another species,
reraea cubensis. This, as alread nted out, is possibly one of the
plants under the name of Cajun from viii some of the Yucatan fibre
is obtained

It differs from F. gigantea in that it has no distinct trunk, or : very
short one, below the rosette of leaves. The latter are 3 to 5 ft. long,
about 5 inches broad at the middle, cere green, rigid in texture, and
armed with regular, hooked, brown

It is a native of tropi cal Ameri ica as cultivated in most PEAP
countries. A anay of this plant—F. cubensis, var. inermis—is figured
and described in Bo 3.

In addition to dow: ers it produces bulbils on the flowering i, S from
which the plant is readily increased. The plant is common in Jamai
and it is said that there “ woal be no difficulty i in Meere a eae there a

area under cultivation.” The fibre is white, strong, and bright

t. 65

211

looking. It yields at the rate of 2°05 to 3:15 per cent. by weight of
green leaf. From experiments carried on at ria under a committee
appointed by Government, it was found that leaves of Furcraea cubensis
weighing 3665 pounds yielde d 28 pounds of penis ras ders when
perfectly dry weighed 74 pounds. This was at the rate o 5 per
cent. by weight of green leaf. In the ht of the Donia aes this
plant and its fibre are described as follows :—
“ Silk grass (Furcraea cubensis). Leaves 5 to 6 feet ‘ong, generally
“armed with strong prickles, but sometimes unarmed or with few
s. Common in Jamaica, and might be largely propisi at
“once. Value of fibre—(a) 287. pier quality, = moig be eeni
“ (b) fairly oe fair colour, value ab 281. ton; (c) superior
“to Sisal, and worth Ril. per ton. A ne eit ak quite sufficiently

toh
lt may be mentioned here that many Agaves yield fibre, but the fibre
may, as in the case of the Jamaica Keratto, prove unsuitable for indus-
trial purposes. The Brokers’ Report on Keratto fibre was—“ little
5 mip not an even (but a curly) fibre: towy : value 12/. to 14.
“per ton

LXVI.—MAURITIUS HEMP MACHINES.
[K. B., 1890, pp. 98-104.]

The subject of a hemp has been already discussed. Con-
siderable interest has been taken in India and the Colonies in the
production of fibres mer iret ae rope and twine making, for which of late
years there has been a considerable demand, In connexion with this
interest numerous inquiries have been addressed to Kew papeling the
best machines for cleaning the leaves aT — of plants yielding such
fibres. The plants in most cases hav n various species of Agave,
Furer ‘aea, Sansevieria, Karatas, Br analia ia, abd other monocotyledonous
plants whose fibre bundles yield the particular kind of fibre in demand.

It is well known ai certain fibre machines, more or less effective,
are in use in Yucatan n the laige z = aep Pe by one or

known as grein or io ioe whiek have been generally in use in pe
island for many years, are manufactured in the Colony. These
exclusively engaged w extracting fibre from the leaves of the Aloës ae
or feetid Aloe (Furcraea gigantea). The loaves of this grg are very
similar in size and character to those of Agav e rigida, va . sisalana,
lately received at Kew from the Bahamas. Pie is little donb that
the grattes or fibre machines as now used in Mauritius, or with some
slight modifications, could also be used in the treatment of Agave leaves.
n any case it was very desirable to obtain exact particulars of the con-
struction and capabilities of the Mauritius machines. They appear, so
, to meet the requirements of the Mauritius planters, and, more-
over, they have been adopted after careful trial with other machines
which have been ultimately enamine The particulars desired in
to the machines in use have now been furnished in an exhaustive
manner by the Government of ramet and they are published in the
8895 02

212

Kew Bulletin with the view of placing the ae within reach of
a large class of people interested in the subje

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.
SIR, Royal pe rer Kev
November 6 1889.

I aM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform yas that the high
prices now ruling for white rope fibres have stimulated inquiries ‘in
regard to their wiag and Sarea and numerous applications have
been made to Kew on the subject.

As you are Eite, a soliaidetatile industry has arisen in Mauritius
Hats the last six or seven years in extracting fibre from the leaves of
the és vert (Furcraea tan This fibr re is known in commerce
as Mauritius hemp, and it is regularly quoted in London prices
current.

. The success of the industry in Mauritius indicates that a tolerably
shidebantut machine has been found capable of preparing the fibre on a
commercial seale. prieg as regards the nature and working of
ae a machine is just now a matter of orcas ae interes

: if S

for a comparison of the results obtained in differ ent miter a could be
supplied in the form of replies to the ications given mya? enclosed
schedule,

am
(Signed) D. MORRIS:
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B.

[Enclosure.]

MACHINES IN USE at MAURITIUS for EXTRACTING FIBRES from LEAVES
of Furcraea gigantea

L foe and description of machine ae address of maker) ?

2. Weight and cost (not including power) ?
_ How g in use ?

4. Whether worked by hand, horse, or steam pow:

5. If by steam, ere is the registered aa aoao pene to drive
one machi

. No. of men gra to feed and remove fibre (not including
carriers or other panni employed in bringing in leaves or in
drying the fibre

7. Average out-turn i wet fibre for each machine per hour ?

8. Arengo, out-turn of dry fibre for each maehine per day of —

urs ?

J. Average cost in labour, fuel, &c., in cleaning a ton of dry fibre ?
10. Please add any other, information respecting the character and
working of the machine not included in the above inquiries.

Sir C. C. LEES to LORD KNUTSFORD.
Government House, Mauritius,
MY rerio February 2%), 1890
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a
ppor by the Acting Sarveyor-General, Mr. Vandermeersch, forward-
g replies to the questions annexed to Mr. Morris’ letter of the 6th

Splice

233

November 1889, which was enclosed in your Despatch No. 369 of the
8th November as well as four other documents pomer iets © the extraction
of fibre, and the machines now employed in the pee sre

[ Enclosure. }
REPORT = ACTING SURVEYOR-GENERAL, No. A/66, T 17, 1890.

I HAVE delayed r npon upon this subject because I had to
procure reliable EE en I now forward formal replies to the

st. A very detailed s Sphere memorandum on the subject
kindly supplied at my request by Mr. Regis de Chazal, C.E.
_ (Engineer to the Forges et Fonderies de Baers to which I
have appended some supplemental notes by myself.
2nd. A plan of an installation for two “grattes”’ and a tracing (full
eens = the “servante” to accompany Mr. de Chazal’s
%*

ndum.

3rd. ee NATER on Aloe fibre by Mr. Evenor de Chaza
4th. A statement of the actual siine obtained at St. potent Hemp

Factory during 60 days’ work

(Signed) A. VANDERMEERSCH

Acting Saree 1

February 17, 1890.
{Enclosure No. 2.]

Answers to queries respecting machines in use at Mauritius for
biteiting fibres from leaves of Furcraea gigantea.
The machine in general use in this Colony is a drum of 2 feet in i
diameter by 1 foot in width, upon which are bolted blades in
i L 1 ;

-ine el, and ich revolves eed, the
blades passing close to a guide in brass (“servante”). T
machine is called “ gratte ’) scraper. It is manufactured in

per.
the Colony by all aaoi shops, but chiefiy by the “ Forges
and Fonderies de Maur
2. The weight of the dim. is about 4 ewt., the cost, including the
driving pulley and bolts (exclusive of framework, masonry, and
setting), is about Rs. 250 per “ gratte.”
3. Fe + levies has been in general use in Mauritius for the last six

4. The atachine] is worked by steam or by water power.

ð. The registered horse-power to drive one gratte is 3 h

6. One gratte is served by two men who siand on each side of the
pai and who work alternately. One of them must be left-

d arrier will bring
yard to the gratte, and aiiother man will suffice to remove the
wet fibre produced by two grattes and to carry this npe to the
weighing machine and thence to the cleaning pits. -

* Not reproduced.

214

7. The out-turn of wet fibre for each machine per hour is, on an
average, 424 kilog., an is taking eight hours’ work per day,
hich is as muc the men can “do, the work being very

fatiguing.

8. The out-turn per day of eight hours is per machine (gratte)
340 kil. wet supplying on an average 97 kil. of dry fibre (or
284% of the wet fibre).

9, The average cost in labour, fuel, &c., in cleaning a ton of
dry a, Jacon, ani transporting to s 1 ot Rs.
shipme 150

If to he pote we add: other charges, viz., sollecting
leaves, carting, sso neiaa] interest on ig
&c., say abou t 75

The total — p e one sa of sions a ao

shipment is Ra. 225
(Signed) A. VANDERMEERSCH,
February 17, 1890. Acting Surveyor-General.

SUMMARY OF A NOTE ON THE FIBRE MACHINES GENERALLY IN USE
AT MAURITIUS FOR CLEANING ALOE FIBRE, BY M. REGIS DE CHAZAL.

1. Description of Machine.

The machine a aia : use in Mauritius for extracting fibre from
the leaves of the green Aloe (Furcraea gi ami is known under the
name of gratte. This aii consists of a drum about 2 feet in
diameter and 1 foot wide. On the circumference of this are bolted

2-inch L-shaped blades parallel to the axis. These blades are generally

of iron, but steel is preferred. They are firmly fixed to the drum by

means of bolts and nuts. The drum Te mounted upon an axle and made

to Sgi with n rapidity close to and against the front or edge ofa
e

an
The most dificult task in connection with working the gratte is the
exact adjustment of this feed table. It is most necessary that the blades
on the drum and the edge of the feed table are so adjusted that they
work ey be evenly and at the same time bring every fibre in the
leaf in contact with the beaters. The proper adjustment of the feed
table in ae to the beaters is stated to be the secret of the success of
the gratte as a fibre machine. This adjustment hoai be performed
with the utmost care before the machine is started. When once
adjusted it is important to maintain the feed table in its proper position
ond prevent any displacement during the ins of working.
e drum should be turned at an average rate of 700 revolutions per
minute ; while a higher rate of speed may be maintained without injury,

it is found not desirable under any circumstances to fall below 620
revolutions per minute. The best and most per work is that
done "a 700 revolutions per minute.

Sais ce eile

215

Method of Working.

The Aloe leaf is presented tip first along the feed table, and is drawn
down between the latter and the drum. It is thoroughly beaten by the
grattes to about three-fourths of its length. By these yarn the pulp
is removed and the fibre is left. The leaf is then withdrawn and the
other end presented to the beaters until the whole is clean ae

Two usually work at each machine. They stand one on each
side of the feed table and work alternately. It is desirable for rapid
work that one of the men should be left-handed. Each man in turn

ithdraw.

of being ee To avoid accidents the feed table is now provided
with a wooden guard. This guard peton the hands of the work-
people from tien caught by the bea

Mounting the Machines.

The machines are generally mounted in pairs, both working on the
same axle, and driven by steam or water power. e driving wheel,
fixed midway on the axle between the two machines, should have a

inimum diameter of 18 inches, with a strap 6 inches wide. A single
adjustment of the feed table should last from 8 to 15 days. At the
end of that time it is generally found necessary to readjust the parts to
ensure good results.

Si framework of the machine is securely attached to substantial

asonry work by large bolts about 5 feet long. The machines must

w thus firmly secured or the vibration during the process of working

would sears cause them to become detached. The arrangement of the

machines in pairs on the same axle could be extended in the same line

indefinitely, provided the necessary distance is preserved between the

centre of each machine. One of the largest fibre factories in Manvitiwa
contains 12 machines, that is, six pairs arranged as already described.

Out-turn e Fibre.

As already stated, each machine is served by two men standing o
each side of the feed table. One dirti supplies them with fresh rears
= another is engaged in receiving and removing the wet fibre.
The task of a man, which can be easily accomplished in six to eight
Sante, is 250 Ibs. (or 125 kilos) of fo fibre. The wage paid for
m

amount, however, is quite exceptio
The proportion of dry fibre to the wet fibre as it leaves the machine
i to é r

ent.
The yield of dry fibre in relation to the weight of gon leaves varies
according to the age of leaves and the characteristics of the ones
The riper the leaves the cape the yield of fibre; a wet season
ducing leaves charged with moisture will also affect the result. “to
produce a ton of d dry fibre ready for shipment requires
150,000 leaves, varying according to the size and age of the leaves id
character of the season. The cutting of the leaves costs from 50 cents
one rupee the 100 bundles of 25 leaves each. The higher price is
paid when labour is scarce, or when the ground is rough and difficult

216

to traverse. The baling of the dry fibre costs from 40 to 50 cents
the bale of 150 kilos. It may be assumed that a set of 10 to 12 fibre
machines properly installed and attended by men accustomed to the
work will turn out on an average about 1,200 kilos (2,645 Ibs. avoir.)
of dry fibre oo E.

Difficulty is sometimes experienced in chains g pairs of right- ee
and left-handed -> for ue machine. eee anded men are, as
be expected, in exc As already show if is pees for aiey e
SREDE to have a a T e E and t ada man to attend to each
machin:

Treatment of the Fibre.

When the fibre first leaves the scraping machine it is covered with
mucilage possessing corrosive properties which dries o n exposure to the
air. The Soria ae — rsa if left on the fibre, is to turn it
a yellow, and so ven a reddish colour. To prepare the
fibre with a bright eae E the best plan is to place it,
as soon as it leaves the “og ine (or as soon as it has been weighed, to
check the amount produced by each man), in warm water of a tempera-
ture of 60° to 80° Cent. “(140° to 176° Fah.), and leave it there for about
two hours. It meee then be washed in two waters, and finally exposed
to the sun to be

treatment Secuintly employed consists in washing the fibre in cold

water only. In the first washing soap is used at the rate of 2 to 3 per

cent. of the wet fibre. After being thoroughly praen with soap the

fibre is passed thro ma pure water until all the soap has disappeared,
and By the

then exposed to the s dried. By these means a beautifully white
fibre is obtained. When thoroughly dried the fibre is afterwards scutched,
to get rid of pith and dust. This process is usu ally i poke rmed by a

repeated blows of = beaters, it is cleaned of all dust and impurities.

_ It may be mentioned that, owing to the corrosive nature of the juice

of the Aloe leaves, ‘the wo rkpeople are compelled to wear strong leather

gloves. The gloves are fastened to the wrist by leather bands. As

the gloves are provided by the proprietor, and they wear out very quickly,

md constitute quite an appreciable item in the cost of working a fibre
ory.

(Signed) REGIS DE CHAZAL.

ADDENDA.

The upper half of the gratte is covered with-a semicircular wooden
cover, to prevent the “pulpe” from being splashed about the place ;
this “ pulpe,” which is othe ter falls on an inclined plane standing
about 1 foot below the gratte, and upon which s slides into troughs,
"here isa cor it is gradually removed — spread to

made of the residue (“ pulpe ”), as it was found to burn the planta-
tions when used as manure. Of late, however, it has been extensively

217

employed by mixing it with other manure, and it has given good results
in the cane fields.
(Signed) A. VANDERMEERSC
February 17, 1890. Acting Surveyor-General.

STATEMENT of WORK executed at ST. ANTOINE HEMP FACTORY
in District of RIVER DU REMPART, MAURITIUS.

Year 1889.
February - - - 15 days’ work with 9 grattes
March - - - 18 a DA Avie
May - - - - 20 i H eea
June - es a ai a ” H ”
60 days.

Equivalent to 630 days’ work of one gratte.

The produce has been 213,371 kilos. of wet fibre, which have given—

401 bales of dy ne lst quali

= e fibre, ‘edie quality.

407 bales, erd 61,050 kilos.
Mean day’s work=10,175 kilos
Proportion of dry fibre to wet ‘bees ==28'61 A
A true copy of note supplied by Manager.

(Signed) A. VANDERMEERSCH

February 17, 1890. Acting Surveyor-General.

LXVIIL—AGAVES AND ARBORESCENT LILIACEZ ON
THE RIVIER

[K B., 1892, p. 1-10.]

At the close of November 1891, Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., kape of
the herbarium and library, paid a short visit to the e garden: of the
Riviera for the purpose of studying the plants of Agave aaa allied
genera, and the plants of such Arborescent Liliacee as had been
os ocoseetalle EEEE into cultivation in that part of the world.
= The following notes, prepared by Mr. Baker, deal with the plants of a
= few groups only.

The principal object of a visit which I made in November-December
1891, at the instigation of the Director, to the gardens of the Riviera,
was to see the Agavew and arborescent Liliaceze growing there in quanti-
ties in the open air. I have for some time devoted special attention
to these two groups ‘of plants, and have written papers upon them in
which I have endeavoured to work out and characterise the species and
varieties. In these large plants very little help can be o ed from

ee pee PR Ok ere ne gle ee m-
fa PENS fin NEM RON ei Le eich ore es

herbarium materials, and the species have been mostly described and
their =e of vatiation studied from a small number of specimens

grown in the conservatories of England, France, Germany, and Belgium.
it. is quite obvious that the range of specific variation is often far

a cai iiis

218

greater than was supposed when they were first named and characterised,

im f ot

to these plants, so that it has often been very difficult for cultivators
to obtain names for their specimens. I also wished to get any further
light I could bate the differences in the climatic requirements of the
s kindly invited by Mr. Thomas Hanbury, F.L.S., of

the Palazzo rooga La Mortola, sr has the largest collection of these
plants on the Riviera to pay him a visit. I stayed at his house more
na eek, and had therefore full opportunity of studying all the
forms Sabet in his collection in a leisurely manner; and he kindly
also took me to a ae of other gardens at Mentone, Monte Carlo,
Bordighera, and San Rem I also went with him to Genoa to see the
magnificent botanical institute which he has recently founded there,
and had the opportunity of going = ue ofessor Penzig through the
Genoa botanic garden. I worked a day making notes upon the
collection in the Jardin # Acptishigtation at Hyeres, which, next to
that of Mr. Hanbury, contains the largest series of forms on the Riviera.

w wW

adapted to the soi] and climate of the Riviera, with a summary of the
notes which I made upon any points about their characters and develop-
ment which are not already known and placed on reco ord. Besides
studying the plants, I took note of all the names I saw, and these names

collection, but it is needless, in the present paper, to enter into full
details on this part of the labia, For the e e and classi-
fication of the Agaveæ I follow my “ Handbook of the Amar 'yllideæ,”
published in 1888, and for the Aloineæ and Yuccoidew, my paper in

the 18th volume of the “ J ournal of Linnean Society,” published in

Order AMARYLLIDEÆ.

Å. pers Salmdyck. Grown Se ei all along the Riviera,
from Hyères to Genoa, in a great variety of forms, flowering freely. It
does sa difer. materially from the plant of English conservatories. It
is quite clear that A. filamentosa, Salmdyck, is a mere form of the
same species,

A. schidigera, Lemaire. La Mortola. This is just the plant of English
ayong s. It is very doubtful whether this is more than a variety
o

Group MARGINATÆ.

A. apee Schiede. Seen in Masson boston both the type and
A; nest rulescens, Salmdyck, under a grea ety of nam es, but not in
flow is A ite mas “ * stenophylla” i is as the plant described
idar that na Jacobi, but a form of this species. I do not think

by
lophantha is really distinct tet from A. univittata, Haworth,
which has long green leaves, with a pale band down the middle.
A, .xylonacantha, Salmdyck. The true plant is grown at La Mortola,
not differing materially from that of English conservatories ; but I saw
a great many others so called, which were wrongly de termined.

219

A. Kerchovei, Lemaire. Grown sparingly both at La Mortola and
Hyères, at the latter garden as “ A. Beauecarnei, Lemaire,” a ipokee:
ma sgl from the piant of English conservatories. A ve rious
plant grown at La Mortola, under the name of “ A. Ville æ, Pirotti,” is is,
I hink. a a ee dwarf, spineless form of this species, ` identical with w
has been called in England “ A. Kerchovei inermis.’

; ee beri, Meee: Seen at La Mortola, not differing mate-
rially from the plant of English conservatories. ed.

4. Gheisbreghtii, Lemaire. Seen at La A not differing materially
from the plant of the — perce

A. Hanburii, Baker, n. sp. An a aecee allied to A. Gheishreghtii,
seen in the Mortola collection whee the name of heteracantha.,
It has a sessile rosette, 8-9 inches in diameter, oblon ng rigid very
glaucous leaves 4-5 inches long, pi inches in diameter at es: parce! Dany
a very concave face, a pungent brow n-black end-spin
tinuous brown border, and close sprati ioiii ‘deltoid "teeth,
¢ inch a Flowers not seen.

