24. BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 
ihe utmost importance to these Colonies, by which the fibre of the 
Plantain is cleaned and prepared iu the most simple, cheap, and expe- 
ditions manner. Attempts to construct such a machine have for several 
years occupied the attention of some of the ablest mechanicians of 
Europe, and have caused a vast expenditure of time, labour, and money 
without success. Many expensive and ingenious machines have been 
made and patented; but all have failed when brought into full opera- 
tion, owing partly to the peculiar nature of the substance to be acted 
upon, and partly to ignorance respecting its nature and qualities. All 
the inventors acted on the principle of crushing the stem of the plant, 
and combing out the substance, filling up the interstices between the 
fibres, thus freeing them from native impurities. This appears to have 
been a false principle, and is the chief, if not the only, reason of all the 
failures that have resulted. But the failure of one party only stimulated 
others to greater exertion of mind, and greater diligence in developing 
their plans. The valuable qualities of the Plantain fibre for the manu- 
facture of many descriptions of textile fabrics, for which flax, hemp, 
and even silk, are now used, as well as cordage and paper, held out the 
prospect of a rich reward to the successful inventor of a suitable 
machine for its preparation; aud therefore it was that so many engaged 
in experiments which they deemed likely to realize their hopes of 
success. But the honour, the gratification, and, we hope we may add, . 
the profit, that have hitherto eluded the grasp of so many ardent and 
anxious experimenters, seem to have fallen to the Honourable Francis 
 Burke,* the Puisne Justice of Montserrat. This gentleman has been 
for several years experimenting in various ways on the Plantain stem, 
and trying to procure the fibre in a suitable state for manufacture ; 
it gives us great satisfaction to say he appears to have at last suc- 
ceeded, even beyond his most sanguine hopes. 
k He has completed a small machine which perfectly cleans the fibre, 
and leaves a beautiful white silky substance, resembling flax, only that 
is about three times the length of flax, capable of being manufactured 
into any description of textile fabric, from the finest cambric to the 
coarsest sail-cloth. There are some specimens of the fibre now at this 
Office dox the examination of those interested in such matters. 
: Ne have not seen the machine; but several gentlemen of this 
2 ' Now (December, 1854) arrived in = * ; . : 
ity of the Plantain-stems to show its dece ipe Maa a IDE 