A, a, Lemaire. Seen at La Mortola, not differing materially
from the pins of English ett nella

Group SUBMARGINAT.
3 SS a> Engelm. Seen only in an undeveloped state at La
Lor
"i howi Engelm. Seen only in an undeveloped state at may
lanata, Lemaire. A most striking species, whic w all
along the Riviera, from Hye éres to Genoa, reaching a much valley state
of develo sare than we ara get in England. Leaves 30-40 in an
acaulescent rosette, bist rigid oblon ng, very glaucous, reaching a length
of 4-5 feet, and a breadth of 4-6 inches at the middle ; base very convex,
1} inches thick ; end-spine very large and pungent, decurrent along
the pregit a third or half way down ; teeth distant, deltoid- cuspidate,
dark brown, }—} inch lon It flowers freely at La Mortola an
edga ea a notes ae 10 or 12 feet long. A. ghee Todaro
Hort. Bot. Pan II. t. 25, is probably the same speci
“Hookeri 6 pa A fine e plant from Marien without a name,
which had just flowered at Hyères, I referred here. It had 30-40 very
thick, np, bright green, oblong leaves, 3—4 feet long, 6-8 inches broad,
at the middle, a decurrent large pungent end-spine, very broad deltoid-
id bole teeth, and a stout ae oA sa long, Moe large crowded

Fr ranzosini, Hort. Hanbury. -This, shik is one rat the most
striking rani in Mr. Hanbury’s garden, was one of the things which
was desirous to see, and I find that it is ‘an undescribed species of this
affinity, which I have never seen in any English carlooson. _ it has an

texture, with a very pungen -spine decurrent for about half a foot,
and distant dull brown- black dettotd-enspiate hooked or straight teeth,
4S inch long. It was not in flower at the time of my visit, Pen its

huge FEuagave panicle was dias a year ago, with a stout

feet long, and was ea a in a paper by Philip Sowell i in
Gard. Chron. 1889, Vol. II. p. 639. Mr. Hanbury tells me it was
introduced to La Mortola eS 187 3 and probably named in honour of
Francesco Franzosini, of the Villa Franzosini and a rich.

220

garden at Intra on the ae Meredith which was rented for some years
by the late Sir G. Macle

[NOTE oren, 1894 oo Franzosini flowered again in the autumn of 1892,
and it was oie described and figured in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1892, vol. ii.,
p. 177, fg. 3

A. atrovirens Karw. Next to americanaand rigida, this is the most

abund ave of the Riviera gardens, attaining a much greater
RTE: than it ever reaches at home. It may be ‘recognised through
all its wide range of variation ts its large oblong-spat thulate dull green
leaves, large decurrent end-spine, large distant deltoid-cuspidate mar-
ginal teeth, stout saor with crowded ascending imbricating lanceo-

late bract-leaves, the lower a foot or a foot pee a half one, and very stout

comparatively short pa ae branches. I saw it in flower at Hyères, La
- Mortola, and San Remo. The leaves odah ¢ a Lanse of six or eight feet,
and a breadth of 15-16 inches. On the Riviera it is usually called A.
salmiana, but I believe that quite a ee plants named or maintained
as species by Jacobi must range here as forms.

Group AMERICANA.

A. NRUN, Jacobi. This I saw at Hyères just coming into
ffer

flower, not differing very materially from the plant of English con-
servatories
A. feroz; K. Koch. This seas ers a ad kis air at La
ortola, is developed much bet een at home.
It Taa slightly glaucous honest ae 3 fat ie 9-10 inches
broad at the middle, a large pungent non-decurrent end-spine, and ve

large irregular daltpld-casnidate rated teeth, with the edge hollowed
out Eon them. I did not see it in dan er

A. Scolymus, Karw. ne grown co only i in the Riviera ear
but I saw it at Hyères, La Mortola aad | Monte Carlo, in flower at the
last locality. A. Ver schaffeltii, Lemaire, and several other plants which
have been described as species, must an be placed her

torum, Zucc. What was called by this name i La Mortola,

and it may be named correctly, was clearly conspecific with A. atrovirens
ee).

A. c 4, Roezl. Grown at 4 ol not differing materially from
the slant of English conservatori

A. mexicana, Lam. The plait pow under this name at Hyeres is
no doubt = correctly, but 1 do not think in any broad sense it is
more than a variety of americana.

A, sore ley l- erywhere abundant along the Riviera, not in

ens

var
lætevirens and Milleri, with very sintiodte leaves, approximating towards
mexicana, and another called 07 Nata and picta, with green leaves with
great stripes of yellow. I saw one plant of the latter with leaves 8-9
feet long and nearly a foot broad at the middle.

Group RIGID A.

forms with which I was not previously acquainted. The

221

commonest forms in the Riviera show the ee small distant,
nearly black teeth, and agree very well with what has been described

and figured as Jxtli and ixtlivides (Bot. Mag. t. 5 893), In Dr,
Bern’ s garden, situated just on the French side of the boundary gorge
at St. Louis, I saw a form with nr taal much thicker than usual
1, inches thick at the base) and for a less dense rosette. The
plants called Cantula and Rumphii in se “Riv viera gardens are forms of
rigida. Mr. Hanbury has just flowered a spineless form that agrees

un
veloped ESEE and = same holds g ood with a plant called levis,
i bulbille

The ak. wlat the rhomboid panicle, does not reach a greater
height than 12-15 feet. The beste leaves, iko those oF AMETICAAL, are
small and distant as compared with maen of atrovirens.

- Davilioni, Baker, n. sp. This new species, intermediate
tts veen 7° rat ‘and pol yacantha, ah G saw for the first time in the
Jardin ď’Acclimatation at Hyères. Itis — scent, with a Sevri of

about 30 rigid enaitori leaves, which par a length of 3—4 and a
breath of 4} inches at the middle. They ar moderately cic when
mature, tinged with red when young, bide concave on the face towards
the tip, with a non-decurrent pungent point mee heat minute deltoid
chestnut-brown marginal teeth. The peduncle was about 20 feet long,
and the panicle 6 feet long and broad. The bract-leaves and flowers are
like those of A. rigida.

A. lurida, Miller. Seen only ee ae not differing materially from
the plant of English conservatori

trowbetskor = Hort Hi res. A very dies rer allied to A.
lurida, which I saw, under this name, in the Jardin iAectimaration af at
seen at home.

long, 6-7 oe broad above the middle, very thick and rigid in texture,
with a large pungent non-decurrent end-spine, and small d t
deadly black deltoid uiraa teeth. I was ager that it had been
received from De Smet of Ghent, and named in honour of Fons
_ Troubetskoy, who some years ago had a very fines garden on the
Maggiore near Pallanza.

A. mir ney naga Jacobi, A plant which I saw under this name at-
Hyères, differs considerably from what we have at home, but is
probably a variety of the same species. It has very glaucous lanceolate

black non-decurrent end-spine, and indistinct very small marginal teeth.
oe yacantha, Haworth. Seen both at La Mortola and Hyères

under great variety of forms and in different ie dee? of growth. When
fully deeoiabed it has an acaulescent rosette of about 40 lanceolate
leaves of firm texture, measuring about 3 feet ‘oe ae 4 inches broad

at the matress ens with a ne Ro pene pa a small non is’:

222

Plants which I saw labelled ralapensis, chiapensis, densa, and cubensis
were all Set state forms.

. densiflora, Hook. After seeing the wild range of pona
forms feat describe: I cannot now separate densiflora as a spec

Group STRIATA.

A. striata, Auce. Frequent in the Riviera, with a range of variation
similar to what we know already at home. Here belong the plants
ogi Bonapartea rigida, B. str a and B. hystrix; but what

called Sig sir "a gracilis and B. gracilis glauca really belong to
the genus Dasy

As ubedi, Takk Had just flowered at La Mortola, A. deal-
bata, Lemaire, is substantially identical with Jacobi’s plant.

Group INTEGRIFOLIA.

A. Houlletii, Jacobi. As already stated this cannot remain in this
pate but is A. rigida, var. sisalana, in an imperfect state of develop-

sates GEMINIFLOR A.
A. geminiflora, Gawl. Is grown at La Mortola under the name o
Skies gemini ‘flor “a. This ioo not pipi materially from the lait of
English conservatories.

Group ALOID.
a celsiana, Hook. Seen at Hyères only, just like the form grown
at
A. mitis, Salmdyck. Gets better ae at =e Mortola than any
I have seen in England. Shortly caulescent ; leaves lanceolate, 2 feet
long, 4 inohes broad at the middle, green, with a slight glancons ‘tinge ; ;
tip small not pungent ; teeth very minute, coloured brown in the sun,

A. albicans, he Seen at La Mortola only. I do not think it
can stand as more than a glaucous leaved variety of A. micracantha.
A. o ae Salmdyck. Seen at La Mortola in a young state.

Group ATTENUATZ.
A. elemeetiana, Jacobi. A plant seen at La Mortola, agreeing well
with what we have at Kew
A. attenuata, Sahintyer: Has lately flowered at La oe with a
cernuous spike 8-9 feet long, and a peduncle about half as lon

Group YUCCAHFOLIA.

A. yuccefolia, DC. Seen both at Hyères and La Mortola, flowering
freely and better developed than we get it in England. Leave s linear,
3 feet long, 14 inches broad at the middle, tapering guy to a long
point not pungent at the apex, obscurely serrulate on the marzin.
Peduncle wand-like, 4-5 feet long, with on nlya few distant smal] scariose
bract-leaves, linear from A broad ba ase. Spike dense, 3 feet long.

ths things that interested me most at La
i in full perfection an Agave which cannot
be anything else than this species, which was described by Cavanilles

223

in 1802 from a plant from Cuba, which flowered in the Botanic Garden
at Madrid, and has not been heard of since. It isa very distinct species,
nearly allied to A. yuccefolia, with about 20 oblong-lanceolate leaves
in a

n acaulescent tuft, which are bright green, 2 feet long, nearly
3 inches broad at the middle, with a small non-pungent end-spine and
very close minute greenish-white aE teeth. In the La Mortola

plant the peduncle and bracts were just like those of yucce/folia, the
spike 3-4 t long, and the oblong capsule an inch long, dehiscing
loculicidally to the base.

Genus FURCRAEA, Vent.
F gigantea, Vent. The typical form is quite at home at La Mor Aue

a few irregular teeth about the middle of the blade. I did not see
F. cubensis or any of its allies anywhere on the Riviera, except young
plants just received at La Mortola from Kew

F. pubescens, Todaro. Seen at La Mortola in a young stat

F. Bedinghausii, K. Koch. Frequent in the Riviera pien from
Hyères to Genoa, The caudex is always short, the leaves 9 a length
of 4 feet, and are seems ee glaucous and scabrous on the
under surface. I saw it in flower in two gardens at Mentone, producing
or ang: bulbillæ. At Hyères it was labelled norig regia. I do not
think F. Roezlii, André, can be a distinct specie

Genus DORYANTHES, Correa.
D. excelsa, Correa. Is grown at La Mortola and elsewhere in the
open air, but I do not think it has ever flowered.

Genus EETA Kunth.

Order LILIACEZ.
Genus YUCCA, Linn.

Y. aloifolia, Linn. Common all along the Riviera, flowering and
fruiting freely. The typical form has ain 6 or 8 feet long, green
rigid ensiform leaves, 1} feet long, 1} inches broad at the middle, with a
pungent point, a chann elled face and a very scabrous margin, a short
peduncle, a rhomboid iate 14-2 feet long, and glossy bright red-
brown indehiscent oblong fleshy fruits, 25-3 inches long, 1} inches

diamete
r. guatemalensis, Baker. Thisis one of the commonest species along
the whole Riviera, in a great variety of forms, and I had the opportunity

founded upon a figure thamensis ” of Dillenius. It
gets up to a height of 15 or 20 feet, glemman branching from low

224

down. I saw a tall one at Gave with 15-20 branches, each ending in
a great tuft of pte The leaves are always bright green, and r

length of 3-4 feet. Y. G@heisbre ghtii recedes from the type in vale
direction of aloifolia by its rigid scabrous leaves. Y. Mazelli and Y.
lenneana, on the other hand, have less firm recurving ates , and the
marginal toothing is sometimes very obscure, and the a tr ace of a
brown border. Y. conspicua, of the Riviera EA is ao a form of
this species, and I have very little doubt now that Y. gigantea, Lemaire,
which I know from description only, must also range here. It produces

attains a greater size on the Riviera than with us at home, but has not
been known to flower. The finest a I saw was in the garden of the
Baroness von Huttner at San Remo, 5-6 feet high, the branching stems
3 “ag in a dins, the recurving deit a foot and half long, I} inch

Y. “Peacockii, Baker. Grown at La Mortola, but has not yet
flowered.

y. fear L. Not common in the Riviera, but I saw several forms
at Y. rs Siebold, is substantially the same as our
Pasa otjolin. Y. brasiliensis, is a form with much recurved very
glaucous leaves. Y. glaucescens, os is a form of gloriosa, and
quite different from aes plant so ¢ calle

Y. macrocarpa, oe This I saw alive for the first time at La
Mortola. It was caaumednt with a great tuft of very rigid glaucous
ensiform leaves, 3 “feet ong, | inch broad at the middle, “with a ver y
pungent apex and a narrow brown margin without any threads. Tt has

not m PEES
Y., culea and, Carriere. This is grown along the whole Birler
Rh a development far beyond anything which we have at home
In a plant at Gai pae years ago, branching into several heads,
the stem was 30 feet | ong, 4 yards in cir cumference at the dilated base,
and a foot and a half in diameter e distance above the base. I feel
hee ao that canaliculata aha cornuta are forms of the same
8

E Aianei L. This is represented at La Mortola and by a form

which quite agrees with Haworth’s glaucescens.

Y. albospica, Hort. Grown both at La — and Hyères, in fine
condition at the latter garden u goed name of Y. glata. It is the
plant described in my monograph under the name of Y. constricta.

Hanburii, Baker, n. sp. A new species, allied to albospica
and fragilifolia, the seeds of which were sent to La Mortola many
years ago by Mr. Sampson Hanbury from the Rocky Mountains. It
is acaulescent, with a dense tuft of about 100 very rigid glaucous apie
leaves 1} feet long, under half an inch broad at the m iddle, smo ooth o

a very few slender threads split away. It was not in flower at the
time of my visit.

x. ES Torrey. What is commonly grown as baccata on the
Riviera T filifera. Chabaud, which forms a trunk and inhabits
Mexico, whilst the true baccata is parga and inhabits California.

presented to Kew by M. de Falbe from his garden at Cannes, and is
now in the Temperate House. I saw at Hyéres a curious plant called

225

baccata glauca, acaulescent, with very glaucous rigid ensiform leaves
with very copious stout spreading file,

Y. Whippleii, Torrey. A fine plant, which has been drawn by Mrs.
Thiselton-Dyer, has just flowered and died at La Mortola. I saw
another which had lately flowered at Hyéres, where it is grown under
Lemaire’s name of Yucca californica. I now think this had better
be kept as a genus distinct from Yweca, under Engelmann’s name
Hesperoyucca,

Genus DASYLIRION, Zuce.
gardens, and the soil and climate appear to suit them admirably.
otrichum, Zuce. rown everyw and flowers freely.
poly recognised by the leaves breaking into a tuft of threads at the
o

All along the Riviera Dasylirions are a prominent feature in the
l

D. glaucophyllum, Hook. Like the last, grown all along the
Riviera and flowers freely. Bonapartea gracilis glauca and Dasylirion
gracile glaucescens both represent typical form. Bonapartea
gracilis, of the Hyères garden, differs by its bright green leaves. It
may be a distinct species, but I did not see it in flower. plant grown
at La Mortola as Dasylirion hybridum may be the same. What I saw

20 feet

D. juncifolium, Hort. Hanbury. This I was very pleased to see in
flower in a state of full perfection at Monte Carlo and again at Genoa.
Tt has a great tuft of 200-300 recurving rigid linear leaves, 3-6 feet
long, not more than a quarter of an inch broad at the middle, vertically
striated, slightly glaucous and convex on both faces, scabrous on t Le
Margin, not splitting up into threads at the top. The peduncle is
15-20 feet long, bearing, in its upper half, dense spikes of minute whitish
flowers in the axils of great scariose serrated lanceolate white bracts.
Mr. Watson sent home specimens in fruit of the same plant two years
ago from Hyères. It may be D. qguadrangulatum, S. Wats., in a state
of full development.

Genus NOLINA, Michx.

N.. longifolia, Hemsley. Grown commonly all along the Riviera
“cas the name of Dasylirion longifolium. I saw it in flower at
enoa

N. recurvata, Hemsley. Not unfrequent in the Riviera gardens ;
under the names Pincenictitia glauca and P. tuberculata. The finest
plant I saw was in the garden of the Baroness von Huttner at San
Remo, with a trunk 6 feet in circumference at the base.

Genus DRACÆNA, L.
The only true Dracæna grown is D. Draco. I did not see any old
trunks,
Genus CORDYLINE, Com.

The universal Cordyline of the Riviera gardens is the New Zealand
C. australis, Hook. fil., with leaves varying greatly in breadth and
rigidity, I did not see any trunks taller than those which we have in

. P

226

the Temperate house at Kew. All the plants I saw labelled indivisa
were forms of australis. At La Mortola I saw also plants of the
Australian C. stricta, Endlich.

Tribe ALOINEZ.
The Aloes were o not in as at the time of my visit, with the ex-

vera, Linn., but the VA A. afr icana, a supralevis, and A. ar
escens and its variety frutescens. A. striata, Haw. (A. albocincta, H Ae Ji
and its variety A. hanburyana, Naudin, are also a a I saw also
at La Mortola A. purpurascens, the typical A. ferox, A. Bainesii
(young stems only), and A. plicatilis. Of the rani species A.

case with A. heteracantha, Baker, which is not yet known in flower. A
caulescent species, grown at ’ Mortola, allied to A. arborescens,
with a dense tuft of lanceolate leaves 7-9 inches long, margined with

g
undescribed. [This has since been described in Gardeners
Srpen 1892, vol. i., p. 780, under the name of Aloe aurantiaca,
Penzig has lately introduced from Abyssinia to the

?
r ariegata, and
as some curious varieties of Stand sabe and humilis, ewes ek
different from anything I have seen at home. He grows man

pic
Haworthias, and Gasterias, none of which i i nfatone ee Py nae
from what we poke at he i gery ią, called multipunctata, with

glossy lora s 1-1} fe with o — immersed greenish-
white blotches, is Seabees an yarn er specie

Order BROMELIACE.

The species which are hardy on the Riviera are Tillandsia i
Pui cag gigas, Hechtia Gheisbreghtii, Dyckia brevifolia (grown under the
na f D. Mazelii), and D. rariflora (grown under the an of D.
noitia:

It is quite evident that the climate and soil of the Riviera are ad-
mirably fitted for the pae of a large ety of these plants. As

clima My best thanks are due to Mr. Hanbury for his kindness ap
the trouble which he took to help me in every way ; and to his principal
garde

ronemeyer and s to whom, during my stay, I was
constantly applying for informatio
J. G. BAKER.
Herbarium, Kew.
December 17, 1891.

227

LXVITI.—_MADAGASCAR PIASSAVA.
(Dictyosperma fibrosum, Wright.)
[K. B., 1894, pp. 358-359. ]

For r nearly twenty years a fibre ered Prente Brazilian Piassava
rnae in Kew Bulletin, 1889, pp. 237-242) has been obtained
from the island of Madagascar. it rae moderately long, of a iaie
brown colour, and seidautty obtained from the stem of a palm
ordinary Piassava. The quantity produced was never very large, od
in the early stages of the enterprise the fibre was shipped in a very

to the discovery of West African Pias or “ bass fibre d from

Raphia gaged (described in i KaD Bulletin, 1891, pp. 155), the prices
obtained for Madagascar Piassava have apparently fallen almost as low
as the cost of production, hence little of it has appeared lately in the
London market. For the first Scie of Madagascar Piassava, now in

ii . Puddy & C
of Mincing Lane. This was noseia in 1890. At that time the plant
yielding it was not known. The more common palms of Madagascar
such as species of Hyphæne, Dypsis, Raphia and Bismarckia, were
believed not to yield this fibre. Hence it was inferred that there
existed in the island a palm not yet described. This eventually proved
to the cas ough ff.

East India Avenue, E.C., Kew obtained in 1890 specimens of the
complete plant known locally as Vonitra, with stem and oka showing
exactly the manner in which the fibre was produced, Each = hada

m fr
Mauritius isi Bo séba bat are o aisti distinguished both from this and
other species. Many o of the plants raised at Kew have been distributed
to botanical establishments in the Ename A Very soon the species will
robably be well represented under cultiyati

f Asa ie. bieti the following eee ern of this palm has been
prepared from such material as is now available. No flowers have yet
been received.

_ Dictyosperma fibrosum, O. H. Wright; arbor, caule erecto fibris ex

pinnat is,

E PY vis 4

8895

228

secon elongatis supra leviter concavis subtus convexis (/.¢., sectione

nsversali Innata) leviter furfuraceis, foliolis lanceolatis acutis basi

horelatts glabris, nervii {minus

conspicuis ona sane paucis conjunctis, floribus ignotis, fructu sub-

globoso pericarpio ee stigmate terminali, semine embryone sub-
nat

e ruminato,
Folia 5 ped. longa ; petiolus 2 2 ped. longus; foliola 14 ped. longa,
1 poll. lata. Fructus 8 lin.
Habitat: Madagascar. ron. aig Voni
This species differs from D. album, H. Wen ydi: „ in having the trunk
covered with a dense mass of brownish fibres, =n 18 inches long,

which furnish the “ Madagascar Piassava” of commerce. Specimens
of this from Messrs. Proctor Fiker are Storp in the Museum of
the Royal Gardens, Kew. The lateral nerves of the leaflets are also

more conspicuous than in D. album, and the fruit is subglobose

LXIX.—WEST AFRICAN BASS FIBRE.
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.)
[K. B., 1891, pp. 1-5.]

This Bora is iret in the Flore d’Oware et de Benin, vol. i. p. 76
(tab. 44, fig. 45 and 46), from which the following notes
have been r It is very abundant on the borders of rivers

is very large, about 4 feet long, and a heavy fo npe
man to carry. What this tree lacks in height is s compensated for b
the beauty of its form, the brightness of its colour, and its nected

shining fruits. The st ems are used to form fixe framework of
native dwellings, and the leaves, bound with risen are used for thatch-
ing. Huts so built are substantial, and afford a good protection from
the rain and? heat of the sun, but at the same time serve as a haunt for

more vinous, and appears to contain a larger sue of spirit. The
fruits of this palm, which are collected all the pee a und, si likewise
said to afford a — of a second quality which. will keep fora
considerable tim

The Board of Trade Journal Bah hig nt ae 596] quotes from
the Lagos Weekly Times an account of t fibre, ot a that it

A sigen to become an Dipika and beria addition to the ex-
ac port

It will peobetly be found a useful substitute for Piassava, an account
= which is given on p. 227.

- The following correspondence has taken place between this estab-
lishment and the Colonial Office on the subject of West African Bass

ð. Ia
; isato of the public to this fibre

229

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL ee KEW.

E t
to you for analysis and report, a box containing 20 Ibs. of bass fibre
obtained from the Raphia vinifera.
ord Knutsford will be glad to be informed of the result of your
I dination of the parcel in question

m, &c.
(Signed) sis EDWARD WINGFIELD.
The Director, Royal Gardens, Kew.

Sir A. MOLONEY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Government House, Lagos,

My LORD, August 20, 1890.
I HAVE the honour to report na there will go forward by the
next mail steamer, addressed to the Royal Gardens, Kew, a box con-

taining 20 lbs. of a bass fibre raemes from the Raphia vinifera or
wine palm of West Tropical Afr

2. The sample I had hinitedly: popei during my last visit to the
eastern distri ct.

ay I ask your Lordship to let the Director of the Royal
Gardens, Kew, who takes such deep interest and gives such encourage-
ment to the development of the economic botany of our colonies, have
a copy of this despatch, and to pia ath ny circulation of the minute

among = various Chambers of Com
tach a copy of the notice that rene seals appeared inviting the

I have, &c.
(Signed) ALFRED MOLONEY,
Governor.

The Right Hon.
Lord Knutsford, G.C.M.G., &e.

EXTRACT of MINUTE by n Governor of Lagos on the Bass fibre of the
palm (Raphia vinifera).

In a letter received fe me, a after my arrival in Lagos
February last, from a well-known Manchester firm, a sample of a fibre
known as “ Afri rican Bass” was lor wärded, with the lowing remarks

“If this can be found and shipped in quantity I could sell iste
quantities. It should be kept straight, tied up first in small bundles,
thickness of a man’s wrist, and these made up into bales of about half
a hundred weight each. It must be kept straight, whatever the length,
as the bends spoil the fibre and make it difficult to w ork.”

In the “ African Bass ” o ik ie ible was sent to me I was
surprised to recognise one ef the commonest of the native fibres of this
colony, used, I may say, ls every fisherman in the manufacture of his

230

lines, and prepared from one of the most ge of the palm trees of
the colony, the Raphia vinifera, or “ Bam palm
The “African me ” isin appearance a i ff and wiry fibre, varying

diffcalt ie procure without injury to the tree. In diameter it varies
from + of an inch, the latter of which may be accepted as the
limit 3 abe to i admitted ina commercial sample for the European
market. It is used, I believe, mainly in the aoe of ate
brushes for various domestic and manufacturing purposes. The dem
appears to be very large, and the price, as shown Shores is Sadna
satisfactor

The source of its supply in this colony alone may be said to be prac-
tically + aac as will readily be acknowledged when its origin is
explain

The e Bamboo ” bre or Raphia wale d is perhaps the commonest
tree in the swamps and low lands which line the waterways of the

colony. Dense thickets of these palms, aktad ee by the palm wine
ietheres or the bamboo cutter, push their way into the lagoons, and
extend over the flood grounds, and even to a ie of from 15 to 20
miles up the river valleys into the interior. The area ag sar by these
Raphia forests it would be impossible to calculate, but it may be
accepted without doubt that they extend throughout ‘the length of the
colony, and to a distance of at least miles from the sea coast, and
that over this area of about 5,000 square = a they form a considerable
proportion of the vegetation, next only in numbers to the oil palm
(Elæis guineensis) and the Mangrove pure izophora mucronata). te
fact that one can steam for miles, as I have frequently done, wonderi
to what commercial advantage they could be put, through aerarii
Raphia groves on either hand in the Eastern waters, impresses one
eee the extent of the acreage which must be overrun by this graceful

pa.

Everybody in the colony is aware of the prera paige of the Raphia
palm ; how from its leaves hats, cloth, and cordag made; from its
leaf-stems rafters, fences, and walls; and far je. See or bud of
unopened leaves s palm wine of excellent quality. Of one part only the
use seems not generally known, and it would appear that this particular
portion of the tree, though hitherto en useless, is in reality of
more value ig rg ing than all the r

When the “ Bamboo”
stem of the palms the ae presenta very ragged and uneven appearance,
owing to the practice of leaving a portion of the leaf-stalk adhering to

gives so stran appearance to a grove of Raphia palms. From
these stumps Of the leat stalk the native fishing lines are made. The
fibre is extracted by a process of soaking and scraping, which is exceed-
ingly simple and is fully caren Shed every bamboo cutter and line
maker. It is this fibre which i wn in the European market as
“ African Bass,” and there is no nevi reason why, with a population

a Maen even om with the sources of supply which at present monopolise
the mar
» # Ld

Se is ihe SE RT Be aay Pe eae eS aR eee aA

BES rhea A T eee

2d]

In the Yoruba language the Raphia vinifera is known as Igi-oguro,
Eriko andAkpako, the Bass fibre as Iyo, and the fishing line Iyo-oguro
or [yo-agbe. Along the inland waters or lagoons from Popo to Mahin
the natives use this fibre for fishing lines, and as twine and rope.

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,
DEAR SIR, October 10, 1890.

WE duly received your letter of 8th instant, and to-day brings
us the sample of fibrous material found at the base of the leaves of the
“Bamboo” palm of West Africa (Raphia vinifera).

e have seen this material before, and the small importations that
(Some years ago) were not at all well received by consumers,

most unsatisfactory when compared with the price and results of South
American Piassava.

During the past year or two, however, the market values of the latter
have undergone a great change, Bahia Piassava having largely risen in
price. We think, therefore, that it might be well worthy of producers
attention were they to select only those fibres of which we return you
specimens herewith, and clean them effectively from all the adherent
small fibre. Only the strong healthy fibres should be selected and

e material being somewhat of a novelty, it m
shippers to confine their first shipment to, say, 10 to 20 tons, so as to
try the market adequately. If properly selected and cleaned, we estimate
that it would sell at 25. per ton to-day in London, a figure that, in our
Opinion, should leave a handsome profit to the producer.

ours &¢.,
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
D, Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, E.C.,
DEAR SIR, October 24, 1890,

E have your favour of the 23rd instant, and duly note the
contents of enclosed extract from Minute of Governor of Lagos on the
fibre of Raphia vinifera. ;

Since wo lant ne to you on this subject, a few bales of “ African
Bass ” recently imported have been sold, and reached the extreme price
of 427. The fibre had been carefully selected and remarkably well
cleaned, hence the excellent market it met with. We scarcely expect
this price would be maintained for substantial quantities, but for ts
of equal merit the immediate outlook would seem to indicate that 35/.
to 407. might be the range of value.

Yours, &c.,
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.

D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.

232

LXX.—WEST AFRICAN BASS FIBRE—(continued).
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 299-300.]

The following extract from a letter from Mr. W. Crowther, Curator
of the Botanical Section at Aburi, Gold Coast, refers to the shipment
of West African Bass from Appam, a si between Accra and Cape
Coast Castle in the Colony of the Goll Coa

On my way to Cape Coast I noticed a oa quantity of the Bass
fibre being shipped from Appam. This valuable fibre is obtained from
the palm which is so common and plentiful in this part of the colony,
namely ae vinifera. It is a very important product, being worth

o 60/

from 25.. . per ton, according to quality. Great interest is at
present see in England in the discovery of similar fibres to this,
and there is a good market for them, but supply is very small,

owing chiefly, I think, to the difficulty experienced in extracting and
cleaning the ele It is chiefly used for brushmaking. I will make
inquiries and ur obtain information respecting suitable
machinery for sheanite and preparing this bre, which information, if
l am able to procure it, shall be published in my next report.

LXXI—RAFIA FROM WEST AFRICA.
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.)
[K. B., 1895, pp. 88-92.]
In the Kew Bulletin for 1891, pp. 1-5, an account is given of West
African Bass fire, prepared from the base of the leaves of the Bamboo
c

ton; it rose 6l. per ton, ‘but latterly, in o a, with similar
fibre from the at palm, the Kitooi, and the original bass produced
= Brazil, enoo as Para and Bahia piassaba, it has been quoted at 207.

o 301. per ton. pira at the latter price it supports a considerable
ae in Wos a.

t appears probable that the Bamboo palm may be es available
also for other uses. A strong, useful atei known as Raphia o
Rafia is shipped to ey country from Madagascar. According to the
Rev. Richard anges ns S. (Kew Bulelin, 1890, p. 211), it is obtained
“from the you pened leaves of the Raphia palm.” Raphia
Ruffia, Mart. Hist. Mak | Palm, iii., p. 217 (R. pedunculata, Beauv.) is
confined to Madagascar, It is widely spread in the island, chiefly in
valleys, k to an elevation of 4,000 feet. It is also found ‘abundantly
along the coast. The pinnate leaves are 20 to 30 feet in length, with
numerous narrow leaflets, varying from 24 to 5 feet long. Rafia is
prepared hea peeling off the cuticle | “(with so:ne of the underlying fibro-
vascular bundles) on one or both sides of the leaf. It is used locally for
delicate plaited and woven fabrics, cloths, and hats, as well as for mats
for covering floors and wrapping up goo More recently it has been
woven into s Superior matting, tastefully coloured, and used instead of
tapestry for covering walls in London houses, The loose strips of Kafia

are in demand in this country and elsewhere in place of Russian or Cuban,

bast as tie-han1s by gardeners and nurserymen. For the latter purpose

eas

eit An ae

i> =) So Uehara et a e

233

the strips are usually loosely plaited in hanks 1} to 3 pergi $ _
made up into bales weighing 1} to 54 cwt. Each strip is

coloured flat band stot 4 feet long, and about 4 to 3 inch wider but

capable of sub-division into fine threads.

Owing to the French expedition to Madagascar, Rafia has already
Shown an advance in price. It was sold recently at 55s. per ewt.
Apart from this, however, there is apparently a steady demand and a
good price for Rafia fibre

Raphia Ruffia is closely allied to the Bamboo palm of tropical
Africa. If the s supply of Rafia from Madagascar were greatly reduced

Report by Mr. C. F. Cross, F.I.C., on the Miscellaneous Fibres shown
at the Colonial and ue Exhibition 1886. Mr. Cross mentioned that
this was so closely similar to Rafia “ as to be —— to precisely the
same = 3 Fere following parere e were

Moisture - - - > - 9:8 per cent.
Ash- - - - ~ - 3s AA
Cellulose ~ - - - a ges
Ultimate fibres. Length - - - 1:5 to 2'5 mm.

“ It is needless to say that the raw material is particularly clean ; in
length of fibre, but more e eee in yield of cellulose, it is superior to
Esparto ; it only remains, therefore, to determine the cost of production,
and if within the limit, to tte Pied is raw material into European

commerce. A further examination of this substance comparatively
with Rafia, which still commands a high price amongst gardeners and
nurserymen, showed that it was so closely similar as to be applicable to
precisely the same uses, and such an application would, of course, take
precedence of that above EEA This fibrous material is well worthy
of further attention.

have received from Messrs. Joynson satisfactory reports upon the
papers made from the Rafia strips exhibited in the West African Section.
r were e by the (basic) sulphite process, and bleached to a

colour. The paper was reported to be of exceptional strength.
CAAA and Indian Exhibition Paon pp. a, 385.

mall shipments of West African Rafia e already been made to
this country. It was, however, badly aA ge the results were not
Satisfactory. The strips were too short, and they reached their destina-
tion curled up so as to resemble very fine twine. It is necessary the
strips should be very sea of poo kere and dried aa flat.
Some of the best Madagascar Rafia is about 3} to 4 ft

West African Rafia, to replace the Madagascar fibre, must be a e
as possible, with a > ik of about 7 to ł in., but none less than

If the Bamboo palm (Raphia vinifera) does not afford t ‘ bik
material for Ratia strips, it is possible some other won may do so.
The West Afri frica Raphia so paps Pe

Raphia vinifera, Recs —Bamboo palm. EA in West Africa,
extending also to central tropical Africa, where it was found by

234

Schweinfurth. Its distribution in Lagosis thus deseribed by Sir Alfred
Mo pee y (p. 230) :—

ka. ‘ Bamboo’ palm (Raphia ae at is hp a the commonest
= in the swamps and low lands w the waterways of the
colony. Dense thickets of these ae peruse: only by the palm-
wine gatherer or the bamboo cutter, push their way into the lagoons,
and extend over the flood grounds, and even to a distance of from 15

a
done, through uninterrupted Raphia groves, impresses one with the
extent of the acreage which must 5 overrun by this graceful palm.”

Raphia Hookeri, Mann and Wendl.—The Ukot of Old Calabar,
where it is cultivated as a wine palm. The natives also manufacture
cloth from the epidermis of the leaflets. On the Sherboro, in Sierra
Leone, they make hammocks from it, as well as all sorts of basket work,
mats, &c. This is one of the largest of the Raphias, the whole plant

leaflets 4 to 5 feet long. If in other dite case ae this should yield
Rafia fibre as long as the best from Mada

Raphia Gertneri, M. and W. — Apparently saan nce to the Spanish
Island of Fernando Po, in the Gulf of Guinea. It grows from the
shore up to 500 feet above the level of the sea.

Raphia longi flora, M. and W.—The only aaen given by Mann

for this Lo is the island of Corisco, off the French Colony of
Gaboon. This palm is 40 to 50 feet high, with Aiki 33 feet long.
The leaiii are 5 to 54 feet long and 2 to 2} inches wide re,

showing the natural habit, is given in Trans. Linn. Soc., xxiv., t. 39.
aphia Welwitschii, fire —A new species, collected by Dr. Wel-

witsch, in Angola. It grows in humid places on the rivers in the in-
terior, and especially i in the district of Galungo. The epidermis of the
leafle ts is by the natives in the manufacture of clot

y ths, &c.
R. textilis, Welw. Apont., 584, n. 2, yielding also textile filaments, is
apparently a closely allied plant

Epidermal strips, somewhat ‘similar to Rafia, are available from
many species of palms, notably the Cocoa-nut palm and the Palmyra
palm. poeroen of these are in the Kew Museum. A variety of the
Palmyra palm wn in various districts under the native names of
Morintshi, Kalingoce, Run, and Sibboo, is well known to be abundant
in West Tro ropical Africa. The epidermal strips from the segments of its
fan-shaped leaves could, no doubt, be produced quite as long as those of
the Madagascar Rafia.

While suggesting t these other sources, it would be well, however, to
confine attention at first to the Rafia palms, and especia ally i in view of
the fact that they form, as in the colony of Lagos, the prevailing
vegetation over immense tracts of country.

The commercial position with regard to Rafia fibre is given below by
Messrs. Ide and Christie. It will be noticed that particular attention
is drawn to the fact that previous shipments of West African Rafia have

iled use the strips were too short, and not presented in the flat
broad condition characteristic of the Madagascar fibre. Too much
reliance should not be placed on the exceptionally high price of Rafia at

ee en ais

235

the present time. It would be safer to count only on the more normal
price of = fibre, and this during the last few years has been about 307.
per to

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, ee Lane, London, E.C.,
DEAR SIR, March 4, 1895.

Yours of the 2nd instant, with sample of West African Rafia,
to hand. This we have seen once or aioe before, and sold with diff-
culty, being very inferior to the Madagascar. The former is very sho:

and hairy, not long and aew hes the ates and would appear to be
peeled from much smaller lea
We return your specimen pres with a piece of the usual Madagascar.
Whilst the latter is available the trade would only look at the West
African at about half the price.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.

The ardeii account of the production of Rafia fibre has been
published in the United States’ Consular Reports for April 1894.
It was prepared by Mr. Edw. Telfair Wetter, the United States Consul
at Tamatave :

Rafia Palm Fibre.

This fibre is the product of the Rafia palm (Raphia Ruffia), one of
the most useful of the palm family. The tree is a native of Madagascar,

After removal on “he tree the leaves are separated, the leaf spears

or feathers being cut away from the heavy leaf stalk or large centre

rib and their tips cut off or not, according to the whim or needs of
each worker. The inhabitants of the fishing villages are the main
producers of Rafia fibre, because they are the main consumers of the by-
products, making their finer fish nets from = small centre Sh or spine
that runs down the middle ‘of each leaf spear. The entire native popu-
lation use poe am stalk or large centre ony in all their building and

covering, which, in the closed condition of the spear is, for the moment,
the outside, This removal is readily accomplished by making as i
cut across the leafy flesh above mentioned, about one inch from the
base. The

236

ae the operation. Practice makes the process a simple, perfect,
one, and a woman can readily strip, per day, what will yield
sen 5 lbs. of Rafia. It must be understood that the men cut the Rafia
leaves and carry them to their homes; the women do the rest. They, -
wever, rar ely strip more than what would yield 2lbs. of Rafia,
because the curing of the fibre is partly accomplished the afternoon of
the same day that it is stripped from the spear flesh.

The strips of whitish fibre thus Santer Tanging from 2 to 4 feet and
over in length, are spread out upon the sun to dry in loose
bunches. When partly dry, they ex daoled a F bunches
and spread, usually upon the roof edges of small sheds or outhouses, to
finish curing, and are mostly carefully guarded ap ayes rain or In
three days of good sun drying the Rafia is ready for

I regret to say that, owing to the cupidity of the ere and traders,
much the larger portion is marketed after only one day’s curing. The
greener the fibre the yon the date tai hence the temptation.

growth, and as

it is propagated, this fact ` alone would mean its speedy and total ex-
tinction. Within four years, local Malagasy laws have been promul-
gated opted this terrible nit aie Yet it still exists, but ina
surreptitious manner; or whenever they — rum, cloth, or vazaha
finery, for which Rafia fibre alone can be bar

. + Rafia is one of the most Serter of Madagascar products,
finding an even more ready market than rubber or caoutchouc. The
2 matav z

less than the A 1 w aa e every one doing business
in Madagascar Hiat Ratia either for 'ppeoalaaon,i in barter for goods,
commission, or as ag

LXXII.—RAFIA FROM WEST AFRICA—(continued).
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.)
[K. B., 1895, pp. 287-288.]

A brief account was given in the Kew Bulletin, 1895, (pp. 88-92), of
the production of the material known as Rafia, from species of palms i
West nte, This fibre has hitherto been exclusively iad from
Madagase It is used for tie bands by gardeners, as well as for
page gta ais and decorative articles

sample of West African Rafia, Cheated from the leaflets of Raphia
vinifera, locally known as the Bamboo palm, was brought to Kew by
Mr. Henry Millen, Curator of the Botanic Station at Lagos, i in August
last. The following reports were obtained on this sample :
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, London, E.C.
DEAR a Feronia 4, 1395.
YOUR favour of yesterday and samples to hand. e latter
show just as we formerly experienced, bad colour (i.e., Wowi in lieu

ee PE es ee re ee TE

237

of creamy white), very short (one sample was longer), all stringy, not
flat-open. The moda unless in famine, would not entertain it ; appear-
ance goes a long way nowadays, alt mpeg haa some siom purposes, this
West Coast product should do as well as t no Madagan

If asked for a value, we would hazard 207. per

Yours faithful ly,
(Signed) IDE AND Ganse.
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc.,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

MEssRS. J. A. NOBLE & Co. to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

136, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.,
DEAR SIR, September 6, 1895

WE are favoured with your letter of the 3rd instant, with
sample of Lagos Rafia. We are desirous of showing this to the

difficulty in getting them to put it forward in the place of the
Madagascar Rafia, as it is not so sightly and the smaller buyers gin
prefer the broader and lighter colour. Our own opinion is that w
more care in the TTEA it will come into use with those who da
not look to colour so much as strength. We see no reason why it may
not be broader, gi it has simply been allowed to curl up in the
preparation, and i consequently harsh, with a tendency to cut in the
using. It is cortainly the strongest we have seen from the West Coast -
what we have seen before has been soft and good colour, but very
tender and unsaleable.

ill write you again after we have given the consumers an
opportunity of testing it and have received their opinion upon it. In
the meantime, Mr. Millen should continue his experiments, and _ ~~
no doubt he will be able to improve meee on this

traly,
(Signed) a A. NOBLE & Co.

D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc.,

Royal Gardens, Kew.

As already Aig esti small shipments of West African Rafia have
been made, from time to time, for many years, but no commerce has
arisen in it owing rae e unfavourable chara cter as co
Madagascar Rafia. The natives all along the coast manufacture cloths,
mats, baskets, and hammocks from Rafia, and samples are in the Kew
Museums from the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, and Old
Calabar

Furt athe specimens of Rafia from West Africa were brought to
Kew recently by Mr. Walter Haydon, Curator of the tanic

ort. o a
received from West Africa. The follwing Here shows also, t
ee were valued commercially at a ghee prios than e former

ecim Disie

238

MESSRS, IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, Mark feces London, E.C.,

DEAR SIR Nov r 14, 1895.
REGARDING the sample and letter dated Tae from the Ro oyal
Gardens duly to hand, we beg to say that for colour and texture, arc is
the best Rafia we have seen from the West Coast of Africa, and in thes
respects equal to the Madagascar product. The uncut ends, shortness
and fine points are all against the sale and would interfere both with
sale and value.

As it is, we put it about 20/. to 25/. per ton. A small shipment of the
usual West Coast we sold a few days ago for 25/.

Yours faithfully,
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc.,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

LXXIII.—PALMYRA BASS FIBRE.
(Borassus flabelliformis, L.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 148-150.]

to the scarcity of the Bass fibres hitherto obtained from two
Brazilian ee Attalea funifer a and Leopoldinia Piassaba, inquiry
has been m most tropical countries for palms likely to yield fibres
of a similar Shader. A bass fibre has been obtained in Madagascar
from a species of Dictyosperma — bly D. i oo Wendl.), and
more recently Lagos or West can boas has en obtained from
EEREN are just described, Å fibre almost identical has still more

y been prepared in Ceylon from the Palmyra palm (Borassus
Pair mi The following ir a has been obtained on the

DIRECTOR OF NAVY CONTRACTS to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W.,

SIR, June 1, :
HALL be much obliged if you will en good enough to inform
the ee whether anythin g is known of a material called
* Bassine,” said to be grown in India and dosd for the English
market at Colombo, as to its value as a ‘pabetite te for Brazilian Bass,
and whether it is likely to Dusi bass on account of its quality or
price.

I am, &c.,
e Director, (Signed) C. M. HEATH,
Royal Gardens, Kew. For Director of Navy Contracts.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to DIRECTOR OF NAVY CONTRACTS.

Royal Gardens, Kew,
SIR, June 8, 1892.
AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to P Er the receipt
of your “one of the lst instant on the subject of fibre pre from
the Palmyra palm as a substitute for Brazilian Bass

239

As shown in the enclosed extract from the Report of the Directo
of the Botanical Gardens, Oeylon, the fibre from the Palmyra palm is
being prepared in small quantities in the north of the island. The

quantity available is evidently limited, and as the palm is an important

Ide and Christie, a firm of fibre brokers in the City, giving particulars
of the prices recently obtained for the fibre. A small quantity of the
fibre = received to day is forwarded to your address in a separate
parcel.
This fibre is apparently not so good as the West African Bass (Kew
Bulletin, 1891, p. 1), and it is decidedly inferior in length and flexibility
the Bahia Piassava (Kew Bulletin, 1889, p. 237). Its chief use
would probably be to adulterate these fibres, and not to be used alone.

am, &e.
The Director of Navy Contracts, (Signed) D. MORRIS.
Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W.

EXTRACT from the REPORT of the DIRECTOR of the ROYAL
BOTANIC GARDENS, CEYLON, 1891, p. 15.

Palmyra Fibre-—The sheathing leaf-stalks of the palmyra, as of
many other palms, contain a stiff thick fibre, and a new industry in
the collection of this has sprung up, under the auspices of a Colombo
firm, in the north of the island. These fibres or bristles are much like
the “ Piassaba” so largely exported from Brazil (the produce of the
palms Attalea funifera and Leopoldinia Piassaba) for brush-making, and
are doubtless exported hence for the same purpose. Immense numbers
of the palmyra exist in the Jaffna peninsula and the islands near, and
it is in the latter especially that the business of collecting the leaf-stalks
for sale has been carried on by the inhabitants. In Elavaitivu the
value thus collected in six months was about Rs. 3,000, a gr
to the means of the people. Unfortunately, in their eagerness for yn

MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
72, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,
Sir, June 7, 1892.
E duly received your favour of the 2nd instant, and have
pleasure in sending you a sample of Palmyra fibre as offered on this
ps This is of average quality and valued to-day at 28/. per ton in

t.
on,

240
The first arrivals of this fibre took place about a year ago, the scarcity

l
and shipment of substitutes. The early imports realized from 367. to
427. per ton, against West Coast African Piassava 557. to 65/.., but with
faller supplies of these brush-making fibres asta split "a
market values have receded, and Palmyra ranges to-day from 22
to 33.

The chief objection to Palmyra by crear a is that it lacks
straightness, but experiments are being made this country to
overcome this defect, and should they prove duocoisita, it ts claimed

y importers and dressers that Palmyra should, for wear, then, be found
equal to the best Brazilian.

We are, &e.
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.,
Royal Gardens, Kew.

LXXIV.—OIL PALM FIBRE.
(Eleis guineensis, Jacq.)
[K. B., 1892, pp. 62-67.]
The African z isga is probably the most valuable of the iT gen ne

West Afri i 9i);
i ree stry has ee since 1790, if not before, the valuable palm kernels
“ on the Gold Coast did not attract attention until 1842 or 1843, when also
“ the ground-nut industry, at least in the Gambia, had its birth.” The
palm oil received in this country during the year 1885 amounted to
e

uring the period am
406,8567. We h ee therefore two important products from the African
oil value of the quantity reaching the United Kingdom
agents er about one million and a half sterling yearly. To these we
e

ay,
pepee "i this new orim are not very hopeful, The fibre is extracted
a laborious manner by the natives, and it is not, as yet, produced in
Seiten quantities.

Its extensive use locally for fishing lines ste sud purposes requiring
great strength shows that it is one of the most valuable and lasting of
tropical fibres. — little, if anything, has hake been publish
respecting this fibre. Kew i is i ndebted for the first specimens received

Government of Lagos. mall specimen was received from Mr. Scott-
iot from Sierra Leone, Tinaas 1892,

241
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,
DEAR SIR, June 23, 1891.

WE have your favour of yesterday’s date with specimen of fibre
said to be prepared from the pinne of leaves of the African oil palm
Eleis guineensis.

This fibre has been known to se for the last 15 years at lza but
only from small samples such as you send us. It has n r bee en
received in romeo ues quantity to our knowledge, and Hike no
practical experiments have ever been made with it. Some spinners to
whom it was shown, hos the first PE came to hand, age E
opinion that it was too hard and gritty to spin readily, but
inclined to think this view might have been modified net ‘hey jai the

opportunity of testing it practically. It has great sete and fineness,
ee if really spinnable we would value it at 50/. to 60/. per ton to-day
in London

We should be ees to learn there is a prospect of this fibre being
— and sent home in ee ity, so that its actual value aa be

as we have "said, afforded no means of arriving at this.

We desire to thank you for sending us also some fresh pinnex of Hieis
guineensis, and it will afford the writer much pleasure if his examina-
tion of them should lead to his ane at any further opinion of the
fibre worth communicating to yo

Yours faithfully
D: eek Esq., M.A., 4 ae S., (Signed) IDE AND Curiste.

3o Gardens, Kon
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, Kew
SIR, September 4, 1891,
+ *

other atai on which information might be obtained tiii
the Goverment of Lagos is the eames of fibre from the leaves of
the oil palm, A specimen o said to have been obtained from

re,
locally applied. It would also be desirable to obtain leaves in different
stages of preparation, a good quantity of the raw fibre, and any articles
such as cords, fishing lines, nets, or cloth made from the fibre, for the

use of this establishmen

I have, &e.
(Signed) D. MORRIS,
The Hon. R. H. Meade, C.B., Assistant Director.
Colonial Office, S.W.
8895

242
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

72, Mark Lane, E.C.
DEAR SIR January 21, 1892.
WE to-day favoured with the specimens of fibre and cord
. eg kat. of the oil palm (Elæis guineensis), for which accept our
than
We “Should be glad to know if your correspondents at Lagos led
you to suppose that this cade is, or or be, produced in merchant-
able quantity for export to this country. As we informed you ina
previous letter (23rd June last) nothing but small samples have ever
een seen here, and, until a quantity i , Say, 5 to 10 tons comes home,
no true estimate of the value can be a
Permit us to point out that the fibre should be sent untwisted and
unplaited.
We fear the per-centage of fibre in the pinnæ is — and that the
extraction must be attended with considerable difficu

e set we.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., (Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE.
C, c. 9
Royal Gardens, Kew.

In reply to the request for pepati respecting the methods pon
sued in ee fibre from the leaves of the oil palm, a report w
received through the Colonial Office irons the re nment of on
It was prentis by Mr. Alvan Millson, the Assistant Colonial Secretary,
and contains much interesting information on the s ubject. e fibre is
extracted from the young leaves only. The process is identical with

ny part

e
Vincent’s Court, at the Jamaica ae 1891, illustrated the pro-
cess at the request of the St Director of Ke ew, during his late
visit to Jamaica. There were several excellent oT of similar
palm fibre shown amongst the "st. Vincent exhibits

NOTES on the preparation of fibre from the pinne of the Oil Palm
(Elæis guineensis).

The inner side of the leaflets of the oil palm contains a fibre almost
as fine and tenacious as human hair. This fibre i gi called Awshawn by
the Yorubas, Poaiñ by the Kroos, and N’K’aw by the Accras. Itis
used all along the coast of the Gulf kal mule ¢ for T fishing lines.
Its use is very similar to that of t or pp palm (Astrocar-
pua fibre with which the Caribs -4 ps pa d of St. Vincent and the

f-fringed Honduras coast make their deep sea lines.
ae the preparation of this fibre a piusiderable amount of skill is
wn.

The pinnæ of the young leaves which have ae been hardened b
exposure are the only ones that can be made of. If too old, the
se rated i

pen
handling which it has to undergo while in process of manufacture. I
gathered at the right age the stripping of the fibre offers no difficulties,
although the process is both tedious and wasteful,

243

en
The pinna ii then laid flat on the left hand with the smooth face
upwards as shown in Specimen B, and in the following sketch.

Fig. 1. First stage in preparation of oil-palm leaf or fibre.

Tt is next taken by the cleft end in the right hand, is laid over the
worker’s left thigh, and held below the fold in the left hand. The
lower part of the ‘folded part is firmly pressed against the leg with the
side of the left thumb, the mid-rib being turned back under the
same hand. The two loose ends are then pulled separately by the
right hand, hep oe = _ from the fibre for the length of the fold,
i.e., about an inch (Specimen C.).

The leaflet. is now a tei left to right by the two loose ends
across the thigh, against which it is held by the flattened left palm,
while the thumb of the same hand is inserted between the flap of tissue
and ae fibre, and is used to help in separating them by raising the
remaining tissue with an upward and backward motion as it is pulled
abies the leg (Bpocttnall D.).

Fig, 2, Splitting of palm leaf to obtain the a The latter is shown below the
thumb in

oh * These specimens are mounted for reference in Museum ii., Case 61.
95 :

244

The loose ends of the divided leaflet are then taken between the
right finger and thumb with the fibre-hanging over the first finger.
The ends of the e remaining tags of tissue are patted with the left fore-
finger for about half an i nch of their length above where they join the
fibre. This bruised portion is twisted round between the thumb nail

and finger so as to separate it from the remaining tissue, and is pulled
forcibly through the loose fibre, cleaning it =~ oughly as it passes.

gs with the ibre. attached (Spec imen E.) are now held in the
right kai, and rolled on the thigh in patis by the left palm so as to
twist the fibre into double stranded twine. This primitive method o
string making I have noticed also in central America and among the

into a cord, and holding the loose. green tags of tissue one at a time
between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, the remaining fibre
is drawn out es F.) and rolled up on the thig h so as to complete
the cord (Spec n G.). The cords are plaited into pigtails, and are
=r oP. in the ‘shade to dry (Specimen H.

ter they are thoroughly dried tkë Mot. lengths are made into lines
i: alin on the leg and inserting new lengths from time to time
(Specimen I.).

Fig. 3. Sketch illustrating method of preparing fine cord and fishing lines from
oil-palm fibre.

The method of goalie as roughly shown in the sai sketch, is
unusually clumsy, but has the advantage of strength. In the finer lines
the inserted pieces are raved out at the end, and w hed into the
mayer in the usual manne

ras can be acerina the only use to which this fibre is put
is the eau ing of fishing lines and fine cords. It would appear to be
too costly for native cloth, net, or bag making. The following results of
actual experiments ker serve to keot the tedious and expensive nature

a th
calculated at less than 75/. a ton. It is therefore clear that it would
impossible to vole an export trade in this article at the present
rate of European pri
(Signed) ALVAN MILLSON,
Assistant Colonial Secretary,

245

LXXV.—COCOA-NUT COIR FROM LAGOS.
(Cocos nucifera, L.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 129-132.]

may be gathered from the reports published in the Kew Bulletin
(1888, > P- 149, and 1889, p. 69), Governor Moloney has organised very

r the
purpose of eae the cultivation of the a-nut palm. Plantations
consisting of 30,000 trees have already en established by the Govern-
ment, whilst t seedlings in large quantities are supplied at low rates to
private persons with the view of making the industry as general as
possible. In this work the ien established Botanic Station is
actively engaged, as also the Government yas ations attached to esi
Prenmniationarst s of the Beaker and Western Districts, and of Palm
With the view of utilising to the best advantage the produce of sees
cocoa-nut plantations, when in full bearing, Governor Moloney has
recently prepared experimentally some samples of cocoa-nut fibre es
that an opinion might be cbtained as to its value in this country.

West African coir was sent to Kew, and very interesting enre:
respecting it are contained in the following correspondence

COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

SIR, Downing Street, February 2, 1889.
AM directed by Lord Knutsford to trans mit to you a copy of a
despatch which he has received from the Tan of Lagos reporting
that he had despatched a bale of [cocoa-nut] coir to Kew.
.2. His Lo ordship will be much obliged if you will kindly furnish him
With your opinion on the specimen forwarded.

I am, &e.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
The Director, Royal Gardens, Kew.

[ Enclosure. |
GOVERNOR MOLONEY to LORD KNUTSFORD.
Government House, Lagos,
My eta December 23, 1888.
the Colonial Exhibition of 1886 I was given to understand

me
special advantage which ahold command for it a ready deman
comparatively high price, if it could be put regularly and in sufficient
quantity on the English markets.

. Accordingly, and in anticipation of the later development of a
local manufacture for export of cocoa-nut oil, for which I entertain the
Opinion that the atas annual crop of fruit offers a sufficient
encouragement, I have had prepared by prison labour in the gaol of
Lagos, a bale of coir bh ega 42 Ibs.

3. This return represents the yield of 400 AIEE the average
present price of which is at the rate of 2s. 6d. per

4. The bale has been addressed to the Royal a Kav; and sent
through the Crown Agents for the Colonies. _

246

5. It is now my duty to ponent: sT your Lordship will be good
enough to invite the co-operation of t e Director of the Ro yal Gardens
and obtain an authoritative opinion on q oe ed

av
(Sig ee AEF MOLONEY.
The ao Hon. ford. Knutsford, Gi C.M.G
&e.

eae a KEW, to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, Kew,
SIR, February 21, 1889.

I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding a copy of a despatch from
the Governor of Lagos on the subject of a specimen of eens coir
which he had forwarded to Kew for an opinion as to its merits.

e specimen, consisting of a bale weighing 42 poándë: was duly
received from the Crown Agents on the llth ultimo. Samples s were
prepared and submitted to respectable brokers and dealers in the city,
with a request that they would report upon the value of Lagos coir as
compared with other coirs now in the London market

3. The result of the inquiry is contained in hë accompanying papers.
It would appear in the first place et = os necessary to separate coir
fibre, as yielded by the cocoa-nut, into classes, namely, “ bristle”
fibre and “mat” fibre. The former is aie sold at about 30/. per
ton, and the os be about 10/. per ton.

4. The m Lagos continet these two fibres mixed together,
and hence it was on presented in a state suitable for sale in this country.
lt is evident that Lagos fibre possesses no particular merit on account of
its colour, but, on the other hand, in Messrs. Harrison and Johnson’s
Report, it is stated to be “of very good length, which i joe its value.”

ð. Alt noe these reports are not so encouraging as Governor Moloney

uppose from the specimens exhibited a the late Colonial and
Indian Eshibition, hey Arie useful hints as Sesel pn character of
coir fibre n ecessary to command ready sale in this cou

6. With the view of farther assisting in this di Seton, We Thiselton-
Dyer has caused the specimens of Ceylon “ bristle ” and Ceylon “ mat,”
forwarded by Messrs. Ide and Christie, to be sent direct A Governor

Moloney, including “ brush ” fibre, “ mat” fibre, and “rough stuffing”
fibre, prepared by Messrs. Toye tod Bromley from the crude Lagos
coir,

I &e.
(Signed) D. MORRIS.
The Hon, R. H. Meade, C.B.
[Enclosure No. 1.]
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE sto ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
2, Mark Lane, oe E.C.
ÑIR, February 7, 1889.
WE are duly favoured with Mr. Jackson’s letter of the 5th inst., and
samples of coir from Lagos. These contain soft, half-prepared “ bristle”
fibre, used in the manufacture of brushes , mixed with short or “ mat”
fibre. Such a mixture is unfortunate, and de tracts from the value of the
samples, as Adige two kinds, being used for different purposes, have to be

te
aie

247

separated. In the Ceylon coir they are always kept apart, and for your
guidance we send you specimens of Ceylon bristle, value 30/. per ton,
and Ceylon mat, value 107.

There is nothing either in the colour or other character of the Lagos
fibre which would justify the expectation of its PTEE a ready
demand and high price, as T — of Lagos has sear apre
led to believe. On the contrary, we value the “ uae v — of
your samples at 157., and e mat? portion a at ge to 10/. per

: pe airs Tha AND CHRISTIE.
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.

- [Enclosure No. 2.]
MESSRS. HARRISON AND JOHNSON to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW,

4, Catherine Court, Trinity Square, London, E.C.,

Sir, February 7, 1889.

E are in receipt of your favour of the 5th ere and also the
sample. The coir fibre you send is mixed half prepared brush and
mat fibre. The former, if separated, would no doub t find buyers at
og 15/. per ton, and the mat fibre would sell freely at 9/. to 107. per

“the
long, sina. would sell well at abou t 112. to 120. per a If the brush

We. bite suggest that a small sample shipment be made ; you would
n get a good idea of the value. It would be no use sending any
fibre unless the mat and ibuk were kept etaria.
If in future we can be of any help to you or to the Governor of
in eens this ne before the trade we should be pleased if you
uld make use of u

a e, Cy
aa ree AND JOHNSON.

[Enclosure No. 3.]
MESSRS. TRELOAR AND Sons to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
68, 69, and 70, Ludgate Hill, E.C.,

Sir, February 9, 1889.

WE are in receipt of your letter of the 5th and of the sample of
Lagos coir. In our opinion this is badly cleaned or dre not so
good for brush-making as the usual sort. It certainly has ri pe
advantages for mat-making, and is not in our opinion calenlated to co
mand a high price here. We have seen better fibre sold at onhiie
auction for 22s. per cwt. in London.

We are, &c.
(Signed) TRELOAR AND SONS.

248

[Enclosure No. 4. ]
MESSRS. TOYE AND BROMLEY to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.
116, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.,

SIR, February 19, 1889.
WE confirm our letter of the 11th instant, and now beg to hand
you our report on the fibre samples you sent. We trust this “will give

you the information desired. Should you require any other point
answered we shall be happy to do so.

We are, &c.
(Signed) TOYE AND BROMLEY.
REPORT.

This fibre would find a ready sale here both for brush and mat
making purposes, but the two sorts should be kept separate. For brush-
making the long fibre can only be used, and should be kept straight, and
tied in small bundles and then made up in bales weighing about 1 cwt.
or 2 cwt.each. The other sort for mat-making should be towselled and
packed up into bales. Practically speaking the mat fibre is the combings
or short from the brush fibre. There is also in the sample sent us a
stuffing of rough fibre in each of the small bundles; this should be

, as
was separately packed it would also sell here. We consider the value
e sorts, if made up in the sa we have described, would be
based on pe present value of fibre as follows :—
Sample.
No. 1. Brush fibre at 297. to 31 ars ton.
No. 2. Mat fibre at 18/. to 197. per to
No. 3. Rough stuffing sort at 10/. to Lil, per ton.

We return a sample of each quality to show more clearly our meaning.
The brush A we suggest, should be tied up about the size of our
sample No. 1. You will notice that we have taken your sample as
received, and dressed it into the above three sorts, which your friends
will find far more advantageous than sending it in the rough condition.

(Signed) TOYE AND BROMLEY.

LXXVI.—BAHIA PIASSAVA.
(Attalea funifera, Mart.)
[K. B., 1889, pp. 237-242. ]
valuable fibre, largely used in this country under the name of

Se ia Piassava, is obtained from the leaf-stalks of a Brazilian palm
known as Attalea funifera, Mart. This palm has a wide distribution
in the lowlands of Brazil, and is found tvarka the province -
Bahia parallel to the coast, from San Salvador or Bahia in lat. 13° t
Caravellas in about lat. 18°.
Para Piassava, which is exported from the port of that name, is
slightly different in texture and colour from Bahia Piassava, and is
derived from another pem, Leopoldinia Piassaba, Wallace. Specimens
of both Bahia and Para Piassava, together with appliances used in the
industry, as well as finished articles, are shown in the Kew Mase

SNe yee

Se ae A og Ieee re arse ae
- E 7 inays

249

No. II. An excellent series of Bahia Piassava is shown in Case

No. 62. One of the earliest notices of ‘Bahia Piassava, and probably

the first where the plant yielding it is authoritatively determined, is

contained in an article in Hooker’s Journal of Botany and Kew

Garden Miscellany, vol. i. (1849), pp. 121-123. In this notice Sir
m. ooker states :—

*
e “and clean by the stiff fibres of a new material for making brushes

‘and brooms, those of the machines, as well as those employed by
= Sree and if anyone is asked what be the origin of this fibre, the
= frequent reply is ‘Whalebone, I suppose. ut, no; it is not of
“animal but vegetable origin, the coarse fibre of a species of palm
“ (Attalea funifera) which grows abundantly in Brazil. This curious
“material, according to its “stoutne ss and tenacity, is employed for
“ cordage and mats as well as for brooms and brushes. The dilated
* base of the leaf-stalks spine into a long coarse fringe, which is
“ collected by the natives and used in the country or exported to Europe
“ for the purposes above mentioned, and now constitutes a considerable
“ article of comme

he fruit or nuts of this palm are sore article of commerce,

= Fite brought into England under the name of Coquilla nuts, and

“ extensively used for various kinds of meea pee especially in
“ making handles of bell-pulls, umbrellas, &c., &c. ; for the shell (or

“ putamen) is of great thickness, excessively hard, beautifully mottled:
= mo rS nd light brown, and capable of taking a high degree of
é

se oe are aware, no detailed account of Bahia Piassava has
hitherto eet published in oo accessible form. Weare therefore happy to
avail ourselves of the courtesy of Mr. W. S. Booth, Belle Vue House,
Gloucester, who has eens ed from personal observation the following
excellent account of the present condition of the industry in Brazil for
the Kew Bulletin :—

BAHIA PIASSA

“The fibre of the palm (Attalea Funiferd a) is obtained chiefly in the
province of Bahia, along the coast south of Valença, where the sapply
is now exhausted, to Porto Seguro, which will soon be in the
condit tio

the woodland Pines do Reena vat

patches, called campos, nestling in the heart of imme
“ Natural lly, the Paasi do Campo’ is more sen centred than

the ‘Piassava do Mato’; for while the former grows in spots where it

Moreover, a certain ‘ pratique’ is requir
at first sight in the dense tangle of a tropical ju ie. 5
“ Piassava of either denomination is divided according to its age,

* to ira d Co ueira.
into two kinds, viz., Bananeira an whore tran a | ae not yet developed,

oqu
of fibre, according to its age, viz
(1.) Ordinar Boe s which is doit round <I up among the broken

‘ leaves, and the upper part of the tr

250

(2.) Balloon, fomes by the older libre which has fallen to the ground
n se of the trun

(3) Piassava Tolho, or ‘eye "Pia ssava,’ which is the latest growth,

and is in all respects nyi to that yielded by the

‘ Ban vas
“The Piassava d’olho, by reason of its flexibility and colour, is used
chiefly for sais up and embellishing the bales. Its yield is always
small, being about 15 to 17 per at of the total ‘pull’ of the tree,
which is from 35 to 5 iao (1 arroba=324} lbs.) on a fully grown

ree.
“The palm grows in the neighbourhood of rivers, and on land that
is always in a half s swampy condition, being below the flood mark in the
iny season. ey are erect trees, ApEn ted by a crown of large
‘t pinnatisect Sia (between which the spathes appear); flowers, yel-
‘ lowish, succeeded by ovate or elliptical fruits (drupes), of a brown or
* greeni nish brown colour.’ The hard thick shell of the nut contains
two oleaginous edible seeds, and is enclosed in a thin polished fibrous
case which is capped at the base like the acorn. The campos, as a
rule, are not liable to flood, but lying as they do surrounded by swampy
-a the gar of moisture are fulfilled in which it is necessary
the to flourish. The mean temperature of the Piassava
en is asa 77° F. On reaching the se e six to nine years, the
palm begins to bear fibre fit to pull. The sent mode of obtaining
it is to cut the tree down, and pull the fibre Pais the trunk afterwards,
a very oo proceeding, considering the time the fallen nuts take to
e and grow into bearing trees, The base of the petiole of the
leaf motes round the trunk (as can be seen in many other palms) like
a sort of fibrous wrapper which splits in the course of the trunk’s
growth, and falls over on either side. The petiole contains two trans-

“ From this it will be seen that the fineness or coarseness of the fibre
depends largely on its beter p in the petiole, the coarsest fibre lying
closest to the midrib,

“ Two siete kinds of Piassava.

“There are two kinds of Piasfava used in commerce: the round,
stiffish fire from the districts I have mentioned, which is shipped from
Bahia, is known as ‘ Bahia Piassava’ (Attalea Fangere ‘a); and that
collected. 2 the Amazons and the Rio Negro, shipped andos,

Para, and tel as ‘Para Piassava aiana Piassaba,

Wallace, ‘Palm trees of the Amazon,’ p.17). This latter is flat, soft,
and flexible, aeea differing from V Bakia’ fibre, and commanding
on occasions — times its price, which at present stands at 387. for
g

“In Brazil, these fibres are used for cables, ropes, baskets, hats,
tieing, fencing, and many other purposes; but in this country, and in
est po solely for brush and broom work, by itself and mixed with
other

“The nuts of the ef carry are exported to Europe for the manu-
facture of buttons, knobs, &

“ Method of Coltection and Preparation for the Market.

“Immediately after the exploration — very gore adori
to discover crops which will repay the cutting, i ecessary t

oe EAR

Se ee ee Eee

251

establish the ‘camp,’ and to Hock it with food and jmplomante in-
dispensable to the men; also find a pasturage for the animals
employed, and a supply of fodder ze augment the ede oh EE food that
is yielded by the forest. Through failing to take this Legon the
best troops of mules will be aveg in a few months, a
of sick animals will be considerable, to ay nothing of the difficulties
which will follow from this false econom
“A s the cutters have arrived in the camp, each takes a
different direction, thus endeavouring to secure an advantageous cutting
position, from which, when found, he does his utmost to keep his
companio ns.
ae. weighing of the pulled on should be done every fort-
night, as the men are furnished on credit at the ‘barracão, and it is
well to “settle their accounts by Aaa Fiss their work fortnightly, or so.
“The average cut of one man di may be estimated at three
e

: l unbo

amount of his credit should be based on “this quantity. It must be
borne in mind that Bie fren are not only great hunters, so wasting
a day from time to time in the pursuit of game, but they are lazy, and
could they obtain aito a Hen on credit, they would not scruple
to abuse such credit on all occasio

“Though I have estimated the daily work of one man at three arrobas,
an inexperienced hand is often unable to clear more than one or two;
while, on the other atid, a very hard worker has been known to clear
as much as Six arrobas i in one day. It is customary to weigh the fibre

Piassava ee weighed is much more favourable to fraud than that
weighed unbound.

“It may ce useful to note here that the cost of binding up the
cabecas i is 2 reis a-piece (1,000 reis =

“ As limited above, the cutters always do their best to defraud the
principals or buyers. They smuggle stones ipl pieces of palm inside
the mondongas (i.e. parcels supposed to h 60 kilos. or 1321
ready for weighing); they spread the fibre a A the ground, leaving
it a long time exposed to the rain; and, finally, their shanties being
ile built by the side of running water, they think nothing of ree:
he ‘cabecas’ in these streams ‘end on,’ so that is ey may be i

nated with the fine sand brought down by the ¢ cur rrent. Asa‘ set off’ ?

fazenda by t he main track is cleared at the expense of the
Seperate The ma cutters are obliged to have their fibre

T or b
pressed into P bales = a packing press r by han via:—the molho and the

molho is pressed by hand, i tains three or five cabegas,
sind is hoa in ies. seven, or nine wee The charge for making
these up is 200 reis (53d.). ih

252

“The fardo Aaa 10 or 12 cabeças, and by reason of its size is
packed in the press ; costing from 240 to 300 reis per fardo for making
up. A good packer will turn out from 18 to 20 molhos epee and two
good aino can press from 30 to 40 fardos in the sam
“If the fazenda be on a river the goods are er sore the
coast town by canoe ; a large one holding, say 40 to 50 fardos, or abaa
120 to 130 molhos
“ With very amall exceptions for local uses, the whole of the fibre
pulled is sent to Bahia to be sold on account of the owners by the
consignees.
“ The annual export is about 7,000 tons, of which paan Britain pr
slightly more than half ; Germany coming second with nearly a qua
while Belgium, France, Portugal, and the Southern Bupitblios geile
take the isvin quarte
“There is an export itty, imperial and provincial together, of 20
per cent, ad valorem, which is declared every week, and is assessed on
the average weekly prices of the sales made by the Diokom
“ Taking into consideration the simplicity of its oA (the fibre
being ready for the market the moment it is pulled from the tree, and
sina the re duty in Brazil, and the high prices realised in
rope, I cannot help thinking that those interested in the dev elopment
of profitable industries in India, and our other tropical possessions,
would find an attempt to transplant the Piassava Palm rewarded
ultimately by Janda retur
-*T am greatly indebted Ae e E. F. Bradley, of the Star Brush.
Company, Holloway, and to Senr. F. E. Blanchet of the Fazenda
Bolandeira, near Canavieiras, for much valuable aid in this inquiry.

* Appendix.
“Exports returns of Piassava fibre from Bahia for the year ending
as 1889 :—

eat Sesa = - 535,419

eatin y - - 289,548
Belgium - - ooo
France - - ‚123
Portugal - - - 36,247
Argentines - - 5,730
Uruguay - - - 5,706
Spain - - - 1,018
Austria - - 727

Soe for the right of pes: ot more than tee arrobas epee
+28. Od. i

ug peci ed
on the licence, the poorer is alw: s. well satisfied git 100 tone,
and rarely gets more from one camp af cele
“I append a first-cast account as it may be of some AES or
service. I have not taken into consideration the cost of opening up
paths through the forest, as this outlay is a very uncertain amount,
depending entirely on the character of the obstacles.

ee
3

258
“ Cost per Arroba (324 n in Bahia.

Paid to cutters (say) -~ - 500
Loss i = weight oes water, ke.) - - 80
Licence - - - 40
Legiti mization before shipment - - - 7
Hi als - - - 666
Wages of muleteers - - - = 39D
ei and labour - - - - 5
ransport to coast town (say) = 150
Wear and tear of materials and implements ~ 'B5
Municipal taxes at coast town (say) - 40
‘ood m animals, corn, &e. - - - 100
Freight to Bahia - 260

ee and Insuratice 5% on ne 500 - - I25
Reis 2,468

“Taking a milreis as worth 27d. this gives 5s. 7d. in “Bahia,”

LXXVII—BHABUR GRASS,
Cae angustifolium, Hackel.)
K. B., 1888, pp. 157-160. ]
This grass, which clo osely approaches esparto in habit and in the
possession of the technical qualities necessary for paper manufacture,
was first brought into notice by Dr. King in the annual report of the
Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, for the year 1877-78. It was there
confounded with an entirely distinct plant, Eriophorum geen ios a
. of Cyperacee, with which it often grows intermix xed, an m
which, as it rarely flowers, it is hard to distinguish. This error
pears have originated with Royle, who (illustrations, p. 415)
identifies Bhabar with Eriophorum comosum var. bade num, It was
referred to in the Kew Report for 1878, p. 45, as follows
“ Eriophorum comosum.—This plant is w ell known in Noi orth-Western
“ India, where, under the name of Bhabar has, it is oe i used as a
“ material for Ops s. It was submitted by Dr. King to Mr. Routledge
“ (of the Ford Works, esrin who writes to us:— A small
“ ‘quantity of bleach brings it up to a good colour. The ultimate
“fibre is very fine aad delicate, rata ‘ah more so than esparto, and of
“* about the same strength; the yield, however, is 42 per cent., some-
“*what less. I think I FT venture to say that it will make a quality
‘of paper equal to e ee
“Th the foltowitig an M Mr. Duthie, ap rience ent of the Government
— Spare S NR sent a specimen to Kew for identifi-
cat wrote, May 879 :—
a ta am eal a specimen of a Cyperaceous-looking plant, which I
“have been aske

t
“Tis native name is Bankas, and it is largely used in making rop
“&c. It has beea sent to me three times, but on each Se
“ without flowers. It is said to flower only once in three years.
This recalled a grass which, under the name of Bunkuss appears, from
the Bengal Catalogue of Indian products, to have been shown at the

254

London Exhibition of A (section 1, pp. 137, 168), as used in
N.W. India for making ropes.

Mr. Duthie’s dinone, though extremely imperfect, were submitted
to the late General Munro, C.B., F.R.S., in the pp that his incom-
parable knowledge of grasses might e abie him to ascertain what it

„He Suc coeeded i = eue it with spodiopogmn pe
uera 36).

s Nosi aS Steudel. Tt is ag oe name ‘only as ' Spodiopagila
“ laniger in Royle’ S iaon Ja 416). It is very common in all

“ parts of the Lower Himalayas, and I pan seen it from Afghanistan,
“ collected by Griffith.”

r. Duthie subsequently informed us that it was also known un nder
the name of Bhaib grass, and that it was used for the manufacture of
string matting and a variety of other articles, of which a fine collection
was sent by him to the Kew Museum in 1880 (see Kew Report,
1880, p. 60).

We were indebted to Sir Dietrich ere K.C.LE., late merge
General of Forests to the Government of India, for pointing out that
the grasses variously known as Bhah, har, Bhaib, and Bankas were all
identical. The following note upon the subject is contained in a

paper entitled “Suggestion regarding Forest Aduanan in the
ENW. a Meg and Ondh ” Sprains 1882, pp. 7,
“The export of the grass kno as Bhabar, “Bhaily Bankas

* (Andropogon clean not as as eae been erroneously stated,
Eriophorum comosum), from the Siwalik Hills, and from x racks 0
“ broken raviny ground outside the hills, is VOX considera

e dantl

grass grows abun on dry bare and no pet a
“ regarding the sufficiency of the supply need ar ai be entertained
“ It is used chiefly for rope-making, and it is no s impossible

“ that the establishment of paper-mills in North India will eventual
“lead to the employment of this grass for the manufacture of paper.”
Early in ES the India Office furnished us with a copy of a report
by Mr. C. E. Edwards, the manager of the Lucknow Paper Mills, to
the Director of ox Department of Agriculture and Commerce of the
North-West Provinces and Oudh, which contained. H the soleene obser-
vations with respect to the use of Bhaib for paper
his grass we have used here, but not to any aon pected: owing
= io the price being too high, besides the out-turn is not so great as
“ with jute. I found it not to yield more han about 35 per cent. of
“ paper, ís is to a great extent owing to the top part of the
“ plant being somewhat perished, I presume ak to the tops being
“more exposed to the atmosphere, as this part appears to get ripe
è much earlier chan the bottom. In the process of boiling the perished
p
“ “ sufficiently reduced to a pulp. This accounts for the a loss in the
manufacture, but this could be obviated by having the top parts cut
4) = of before despatching it to the paper mills, and if it could be had at

“ would be a good and cheap enough fibre for paper-making purposes.”
Dr. King, in his annual report for 1882- 3 summed up its prospects

as follows :—
_ “In several former reports I have referred to the leaves known by
e the vernacular name bhabur as the produce of Eriophorum comosum.
l have now satisfied myself that the bulk of the bhabur used by
“ natives for rope-making is not deriyed from Eriophorum, as I haye

Pe he ay ate ek Se aT. ke

255

a “< supposed, but from Andropogon involutus, This grass, I find from
“inquiry locally made, abounds in the hill parts of Behar and Chota
“ Nagpore, where it is known as Sab ai. From these regions it can be
“ obtained in quite considerable enough quantity to make its utilisation

“asa paper material a feasible project, and the people who actually

“ collect it sell it at a reasonable enough rate. But in order to get it

“ for shipment to Europe, middlemen have to be employed, whose ideas

“of profit are pitched so high that, until they become modified, the

“ utilisation n bhabur must remain in abeyance. This is only in ac cord

“ with the common experience in the Mofussil, that competition in
i kee ch effect i i

aa but that, on the contrary, traders still form guilds banded
“ together to enhance prices, even at the risk of choking off demand.”
eae hag: 1, 1883, the late ae apeze Pasian sg pi was
always ready to assist us, by maki exper w paper
oe eR privately reported, as ke. final result of nis trials ‘of Bhabur
S:

ate | a yews it will make a fair sheet of paper, much the same as fine
“ esparto ; in fact, in many respects, as a natural product, it closely
co ch glutinous

“ resembles esparto, but does not contain so much glutir and
‘< amylaceous matters, nor so much silica, The sample sent, you wi ill
remark, was cut, and not pulled from the roots as esparto is. Like

« esparto; in situ it is worth very little, and is used for similar purposes,
“ roping, matting, baskets, &c. The cost of esparto consists in
“ collection, carriage to port of shipment, and, latterly, baling charges,
c ‘ freight to En ngland, &c. Whether from India, with long and
a Summe int costly inland carriage, with heavy freight added; it can
poe into competition with a is doubtful, and I do not think it

that this is teady Side

“ (1.) The Sabai or Babui grass yields two crops in the year, one in
5 Sapiember. and the other = the of October or early in November,
“without any irrigation, the rainy season is then prevalent. It

i „ might yeka third satini if trigsíad. but I cannot say anything on
this head, never having made the experiment, nor have I seen it

g attempted by others
I believe it will grow anywhere, as we re transplanted it
“ from here to all our other out-stations in the San ‘arganas, and it
“ thrives in them all. The Santhal Christians are spre taken some of
«it to our Christian Colony in Guma Duar, Assam, where it also

“@.) I have never attempted to propogate it by seed, but wye. by
‘< roots. When a clump or tuft is dug out, it may be ‘divided in
“ many pau: divisions of roots as one pleases, and these are put om

256

H ; garoction, and fresh earth thrown over the whole renee the yield.
“ If not treated in this way, T will cease yielding any c When
k sies e old, it must be en up entirely, edindi in small
“ bunches of roots, and Pa to a fresh localit

“ (4.) We bought the grass seinen ig in local hats for ‘yoofing purposes
za ia rope). before w we grew our own, and nowhere in our neighbourhood

m I aware of its being Naikieated in any but ees foes aap by a

vad es man here or there. It is not cultivated as a so of income
“ or trade, so that I am unable to say whether the ie ae ie bought,
“or at what t price. We got a small quantity of the roots originally
“ from a Hindu village, but by fostering F spreading their cultivation
“have now a considerable quantity. should be planted in a dry
“ spot, where no water lodges, as aaa ipes has shown in one of our
“ stations, where the water oozed up from below and rotted the roots,
“ that it would not grow there. A sloping site e Seared the best.

“ When we first started the mission here had to pay Rs. 4 a

“ cultivate it ourselves. The grass runs to seed in the hot months, shortly
“ before the rainy season, but these must be cut off and removed, or the
“ crop will deteriorate.

Besides a great variety of native names, Bhabur grass has, from the
difficulty of exactly eeke ea its affinities. received an almost equal
number of botanical ones. Under the name of Pollinia er topoa: it is
discussed in the Journal of the Linnean Society (vol. xx., pp. 409, 410),
and it is figured and described in Hooker’s Icones Plantarum pa 1773)
as Ischemum angustifolium, the name Bree assigned to it pat Hackel,

e most recent monographer of Grasse

Rae sae ADDED, 1894 :—An Sneed de oe of ‘ ater Grass and the trade in
it,” by J. S. Gamble, F.L.S., Conservator of Forests, School Circle, N.W. Provinces
and Oudh, is given in the ‘hipendiy: Series of the fuze Forester, December, 1893. }

LXXVIII.-BHABUR GRASS—(continued.).
(Ischemum angustifolium, Hackel.)
LE. B., 1894, p. 367.]

A note on Bhabur grass (with a plate) was published in the Kew
Bulletin, 1888, pp. 157-160. fhis grass isa native of India, and it is
a eae i

necessa r paper manufacture. Its merits were fiist brought irto
notice by Dr. George King, C.I.E., F.R.S., Superintendent of the Royal
Botanic Gardens. Calcutta, in 1877- 78. Since that time the grass ha

y Seed of the grass, = own variously as Shabir. baii and sabai
was issued to a few applicants outside of India. This grass (of which
the botanical name is now Ischæmum angustifolium) first st attracted m my.

257

notice as a possible raw material for paper twenty-five years ago, while I
was in the Forest Department in the North-west Provinces. It is very
common in the Siwalik range, and in the Bhabar forests of the Gharwal
and Kumaon Himalaya. Samples of it sent home by me in 1873 toa
paper-maker in Scotland, were favourably ayoa upon ; and again in
1877 a sample sent by me to the India Office, having boua submitted to
the late Mr. Routledge, of the Ford Paper Mills (then a leading authority
on paper-making), was declared by him to be little inferior to Ksparto
as a raw material an paper. A year or two subsequently to this it was
discovered, by the help of Mr. J. S. Gamble, of the Forest Department,
that this grass is common in the forests of Chota Nagpur. Samples of

then the use of this grass has so increased that it now forms the chief
raw material of an industry which, in this country, is yet probably only
in its infancy. As seed of Bhabur grass is now being applied for from
abroad, it is possible that, before long , it may be cultivated in other
tropical countries.”

LXXIX.—BROOM ROOT OR MEXICAN WHISK.
(Epicampes macroura, Benth.)
[K. B., 1887, December, p. 9.)

In the Report of Her Te s Consul at Vera Cruz for the year
1886, Mr. Baker draws attention to a comparatively new industry
connected with the preparation id export of what is called “ Broom

oot.’

This root was exported from the port of Vera Cruz last year to the
any value of 58,6327. The bulk appears to have been shipped to_
Ge and France, while the quantity shipped to England was
compara ative ely small. The Curator of the Museum [Gardeners’
Chronicle, Vol. II. (third series), p. ms, ue Pareme the fact
that the broom root exported from Vera C in Europe
as Mexican or French Whisk. It is aF pyi e Germans and
French to mix with Venetian whisk, derived from e toot of Chryso-
pogon Gryllus, for the manufacture of dandy brushes, clothes brushes,
carpet brushes, and velvet brushes, sien are shipped to this nina
at exceedingly low prices. The broom root, therefore, appears to be
a cheap substitute for Venetian whisk ina it is said that when made
into brushes and thoroughly dry it is apt to become brittle and break
off. For this reason it has never = much favour in England.

As the botanical origin of bro root was as waked, efforts were

e through the Foreign Office t to obtain specimens of the plants
yielding it. These specimens were obligingly forwarded to Kew by
Mr. Consul Baker, and received on the 3rd October. a appears that

ocal name

is “Zacaton.” This is a plant with coarse tufted lle found widely
distributed over the highlands of Mexico, and attaining a height of six
or seven feet. The roots, in the condition in which they are exported,
are called “ Raiz de paced peed roots are about nine inches to a
foot long, possessing vy chara and about one-sixteenth of an

inch in diameter. They ak perp undergone some cleansing

8896

258

bleaching process, which gives them a bright appearance and a pale
sare colour

Am g the specimens sent by Mr. Baker to Kew there were two
Sade "ae grasses, both of which evidently belonged to the genus
Epicampes. One was Epicampes macroura, Benth., [Cinna macroura,
Kunth.|, and the other a closely allied species which could not be
determined without flowers. There can be little doubt, therefore, that
the broom root is derived from one or more species of grasses belonging
to the genus Hpicampes.

Sereno Watson, Botany of California, Vol. II., p. 277, mentions the
distribution of one sporio of this genus, viz., Epicampes rigens, Benth.
(Cin na macroura, Thurb.), as San rogo. County, age and also
in Mexico and “eastward in New Mexico and Western Texas. It is

as “ eed-grass.” It is paana as a yin -growing, very
rigid, wiry aan of a pale yellowish green colour, growing in sub-
alkaline localities, and apparently i in tufts. The rigid stems are used
by the Indians for making baskets

LXXX.—BROOM ROOT OR MEXICAN WHISK—
(continued).
(Epicampes macroura, Benth.)
[K. B. 1897, p. 172.]

An account of Broom root or Mexican whisk obtained from one or
more species of grasses belonging to the genus Epicumpes was given
the Kew Bulletin ag December 1887 (p. 9). The roots - the co

most recent information respecting Broom root is contained in the
following “Report for the year 1895 on the Trade of Mexico” (F.O.
1896, Annual ey No. 1827 2 :—

“ From the roots of a coarse tufty grass, known as ‘Zacaton, which
is found growing wild all over the highlands of Mexico, a fibre is
> called ‘Raiz de Zacaton,’ which has found a market abroad

r the manufacture of certain kinds of brushes and whisks. It is
ears by hand, and is subjected to very little treatment a being
ed, beyond being soaked in water and bleached in the

rincipal market for this fibre i s Hamburg, but the United States and

e both take a certain amount. t has never obtained a foothold in
the English market. The export in ah was valued at 67,5997. The
price, according to the New York quotations, ranged in the year under
question from 6c. to 14c. per Ib. noni to quali ty.”

LXXXI—CHINESE FIBRES.
[K. B., 1891, pp. 247-259.]

Under the name of jute or hemp there are included a nunhere of
commercial fibres in Cuina yielded by very different plants, There

rpose o
-is greatly indebted to Sir Robert Hart for the copy of it comm

259

different fibres bearing the same name, and the same product often bears
different names at different ports. The fault is probably due to the
fact that European traders have used the terms jute and hemp ina
generic sense rather than a specific one. There is probably also a
fiscal element concerned, as the diy on “jute” is only “2 mace per
picul,” whereas “ hemps” pay 3} mace. An in ate made by Kew less
than a year ago in regard to the origin of Chinese jute, as quoted in
the London trade lists, has brought out very forcibly the confusion
which exists in regard to the origin and classification of commercial
fibres at Chinese ports.

It has been shown that a ag ate pth in all respects with
Indian jute, and rae by the e plant, Coz ve Us OES das
is grown and prepared in the PE TES of the Wên
while the so-called jute of Northern China is obiained from an entirely
different plant which has been lately identified, fro warded

Acting Consul at Chefoo, ir. ie exander = a as
Abutilon Avicenna, Gertn. In regard to the application the term
hemp, this appears to be still more widely and loosely used. It is
applied, in its eae sense, to the common or aian ees grown in
Northern oe he produce of Cannabis sativa, It also
indifferent] et and applied to the China grass or Rhea. fibre
esish iq Rea k.) of Kiukiang ; to the fibre Hete from the
bark of young trees of tere ulia platanifolia, L., at , and to the

aa fibre (Ananas sativus, Baker) of Kua kow, Hainan, and

The application of such well-established terms as jute and hemp to
fibres so different in character and origin must lead to much confusion

and tend to retard the Jevelopristit ú of trade. One of the most interest-

ing of Chinese fibres is that derived from the Ko plant, a trailing vine
identical with Pueraria thumbergiana, Benth. This fibre, known
locally as Ko-pou, has also passed under the name of hemp, although
the quantity produced is apparently very 8 mall. An account of this Ko
plant is given in the Enumeration of Chinese Plants, Journ. Linn.

Soc., vol. xxii

iD, I9.
To return to the subject of jute. — and Sere ti of Chinese
ste from South Manchuria received a t Bae in 1 79 through Nr,

Noithern in is may ore correctly salted Abutilon
emp. Another set of specimens, illustrative of the pine-apple fibre
(also called hemp) has been received from Mr. E. H. Parker, Her
Majesty’s Consul at Kiungchow in Southern China.
The detailed information so far obtained respecting the distribution
and origin of Chinese jutes and hemps, is given i e following cor-
respondence. It is de sirable to place this Gaformation on record as a

~ y
Inspector-General of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs.
interesting memorandum prepared by Dr. Henry, F.LS., is of ancl
value for the pu of aiding in such an inquiry, and this mmunicated

8395

260

in the form of a pamphlet—China, Imperial Maritime Customs, II. :—
Special Series : No. 16, 1891.

Inspectorate General of portage Peking,
ecember 27, 1890.

An inquiry respecting “Chinese jute” having been made by the

Director of the Royal Ga rdens at Kew, Dr. Augustine Henry, one of

attention to botanical subjects, prepared a memorandum on the jute
and hemp of China, setting forth the present extent of our knowledge,
and formulating certain points for elucidation. The original meee
and the subsequent memorandum are hereto appended, and the s
concerned are requested to keep the B. in view and, while opi
the Inspector-General with such reports as may be drawn up, forwa
to the Non-Resident Secretary for the Kew Gardens such specimens as
can be procured.

By order,
(Signed) E. B. DREW,
Chief Secretary.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to the NON-RESIDENT SECRETARY.

SIR, October 9, 1890.
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that a sample
of “ China jute,” a small portion of which is enclosed Trate has

lately been presented to the Museum of Economic Botan t Kew.
This “jute,” we take it, is prepared t Pappea from pone relat of
Chi ut we are unable to trace its ori

2. This establishment takes a apsal interest in the industrial
application of plant products, and we have received very valuable aid
from time to time from officers connected with the Department of the
Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, for which we are very gratefu
In the present instance, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would esteem it
him i

ning
botanical specimens of the plant which yields “ China Eigen together
with some particulars respecting the methods pursued in preparing it

ior market. ical specimens s d, if ible, consist of

leaves, flowers, and fruit, placed between sheets of paper and strengthened

ed c n this manner they would travel very well by parcel or
00

I am
(Signed) ` 5. MORRI
A isan Dir
. D. Campbell, Esquire, Secretary, Chinese Tapora Maritimo
"Customs, 8, Storey’s Gate, St. James’s Park, S.W.

MEMORANDUM on the JUTE and Hemp of CHINA, by Dr. AUGUSTINE
H Y, F.L.S.

I have read over the letter addressed to the London Office by Mr.
Morris, of Kew, and I think the specimen referred to “ China jute” is
not jute at all, but Abutilon hemp. I am also of opinion that the article
comes fro rom | ientsin

rew th r of the e Gardene at Kew seems anxious to
obtain information concerning th e plants producing textile fibres in

261

China, and as there is much doubt regarding the various kinds of z%
called hemp and jute in China, different products tpr T ‘

direction in which information is to be sought ; on the a it keee be
of some service to the Som at any time that wish
to have the subject gone into by his officers in China. The pag we is
of re oe ee I should say, both on the commercial and
scientific sid
A.—The Plants producing Apni Fabrics in China.
In Chinese the character Ma is En of plants producing textile
fabrics ; and the following kinds are EE R both by colloquial
book usage [Ma also includes certain plants the seeds of which are
used for ek oil, and also certain herbs the foliage of which simulates
gapi in appearance ; but with these we have at present nothing to
öl:
1. Ta Ma, of books ; Hsiao Ma, colloquially in North China, because
there the castor-oil plant is spoken of as Ta Ma (“large Ma”), from
| its aes Huo Ma colloquially in South China
names indicate common or Russian hemp, the product of
Shwiahis sativa, L
So far as my experience in Hupeh goes, this plant is chiefly cultivated
| there for the oil lstor its seeds, and for coarse fibres used in making
cordage ; and is apparently used for making cloth or canvas, t
in other Frivives a China it doubtless is manufactured into cloth, and
information on this point is desira
‘ 2. Ch‘ing Ma.—This is Abutilon hemp, the product of the plant
known to botanists as Abutilon Avicenne, Gærtn. It is commonly
cultivated in Hupeh and Szechwan, and is the greater Ped if not all,
of the “hemp’ ’ passed through t the Ie hang Custom According to
Bretschneider it is also cultivated in Chihli; and 7 have little doubt
is what is passed Eeoa the Tientsin Customs as “ I
pomt of this 1 I find in a Customs publication ‘that all ine hemp
exported from Tientsin is called by Chinese Ch‘ing Ma, and by the
foreign merchants “jute.” But seis is some confusion between this
and the next article, as will be shown.
3 - Huang Ma.—This is “ Att jute,” the product of Corchorus
| capsularis, L. The plant is figured in Chinese books, and, according to

the Vienna Exhibition Catalogue, its fibre is ex om Shanghai
Loureiro mentions it for Canton, and Dr. Faber says it is cultivated in
Szechwan under the name Pai Ma. in name is given in the Chinese

Herbal, the Pén-ts‘ao as a synonym of Ch‘ing Ma; and it would seem,
then, that Abutilon hemp and jute are liable to ‘be confused by the
Chinese. Perhaps some of the [chang and some of the Tientsin export
may be “ Indian jute.’

C Ma.—This is Boehmeria nivea, Hook.

Mes a EST

grass, out which mos the called Grasscloth (in Chinese
| “ Hsia Pu”) is made. It is cultivated in Szechwan, Hupeh, Kiangsi,
| d various other provinces e Kiukiang Trade Reports for 1 3,
o p. and 1869, pp. 115, 118, give the information that the “ hemp”

large quantity is locally woven into grasscl

262

Report, p. 118, enters into the question of grasscloth and its manu-
facture from the < remp,” and gives tables. showing the extensive
exportation, &c.

From this ig would seem that the “hemp” experted from Kiukiang
is really Chin a grass ; oe - pa a large portion of the Hankow
export of * ra mp ” is the e fibr

The Paris Exhibition Catalogue, “No. 1673, Hankow, gives Ss su. Ma.
This probably is also China

Hu Ma.—This is Jean Catinaan Mera immon L.) which is culti-

vated in A Mongolia, and = m untainous parts of Hupek
and Szechw Ía the last two pro es m personal observation
flax would seem to be entirely ritteiited = the seeds, which are a

common article in Chinese drug shops, and are used locally for their
vil, utilised for cooking and lighting a. eek:

So far as I know the Chinese do not make any linen.

6. Tsung Ma, a local product of Hupeh, and of no commercial
imaportance.—lIt consists of the fibres obtained io. the bark of young
trees of Sterculia platanifolia, L. f., by steeping them in water. This
“hemp” is used for oe cordage, and a specimen of it, pe
by a is in tlio Muse m at Kew.

and w on gl e coarser kinds of sain th. It is used (in
sae ‘ :

The Kiungchow Report for 1883, p. 361, lode that hemp was
exported from Hainan by steamer in that to the value of
Hk. Taels 18,000 (803 piculs in quantity), and ‘that most of this so-
called hemp, which is in reality the fibre of the pine-apple plant,
finds its bE to Swatow, where it is manufactured into a very fine
grassclo

The e expor ort called “hemp” from Hainan and Formosa is evidently,
then, the fibre best distinguished as “ Pine-apple hem

. Fan Pu, ie., “Savage Cloth.”—This is, -a according to the Takow
Trade Report for "1876, p. 98, a hind of grasscloth worn by the inha-
bitants of Formosa. It is manufactured by the aborigines, and is finer
and more expensive than the Pine-apple cloth. It is sold in the shops
of Taiwan-fu ; the better kind qip for as much as 8 dollars for a piece
sufficient for making a single garment.

tis very desirable that information should be obtained regarding the
plant from which this dear article is procured. Particulars regarding
its mode of preparation, &c., are also E ARN

B.—Concer nin g the different Names of these Textiles in common Use,
their Export from the various Treaty Po

We find the following information embodied in various Customs
publications :—

1, The “hemp” exported from Tientsin is called “jute” by the
foreign merchants there, and Ch‘ing Ma by the Chinese ; and is sallowed
to pass at the rate of 2 mace per picul, other kinds of “ hemp” paying

mace. No ports Cs Haden and Shanghai seem e export “jute.”

2. “China Grass,” “Raw He “mp,” i.e, the raw fibre roughly
ake from the mci in “ribbons.” An export i: roni a Batar pays
an ad valorem rate of 5

i
4
i
f
$
|

263

3. “4Hemp Skin,” Ma-p‘i, An export from Amoy ; pays 5 per cent,
ad valorem. I cannot say what kind of hemp this is, nor what is the
plant from which it is derived, and information on this point is very
desirable.

4. “ Pine- -apple Hemp.” The tariff for “hemp,” ie. 35 mace, is
evied.

5. Export from a oy ties Ports.—I roughly summarise, with
running Yel from the ms Returns for 1889 :—

Tientsin.—Export for mae > pons of 13,619 piculs of “jute.” I
consider this to be really Abutilon hemp; Chihli is the province of
production.

Ichang.—1,506 piculs of “ hemp” exported i in 1889. This is mainly
Abutilon: Bemp, though some “Indian jute” may be included. P
duced in Szechwan. “Always called Ch‘ing Ma on the Ichang Customs
documents.

Hankow. Tate oe weet of “hemp” aa ile Oe n 1889. Er dis-

(if any), ir or “China pete A certain pooR is unquestionably
Abutilon hemp from Szechwan and Hupeh, and the larger part i

China ae from Hupeh.
Kiukiang.—25,704 piculs ste in 1889; all called “hemp.”
This is probably er China s fro om Hupeh and Kian ngsi.
Wuhu.—290 piculs of ‘ : het An? ’ exported in 1889. Produced in

heel and per er? China grass.

Chinkiang.—1,059 piculs “ hem mp. ” It is doubtful what this really is: is.

Shanghai. —390 prscotss it es: and 21 piculs “jute,” of local pro
duction. What the

Ningpo.—264 pica sni skin.”

Foochow.—52 piculs “ hemp.” J

Takow.—1,374 piculs “hemp” (this is “ pine-apple hemp”), and
54l piculs “hem mp skin.

Amoy.—6,215 piculs “ ne skin

Swatow. bery 916 piculs “ hem

Kowloon.—913 piculs “hemp” and 1,643 piculs is “ hemp skin.”

Lappa.—2,355 viele “ hemp,” and L390 piculs “ hemp skin.

Kiungchow.—983 piculs “ ere ales This is “ pine-apple hemp,” and
is produced in the island of Hai

From the southern ports, it will To nia, there is a enpr export of
“hemp skin,” a very ill-sounding name. It is, probably, undressed
hemp, and may be the product of the common or teat dd goz mp plant ;
but the point ought to be elucidated, and a better English name
substituted.

Tei

447)

C.—Points requiring elucidation.

1. What is the export from each port of the different articles properly
classified as being Russian, Hemp, Abutilon Hemp, true Jute, China
grass, pau &e.

“ Hem mp 5 n”? ” d
3. din wha r p is the “ Savage Cloth ” of Formosa, made, an
what is the process of manufacture, &c. ? oy

4, Grasscloth ought to be distinguished according as it is made from
China grass, ~ &e. 4

th parame et pes which yield

c
6. Specimens of the rd jute plant, g P espoc ially in l fruit, a are Surre

is not settled -beyond the

264

7. Particulars regarding the place of phere: the manner of
cultivation, and preparation, are wanted, &c.,
(Signe ed) AUGUSTINE HENRY.
London, October 15, 1890.

FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL sien O KEW

SIR, For n Office, March 25, 1891.

WITH reference to your letter of A 26th of November last, I
am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to upar to you a copy of a
despatch from the Acting British Consul at Wénchow, including a
are on China grass cultivation in Chios

copy of a further despatch from Mr. Hosie, transmitting a report on
another textile plant, is also enclo

r. Hosie states that a case of pamai illustrative of his reports

will be forwarded direct to Kew Garden

I am, &c.
(Signed) (i He SANDERSON.
W. T. een aed -Dyer, >i y OMG.
Kew Garden

[ Enclosure. }
Acting Consul HOsIE to the MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.
My LORD, Wénchow, January 26, 1891.
exion with my “pears despatch of this date, I hav
the honour m raer a brief Report on another textile plant chitivated
in this neighbourhood. It is to all talamen a species of Abutilon
[since determined as Corchorus a L.]; but its ee
glabrous leaves, its rugose awnless capsules, and its general appearan
and size distinguish it from = “Abutilon that I am samte with, in
the Flora of China or of Indi
was reserving these brief 1 notes until I had collected more detailed
information ; but as I am under orders to proceed to Chefoo, and as it
will therefore be impossible for me to conduct further experiments with
the plant during the present year, I venture to forward the Report,
brief as it is, in “ape hope that it may be of some interest to the Director
of Kew Garden
* * * mm
I have, &e.
(Signed) ALEXANDER HOSIE,

The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G. Acting Consul.

REPORT on the CULTIVATION, at WENCHOW, of a FIBRE PLANT, and on
the EXTRACTION and USES of its FIBRE.
Cultivation.
The seeds of this fibre plant, called Lu Ma in the neighbourhood of

Wénchow, are sown in May. The ground having been made into beds
in the usual Chinese fashion, aint openings from nine inches to a

etn aR na

265

they are again manured with liquid manure. In July, small yellow

flowers appear on the stems, which have meantime grown to a height of

five or six feet, and quickly dropping their petals, give place to clusters

of seed capsules, usually three in number and firmly attached to the

stems. The latter continue growing and flowering until the end of
p

of 9 to 12 feet, with a circumference at the base of from 2 he 3
inches, and with branches pomene oa vs some 3 feet from i the

Harvesting.
They are „plucked up by the roots, the adhering soil being removed b
beating against the nearest stone, and where I saw the stems harvested,
the roots welt "thoroughly washed in a pond close to the field.

Decortication,

n are required to remove the peel. One takes hold < the
plant by its branches, the other oe the stem below the first branch
between two rounded pieces of wood about a foot long and from three
to four inches in circumference, tapering somewhat towards (hs end so
as to provide a firmer grip for the hands. The first workman pulls the
stem through the two pieces of wood which crush it, separate the peel
from the central woody matter, and remove the root. The plant is then
reversed and the branches are pulled through the i ge handles and

and the peel of stem and branches is ready to be made into bundles for
market,

Uses.

Such is the treatment which the plant receives when the fibrous peel
is. to be bape into cordage; but, when it is to be manufactured into
sacking or coarse cloth, the plants, when harvested oe steeped for a
day i dod water, and, when manipulated as above described, much of
the outer cuticle is removed in the process, and when bleached, a whiter
fibre is obtained.

e plant grows luxuriantly on the ee but I have also seen it
cultivated at an altitude of over 1,300 fe

He
(Signed) seu HOSsIE
H. B. M. Consulate, Wénchow, Acting Consul.
January 26, 1891.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, Kew,

SIR, May 5, 1891.
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton- e to prinosi ‘the receipt
of your vores of the 25th March enclos pies of despatches, in

original, received from the Acting British Conant at Wénchow, on
certain fibre plants.

The aimera illustrative of Mr. Hosie’s reports have since been
received at Kew, and they are all of an interesting character. The

266

would therefore be better to call this fibre simply “China jute.
There is a fibre yielded by a species | of Abutilon, but this appears to
come from Northern China.

Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed). sen iam
Foreign Office, S.W.

Acting Consul HOSIE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
My Lorp, Chefoo, Septembe er 5, 1891.
WITH reference to the enclosure in your lordship’s despatch to

me of June 5th last, wherein the Assistant Director of the Royal
Gardens, Kew, mentions a plant grown in North China which yields a
A eases i in the London market as China jute, I have the honour to

forward herewith a brief report on the cultivation of the plant in
question, and on the method of extracting the fibre

I am sending direct to Kew, by parcel post, ¢ dried flowering and
fruiting specimens of the plant, a packet of seed, and a sample of the
fibre. [These were subsequently shown to be derived foi Abutilon
Avicenne. ]

The only other plant cultivated in this neighbourhood for its fibre is
Cannabis sativa or Russian hemp.

(Stoned) a's, Host
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., Acting Consul.
Foreign Office.

{ Enclosure. |
REPORT on the CULTIVATION ot a FIBRE-YIELDING PLANT at
CHEF

This plant, known in the North a China as Ch’ing Ma, or more
briefly Ch’ing, yields the fibre, also called Ch’ing, which appears as
“ jute” in the export returns of the Imperial Maritime Customs. It is

annual. The seedsare sown towards the middle of April in land that
has previously been well worked and manured, several seeds being sown

her at intervals of about a foot apart, and not more than an inch
under the surface. Unless, nowsver, the soil is rich, only one of the
seedlings is allowed to mature. In years of normal rainfall the stems
esa are branchless wit th ee te large smooth serrated ovate
minate green leaves with long leaf-stalks, attain a height of eight to
ten feet. They are green and supple throughout, with a circumference

Maas ate

ae RE ts egal aaa i es ele,

EE RS ag is ala AE a whe

267

bottom of the pond. In four or, at the most, five days the fibrous peel
is loose enough to he easily removed by hand from the woody interior.
The fibre ribbons, which have now all but laut their green colour, are
afterwards washed in clean cold water and spread out in the sun, me
when n dry they are of a good white colour, such of the external greenn

as remains after the retting and washing disappearing in the process “of

ing.

These remarks apply to the plant as cultivated at Chefoo, but I am
informed that in other parts of this province and in the Mongolian hills
the stems attain a much greater pigias and yield a longer fibre.
fibre exported from Tientsin, for example, much of which probably
aa from Mongolia, is sometimes found to be-as much as fifteen feet

n length, where the piant itself does not attain that height in the
light sandy soil near Che

“The table annexed to this ‘Report gives the climatic conditions under
which the plant is cultivated here. ae ot reproduced.

Signed) ALEX. HOSIE,
H. B. M. Consulate, Chefoo, Acting Consul.
September 5, 1891.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN gna
Royal Gardens
SIR, Nove ser rA "1891.
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to acknowledge the receipt
of your an of the 2ist ultimo, forwarding a copy of a despatch and
report by Mr. Hosie, Acting Consul at Chefoo, on the subject of a

fibrous species of Abutilon yielding Chinese jute.
r. Hosie and sent direct to pra
ad

2: PE i
establishment have now been received. These specimens were

is inquiries in this
afforded to this establishment.
I have, &c.,
Sir T. H. Sanderson, K.C.M.G., (Signed) D. MORRIS.
Foreign Office, S.W.

ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE,
17, 1891.
I aM directed by Mr. Troest or v a you that he
read with interest the report on the Trade of Xiungchow tor the year =
1890, by Acting Consul Parker [F. 0. Annual Series, 1890, No. 898];

SIR,

268

and the numerous references contained init to the plants and the plant-
products noted by him in the journey inland up the Poh Chung river.
2. Mr. Parker states on page 9 that “another peculiarity of this
Ai Deon is the ubiquitousness of the dwarf Pandanus, probably the
same as the P, odoratissimus of Fiji, the fibre of which here, as there,
“is sang in the manufacture of ‘ grass-cloth,’ and is usually known to
“ foreign trade here as ‘hemp.’” In the marginal note this is described
as “cloth from the wild pine-apple.”
3. As the various plants yielding what is locally known as “hem mp”
= ge parts of China are now in course of being investigated at
Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would be glad to receive dried specimens
of aa of the Pandanus described by Mr. Parker, and also specimens
of the fibre as it usually appears in trade at Kiun gchow. The latter
would be placed for reference in the Museum of Economic Botany
attached to this establishment.

I have, &e.,
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed) D. MORRIS.
Foreign Office, S.W.

FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.

SIR, Foreign Office, November 4, 1891.
WITH reference to the letter = this Department on the 23rd

randum dra
Kiungchow, 5 showing that the hemp exported from the above-mentioned
place is made from the fibre of the pine-apple, and not of the Pandanus.
The parcel of specimens alluded to in Mr. Parker's Memorandum has
not yet arrived, but will be forwarded directly it is received.

c.
(Signed) T. H. SANDERSON.
W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Esq.,

Kew Gardens.

[Enclosure.]
REPORT BY MR. CONSUL PARKER, KIUNGCHOW.

he inquiry instituted by the Kew authorities has led to the discovery
that the finer kinds of “hemp ” which == orare hence are the fibre
of the oe and not of the Pandan
Mr. Stuhlmann, in his Customs Report rp 1877, does, indeed, mention

this “ cieepile fibre, ” other two Commissioners refer to it as “ hemp.’
Mr. Commissioner Neumann, in his Report for 1889, says :—“ What is
“ exported under the name of hemp is the fibre of the pimcapols plant
sas “ (Pandanus) ; ; it comes principally from the Lie-chou peninsula, and

gorap = much as $40 to $140 the picul ” [1s. to 3s. a pound].

From appearance of the ubiquitous Pandanus, I should suppose
it to re same plant as the Pandanus of Fiji, which ei I have
recently visited. I now find, however, that the faa bpa make mats,
not clothing, out of the P. odoratissimus, and that the Pandanus of
Hoihow is useless ean for hedgerowsand fuel. Iti is sae that, some-
where inland, mats are made of it here, and that its root is used in the
Pharmacopeia asa febrituge. Evel No. 4 contains a few leaves of
this plant, and the tin box c its t, which seems to mature
from April to September at tery if not all through the year.

TE rt eer

269

Pare el No. 2 contains leaves of the plant from which the so-called
“hemp” is manufactured, These come from Mun-shio or Wén-ch’ang,
a district k fow days’ journey to the east, which district appears to be
the only one upon me island where pine apple “ hemp ” and the cloth
from it are manufactured.

Parcel No. 1 Sera the leaves of a pine apple plant, grown for the
Jruit only, obtained = a village five miles to the west of Hoihow:
natives of Mun-shio in my service assert that this is the same as the
pine-apple of Mineshio the fruit of which, though eaten, is of secondary
re the

arcel No. 3 pa imperfect leaves m = a Side plant of the
Lei-chow peninsula, opposite Hoihow, fro ich the natives there are
said to manufacture a “ grass-cloth,”’ mberar is ee to be brought
over here in — for export hence.

Pare . 5 contains a leaf of the plant (no whereabouts given)
from which the Customs paa were convinced the local “ grass-cloth ”
was made : they supposed it e Pandanus, until I proved to them
that it was not, The Pahinta ia a prickly seam down the centre of
the leaf.

The leaf of the pine-apple is first scraped with a bamboo knife; it
is then torn apart, and washed in cold water in which rice has been
washed. It is next dried in the sun and tet at night, after which
the skeins are combed, and the ends of each thread are join ya
twist of the fingers, to each other. The ide rial is then sized with
rice-gruel, drawn through bamboo tubes, and cleaned of its knots,
secs, and eran

Parcels Nos. 5A, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 i peaks the pure poean
fibre in- ie vie stages. Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 appear to be mere qualities
of No. 5a, each ie which is capable of hed Ae No. 10 GE saie
ina? is is given

Parcel No. LL. wits ins specimens, with prices, of pure pine-apple
“ srass-cloth,” presumably corresponding in quality to Nos. 6, 7, 8,
or

1 No. 12 contains a mixed web of ordinary cotton and pine-

Parcel
apple fibre interwoven.
Parcel No. 13 contains specimens of hemp and hemped cloth from

Mun-shio by way of contrast.
(Signed) E. H. PARKER.
Kiungchow, December 22, 1891. Consul.
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Royal Gardens, yng

There can be no doubt that the leaves sent by Mr. Parker are those
of the pine-apple plant (Ananas sativus, Schult. f.), and the fibre corre-
sponds with that a. darai by members of the pineapple family.
Th Parker

e Pandahen represente a bs janm and one oo ute is, as epi ae

supposed, Pandanus odoratiss , a native
Abro prepaid from the leaves of ‘tie he Paintaniie! is usually of poor pee

270

and it could not be mistaken for that of the pine-apple. The specimens
forwarded by Mr. Parker were ew p up and labelled, and, taken

with peono, they may be considered to have de nitely
setiled the point at iss Mr. Thiselton- Dy er would venture to express
the hope that the Secretary of State will communicate the thanks of
this establishment to Mr. Parker for the very intelligent manner in
which he has assisted in this i inquiry.

amen. o D. Morais.

LXXXII—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF MADAGASCAR.
[K. B., 1890, pp. 200-211. ]

In a valuable paper by the Rev. Richard Baron, a L.S., on the Flora
of Madagascar (Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. XXV., pp. 246- wD, ‘it is stated
that the “vegetable productions of Madagascar have been very ex-
“ tensively Capia and that the majority of the plants inhabiting the
“island are known to science.” he flora of the low lands of the
southern parts of the island is still, however, the least known. Our

ledge has been greatly increased through the very successful Jabours
of Mr. Baron himself, and his collections, received at Kew, have been
determined and described by Mr. . Baker, F.R. is estimated
that whereas until recently less than 2 000 species of plants were known
from Madagascar, there are now named and onesie about 4,100
species,

Mr. Baron has been good enough to supplement his paper on the
Flora of pr pe sem by preparing for the Kew Bulletin some pe but

interesting notes on the economic plants of the island. These plants
are of consi derabil interest and importance. One of the earliest notices
of Madagascar economic plants is contained i

Madagascar, “ now oe

(Mauritius), are given under their native ames, The Karó a
Raven j o oe Sobre vene-
nifera) and the Filao (a species of Casuar a ea ts others are
noticed. The latter tree be Bee and not tnuporantadely described
as “ Equisetum arboresce

Dr. . Parker, a dica] missionary sent out to Madagascar, has
recently prepared a Malagasy Materia Medica, with special reference to
the use of native plants. This, with determinations made at Kew,
was “atamitinicated to the Phar maceutical Journal, 1881, vol. Xi.,
pp. 853-855

There are numerous scattered notes respecting = economic plants
of Madagascar to be found in other , but the above appear to
include the more systematic attempts to describe chain It may not be
id a eset to mention here that Batic are still some very valuable
plants of Madagascar about which at present we know very little. As
shown in the Kew Bulletin for May, eg P: 135, we are not acquainted
with the source of Madagascar Eb Madagascar Sandal w
There is also the plant which yiel Madagascar Piassava. This is
doubtless a_palm, but not a species of Raphia as is generally supposed.

271

l
if they do no more than rasia others to follow his Satie ca and
treat of plants growing beyond the special districts coveret 1 by his
investigations. The Madagascar pana yielding fibrous materials are
enumerated in the following extract

MALVACEÆ.

Abutilon angulatum, Mast. A shrub, probably introduced, from
the fibre of the bark of which the Betsiles manufacture a kind of cloth.

Pavonia Bojeri, Baker. A shrub yielding a kind of fibre. (Cent.

ond.

Hibiscus tilaceus, L. (E. and N.W. Coasts.) Varo and Baro
(Betsim ,

Adansonia madagascariensis, Baill. The Madagascar Baobab. Its
bark affords a fibre and its fruit is edible. (W. Coast.) Bontòna ;
Za (Sak). Two other ee only are known, viz., the Baobab or
Monkey-bread tree of W. Africa Fer ge digitata, L.), the pulp
of the fruit of which is edible and the bark fibrous, and the ‘Arsteatian
Gouty Stem tree (A. i F. Muell.), the pulp of the fruit of which
is also eaten by the aborigine

Eriodendron anfi apia DC. The silk cotton surrounding the
seeds is used for stuffing cushions, but is said to be dangerous to the
eyes. (W. Reg.) Moraingy and Hamba leg This plant has a
wide distribution in the tropics of the Old and New Worlds, and the
silk cotton, under the name of Kapok, is exported from Java to Europe
and Australia for stuffing mattresses.

aie
Dombeya, spp. Small trees whose bark suppli useful fibre

ly used by the cai (Cent. and E. Regs., especially tora
Hafotra. [This was, no doubt, the fibre about which a somewhat
lengthened correspondence took ’ place with the Para Office in bog
It was carefully studied by the Leeds and Dundee bers of Com-
merce, age was repor rted t o be, while destitute of textile value, w
tted for pap ing. "Te, in fact, closely resembled the bark of
Brou Bonehia papyrifera. ]

TILIACE.

Grewia, macrophylla, po A shruh from which the Sihanaka
obtain a are 45 species of Grewia known in the
island, chiefly in the W. Rae: many of which yield a usefal fibre,
Makolody (Antsih

Cor Pe be olitor Mi L. One of the plants which yield the valuable
fibre obtained from India known as Jute. (E. and W. Regs.)

Se gree
mbretum coccineum, Lam. A climbing shrub yielding a fibre.
cw. yee and E. Bega). ” Salay.
RUBIACEA.

Danais Gerrardi, Baker, A one plant from the root of
which the Sihanaka obtain a dye, and from whose bark they warr a
kind of fibre. (Forests of E. Reg.) Haizantoloho io (Antai h).

272
SAPOTACEA.

Mimusops? costata, Hartog. A small tree with edible fruit. It
also yields a fibre. (River sides near E. Coast.) Todinga or Voajaba
(Betsim

ASCLEPIADEZ.

Sar madagascari iensis, Bojer. A shrub, the bark of which
is used by t akalava in the manufacture of rum, and its fibre for
fishing Kow (W. Reg.) Laakiro (Sak.)

THYMEL MACE,

Dais glaucescens, Dene. The fibre of this shrub is used as string.
(Cent. Reg.) Avoha or Havoha

PALM.

Raphia Ruffia, Mart. The midrib of the leaf of this palm,
which sometimes reaches 35 to 40 feet in length, is used chiefly for
poles for ladies palanquins, ladders, &c. The fibre from the young ~
opened ya is employed as prp and is dep ly apon ted to Eur
“eae go na of “ Raphia Gra Vario s kinds cloth, which p>
know « Fabo,” e Jiafdtsy,” "= « Sandiadiaka,” ea - Sikinivola ” are
made o the fibre. From the stem the natives obtain a sweet liquid
“ats < Harafa,” gant the shells of the fruits are employed as receptacles

r various small articles and as snuff boxes. (Widely spread in the
island, but always in a valles) Rofià or Fòmby,

PANDANEÆ.

andanus, spp. Hats are made from the leaf fibres of some of
the species ; the leaves of one of them found on the east coast are used,
when dried, as covers for packages, and effectually secures them from
rain, Vakòana, Hofa, &e.

CYPERACE.

Cyperus ik oe Poir. Commonly eco in the thatching of
houses. (Widely spread in marshes.) Hérana.
C. imerinensis, Boeckl. A sedge nearly allied to the Egyptian
papyrus. The flowering stems when strung together are largely u
for native doors, &c. Mats are made from AAs of the same. (Widely
spread in anky places.) Zozòro, r and Bilo.
Eleocharis plantaginea, R. Br., E. Baroni, Baker. Used
in making mats, baskets, and hats. Mec in Cent. Reg.) Har?fo.
eo ‘pus paludicola, Kunth., var. decipiens, Nees. Employed in
ing mats, baskets, &c. (Cent. Reg. chiefly.) Hazondrdno.
Lepironia mucronata, TIE Hei in the manufacture of hats,
also employed by the Betsimisaraka women in making sugar bags,
which are exported to Meroe Œ. Coast.) Pènja (Betsim). This
species is found also in China, where it is largely used for making
mats,

973
GRAMINE®.

Stipa madagascariensis, Baker. Employed in making native
baskets, &c. (Cent. Reg.) Hdravola. The plant is closely allied
to the esparto (S. S L.) of Spain and N. Africa, so largely
used for paper making.

LXXXIII. —Notes on Articles contributed to the Muse
of the Royal Gardens, Kew, from the Colonial and Indias
Exhibition, 1886.

[K. B., 1887, September, pp. 4-19. ]

e Kew ae have always ere largely from the several
bestia ons, and, as might be expected, in no previous year have they
been so extensively ance as they were niks the close of the exhibition
last year, and this not only from the penia of the specimens obtained,
but also from the interest attached to

The following are some gis the prisein additions in fibrous materials
from the different colonies

CANADA.

From N.W. America several interesting one at — manufac-
ture, including a mask, a huge whistle, spoon, &c., e of the even
grained wood of the Native “Cedar (Thuja giganto), were procured,
also a r-tive head-dress made of the remarkable
among the Conifere for its fibrous chara and i a that mats
are made from it, and when twisted and lated it Fors a good bas basket- _
making material.

New SoutH WALES.

The Kew Museum being already in possession of a very fine set of
woods and other vegetable products from this Colony, pes or nothing
was required or obtained for the collection, except a sa
a soft woolly substance from the base of the leaf stalks of p raea
spiralis, a Cycadeous plant of New South Wales and Queens land. This
substance is said to be produced in quantities, and used ga stuffing
mattresses, cushions, &e.

FIJI ISLAND

the cocoa-nut ], it is stated that the bulk
hitherto found a market i in Australia and
sent to other

“ per ton, according to quality. Brush fibre o

157. to. 307. per Po saa yarn from 207. to 307. per ton in Fiji. The
“ cost of labour to produce one ton of fibre, exclusive of cost and werr

“of machinery, may be put down at from 5/, to 1

$395

274
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

fruit exhibited as a paper mittia sa ie it is said to be
produced in almost unlimited quantities. Considering the very general
practice of Betel chewing in the East, and the abundance of fruits pro-
duced, the adaptation of this apparently useless material for paper-
making would seem to bea very probable benefit to the countries where
the Areca Catechu is common.

INDIA.

A very ae collection of fibres was sent from India to the Exhibi-
tion, and from these a typical set was selected for Kew. Among the
more aoai of them may be mentioned the following :— ;

Jute (Corchorus capsularis, and C. olitorius). The former species
yields the Jute fibre of Central and East Bengal, while the isaer is that
cultivated in the vicinity of Calcutta. Jute is an article of large and
increasing importation to Great Britain, being chiefly used in the
manufacture of carpets and other fabrics. The people of India use a
large quantity of this fibre a for agricultural and internal trade
purposes, added to which an immense number of gunny bags leave India
filled with sugar, wheat, rice, ot other grains. :

Sunn Hem > (Crotalaria juncea). This plant is oxtonnit culti-
vated in Tata for its fibre, which by careful preparation becom ft,
fine, and white, bearing comparison with flax. The waste is ntilised i in
the manufacture of paper

Deccani Hemp (Hibiscus cannabinus). A small shrub with fees

for nets and ropes, and in the Dacca district , Bengal, it is the chief fibre
used in the manufacture of paper. It is also stated to be sometimes
met with as an adulterant of pa

Bauhinia Vahlii, an enormous and perhaps the most ee of the

climbing plants of the Indian Retest Its uses are almost more eet

ose of any other forest plant except the home The is
made into strong cordage, which is used for AEREE we acd the
fi as been employed as a material for pa ki e large

rethe
rain-caps. The pods are yondiad: and the seeds eate

Cocoa-nut (Cocos nucifera). The valuable coir fibre of commerce is
obtained from the fibrous pericarp. A fibre is also prepared from the
leaf stalks, but compared to the coir it is unimportant. Coir is very
largely used in the manufacture of mats and matting. The net of
fibres at the base of the petioles is ods into bags and paper, and is
also used in Ceylon for straining toddy.

Udal (Sterculia villosa), a moderate sized tree, common in the
forests throughout India and Burma. The tree is so highly valued for
its fibre, that in the more accessible forests, it may be said to occur
chiefly as a bush from its branches being constantly lopped for the fibre
mak ee The fibre is coarse but strong, and is made into ropes and

and in Bengal, Dou and South India, into ropes and
eantbande for dragging tim

eee ee ra coe eee ane er ee Vee eee ae Me, me ees. sae a ee aes Sere See ipa, Meee ety ies gl epee tere

275

LXXXIV.— BOTANICAL ENTERPRISE IN THE WEST
INDIES, 1890-91.

[K. B., 1891, pp. 111-166.]

From the notes prepared by Mr. D. Morris, C.M.G., F.L.S., the
Assistant Director of Kew, a his mission in the West Indies in
1890-91, and published under the above heading in the SeN Bulletin,
the following extracts are taken relating to fibrous plants

ANTIGUA.

Although operations at the Botanical Station had only been com-
ne during ¢ the past 12 months, considerable progress has already
been made in laying out the land, and in starting nursery beds ae
piet ia plots. The latter were devoted to 20 varieties of grape-
vines, pine-apples, fibre plants (Sansevieria, Boehmeria, Furcraea),

nanas, cacao, Egyptian cotton, coffee, mulberry for silkworms, an
fruit trees. The nursery bed con ntained several hundred small plants
ready for Sans and some ornamental trees and shrubs suitable for
shade and shelte

good deal “of scrubby bush is found at Piccadilly, near English
Harbour, and in it are found large quantities of the Keratto (Agave
Eraik and the Turk’s-head Cactus (Melocactus communis).

plot about 4 acre in extent is opened on Cedar Valley Hill, about
mile ge fas the Dome Station in a Peso tk direction. It

contains + acre of Furcraea park isis and pine-apples; and another
d acre of y PEE lan ugino a d to the pi ea one growth
of this plant on a stron paie

e Government sonic an sages ve tract of cuuntry at Piccadilly,
near English Harbour. The land is somewhat poor and arid, but it
may be utilised for growing fibres and pine apples, and other a

might be devoted to pen-keeping for cattle, sheep, horses, mules,
e Curator of the Botanic Station, acting under the orders is the

Government, has started a small experimental plot with pine-apples and
fibres at Piccadilly. An effort will also be made to try cotton there.
MONTSERRAT.

Very fine plants of Furcraea gigantea, the unarmed varieties of which
yield the Mauritius hemp of commerce, were plentiful in the neigh-

urhood of the Arrowroot factory belong to the Montserrat Company.

ey are used chiefly as hedge plants.

ANGUILLA.

Careful search was made for any plants in the island that apai jer
likely to afford the means for starting a fibre industry.
numerous species of Tillandsia, Pitcairnia and other plants of “this
character on rocks and trees, but ‘only one species of Agave was found,
and that was, unfortunately, one that yielded a very inferior class of
fibre. 1t was useless, therefore, to attempt the systematic cultivation of
this plaut. After considerable difficulty, one plant of Furcraea cubensis
was found on land to the north-west. This it et had been intro-
duced there. The leaves were of good length and texture, an
was excellent. It was evident that if two or three thousand acres of
absolutely useless land in Anguilla could be established with fibre A rena
in a few years an important in might be started there. `

276

of clearing the land, if started as relief work, would be very small, while
pans could be obtained from Antigua, Jamaica, or some other islands to
the south.
VIRGIN ISLANDS.

An Agave, which, according to the Baron Eggers, is Agave Morrisii,
Paker, the Keratto of are ng is found abundantly everywhere
attempt was being made by Mr. Campbell to start a fibre industry in con-
nexion with this plant. If, as is supposed, it is identical with the
Jamaica plant, the fibre is not of great commercial value. The reports
received respecting fibre prepared from it by the Death and Ellwood
oo aie at Jamaica were by no means satisfactory. They were as
follo

(a.) Keratto Hig e rae fibre i z of little strength, and is undesirable ;

value 127. to per ton; it is not an even fibre, and it gives;

ence Sas ba Poa find it po difficult to know at t they are

to do with it, and will not entertain it. It is very similar to a fibre
that comes from Spain (Ide and Christie) ;

(b.) i (Ool yer Jibre.—Very towy; not well cleaned, value 167. per

ton er).

On returning to the town some plants of Furcraea cubensis Laie
found on land to or westward, and also a patch or two of Sansev
guineensis. Both these are excellent fibre inate. The latter yields
fibre that could be us a for weaving purposes, and the demand for i

would k practically unlimited.

St. LUCIA.

A good fence of anes divided the Botanic garden from the public
road on the eastern boundary. The nurseries contained a moderately
large state of economic plants, including such fruit trees as oranges,
citrons, limes, and grafted mangoes, purple guava, sweet sop, sour sop,
= prosara apple, pine-apples and | aes wrtia home fibre plants

as Furcraea gigantea F. cubensis, Sansevieria guineensis, Musa
sie Agave rigida, var. sisalana, and Boahineria nivea.

ST. VINCENT.

At the time of my visit a portion of the land at the Botanic Station
had been cleared, nurseries and seed-sheds had been started, and ex-
established.” plots of sisal hemp, cotton, pine apples, and enis plants
establis e

fas

ae errr rare

277

BARBADOS.

Besides the experiments in sugar-cane an effort has been made at the
Dodd Botanic Station to cultivate other plants, especially 7 of

Agave, Furcraea, pk Boehmeria for fibre purpose
land is, a of t clayey a m 4 for such plants, ma also
too much exposed to. ironi and dry winds.

There are ad thousand acres of kiper land in Barbados where a
fibre industry might be successfully established, and there are also other

these can be experimentally tried under favourable circumstances at
Dodd owing to the unsuitability of the soil and ihe exposed character of
the locality.

LXXXV.—CULTURAL INDUSTRIES IN WEST
AFRICA

[K. B., 1890, pp. 197-198.]

f fibre plants there are several that are adapted to West Africa.
Already the Bowstring mp, yielded by one or more species of
caer = has been e a prepared at Lagos, and the

a
hinery to clean the fibre. The Death Fibre Machine Company, of
147, Leadenhall Street, E.C., might be in a position to supply particulars
as to the success of gr owing bowstring hemp in Cuba and also as to the
best machines for preparing the fibre
The Sisal Hemp aa Agave gida, var. eaa could very easily
be introduced to West Africa. Small plants, in quantity, pis probably
obtainable from ee The Sisal Hem aang grow cert -
istricts unsuited to almost any other o r If 500 i
troduced at first, poe after i or three years would yield sniffles
suckers to establish several acres. Ramie may be regarded as unsni

panton to it unless there is a sufficient supply of labour to work
e plantations g suitable machinery is obtainable to decorticate
the fibre at a low
Of the jute nee ad ‘fibre plants there are two very valuable fibre
plants already abundant in at Afri — hig are the “ Bolobolo
(Honckenya ho ifolia), fully discussed in the Kew Bulletin for January
eed (see p. 30), and the Toja (Ù rena aay The fibres of these plants
re probably worth 18/. to 20/. per ton, and the price is always likely to be
SRRI at such a figure as would render a jute industry remunerative.
It might be possible to get the natives to clean these fibres by hand an
sell the produce in small lots locally.

278
LXXXVI.—_INDIGENOUS PLANTS OF YORUBA-LAND.
[K. B., 1891, p. 219.]

FIBRES.

Agbari Ettu. (Alafia sp.?) Very considerably used, not culti-
vated, pivatifuls might, if of value, become an object of export, but its
value _ but native use appears doubtful.

Fe- Rawaye. OERAL pero a Bark makes
good sins prinesi used as such by Yorubas and Houssas; plentiful,
sufficient supply for exportation, not cultivated.

Ake-iri. (Urena lobata.) Fair rope bark, used for various
purposes by Yorubas and Houssas, chiefly in house building ; plentiful,
not cultivated.

LXXXVII..—BOTANIC STATION, ST. VINCENT.
[K. B., 1892, pp. 101-103.]

From a report on the Botanic Station at St. Vincent, for December
1890, Mr. Henry Powell, gs Curator, furnishes the following informa-
tion respecting fibre plan

Daring the latter part T November and the beginning of December

also in assisting in the Airea of botanical specimens of nearly the
yian = the plants essing economic and commercial properties in
the c

specimens proved of great interest and value, and they are men-
tioned in the offivial correspondence reproduced in the Kew Bulletin
May and June 1891, p. 166. Amongst the local plants yielding fibre is
an Aroid little tae | ‘elsewhe re. This is Xanthosoma sagittifolium,
Schtt., known locally as “China.” The petioles of the leaves are
macerated in water, and a agar cara oarse fibre extracted from them. A
form of Agave rigida, with short anes was found in St. Vincent by
Mr , and latterly sage has been received from that island for
identification a specimen of Furcraea gigantea, var. oaa
This is similar to the prp hemp plant, but with so eeth.

In his lecture delivered at the Court House, on the Tih i: mber
last, Mr. Morris stated that the Sansevieria or Leopard Lily, a valuable
fibre plant, could be readily propagated by cutting the leaves into
lengths, and inserting the same in sandy soil. About 700 plants have
been already aba in this way

The original plants were av from Jamaica (12 plants) and
Trinidad (6 aa in July 1890.

Pee ee ene
amerin e ~ ae cam

nene a a IRR ARRAS gee

t
k
7
q
:

279

LXXXVIII—FIBRES OF INDIA.
[K. B., 1894, p. 321.]
LEXTRACT:]

Among fibrous plants it may be pointed out that Aang great tracts of
India (in the form of hedges) are regularly under the American aloe,
the fibre of that plant is not at all utilised. PETE points to the
possibility of this large stock of cides fibre not only being used

pares: little result, Interest may, however, be said to have at
last been aroused in this most admirable fibre, and ig supplies are
being accordingly collected for experimen tal purpose One or two
enlightened native gentlemen have e than once ae induced to
his pla it i i

however,

emand arise, Tada ‘might largely participate in the supply of this fibre.
There are also many most useful fibres known to the people of India
et have for centuries been tie iea grown to meet local demands.
of these might be produced on a large scale at low prices, were a
tade created for them. Amongst these may be mentioned Sunn-hemp
(Crotalaria juncea) and Deccan-hemp (Hibiscus cannabinus). In the
light of the fixation of nitrogen in the soil through the cultivation of
plants belonging to the pea family, an extended production of Sunn-

mp would be a positive gain to In
ut the forests and jungles of ida’ are literally teeming with wild
fibrous plants, many of vua could be grown on a large scale were
this found necessary. For example, in the Rajmahal-hemp (Marsdenia

r ;

among Indian fibres the highest known per-centage of cellulose,
loses considerably less than any other under hydrolysis with soda or
acid purification, while its weight is greatly increased by nitration. A
line made of it broke when dry at 248 Ibs., and when wet at 343 Ibs.,
against a similar line of the finest hemp, w which broke at 158 and
190 lbs. But a volume might be written on the unexploited fibres of
India, most of which could be easily added to the list of regularly
cultivated crops. If those already meneron do not suffice, any of the
following might be tried :—Abroma, Abutilon, Anona, Bauhinia,
Calotropis, Helicteres, Malachra, pS Pavonia, Sesbania, Sterculia,
Villebrunea, &e., &e.

LXXXIX.—FIBRE PLANTS OF FORMOSA.
[K. B., 1896, pp. 73-74. ]
[EXTRACT. ]

Dr. Augustine aed reports that there are three chief fibre-yielding
plants in cultivatio

1. Boehmeria iva „ known locally as “‘ t‘o8,” the “ ch‘o ” of Pekingese,

the nettle-hemp, es China grass fibre. ee an the customs

returns for Tainan i been distinguished by the last name, but

4
=
Se

280

formerly it had here eth in other ports still ria only the baler ne
“hem m > whi ch i hina includes several different fibre
“ China grass ” is shoes Eron 11 dollars to 20 Josa a peat dasri ie a
and is made into a particular kind of grass-cloth at Swatow
2. Pineapple, the fibre of which in the local dialect is known as
“ ong-lai-ssii,” and is worth about 24 dollars a picul. It is exported to
Swatow, where it t is made into a kind of grass-cloth distinguished as
‘ong- -lai-

3. Jute (Corchorus capsularis), the fibre of which is known to
Europeans in China as “ hem mp skin,” a too literal shears of =

hinese “ma-p‘i.” “Ma” is generic for textile fabri Ga n
“ bark,” referring to the outer bark of the plant, which is stripped off i i
long ribbons. Owing to the different preparation of the plant in China
and in India the products look very different. The so-called “ hemp
bags” of customs returns are made out of this coarse Chinese jute,
which is also used for sinking rope and string of inferior quality. The
jute is worth from 2 to 4 dollars a picul.

Corchorus olitorius, an allied species, which is readily pape
by its long narrow fruit, that of C. capsular is being globular, occurs in
Formosa as a weed, and I have not ascertained that its fibre is ever
used.

It may be here noted that the so-called Tien-tsin jute is the product
of Abutilon Avicenne, and should be named “ Abutilon hemp.” I
have seen true or Russian emp, the product of Cannabis sativa, the
“ huo-ma ” of the Chinese, from Newchwang, but this plant is more
cultivated in China for the oil from the seeds than for the fibre ; and o
flax (Linum usitatissimum), which is cultivated in North-western
China, the same may be said. Occas raSi small quantities of a fabric

named “ shan-hsi ma pu,” are brought to Tien-tsin, and this is doubtless
linen, but I have seen no specimen, wat erely infer fis the name.

e fabric has been described to me as a ina of grass

in = hu-ma,” and the seeds are for sale in drug aio
m vies cloth ” is a term applied to at least three different kinds of
oarse ote fabrics made by the savages. The kind made near
Tamsnui is of China grass, but whether from wild or cultivated plants of
Boehmeria nivea I am not certain. The wild plant is very common,
an coarser fibre. In the Kalee wcommiatts “savage cloth” is
made out of the inner bark of the roots of small wild mulberry trees,
doubtless a variety of the very var e Morus alba. I have ee
specimens of plant, root, fibre, and cloth to the Kew Museum. Gam
bags (“ bang-teh ”), ann se bean ert are sin made out of this fibre bÝ
the savages, while similar ones are made out of China grass by the
oe and Pepohuan. A third kind of “savage cloth” is sere from
nner bark of Sterculia oo known in Formosa as the
ig: ch‘ing-'ung * tree. Ihave not been able to get aa rat or
fibre or cloth in Formosa, but specimene of fibre, and meee ieee out of
it, from Hupeh, have been sent by me to Kew. This tree has been
utilized for its fibre from classical ee but the rodait i is i chars, and
only suitable for making shoes, ropes,

Mr. Hosie mentions a fourth ind of “savage cloth” made out of

ban :na fibre, ba there is no certain information to hand about this.

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