240 VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS. 



steam machinery ; but this in the Pine-forests could readily be supplied 

 from the branches and other portions of the Pine-trees not destined for 

 plank. I have no experience in the expense of such steam machinery ; 

 but in the Charleston papers of South Carolina, portable saw-mills, for 

 steam-power, are advertised at the rate of JE500 each. 



Catesby, at page 23, has a detailed account of the manner of making 

 tar and pitch in the Pine-forests of Carolina. . 



Withiu the last ten years a great internal traffic has grown up in 

 charcoal, from the Pine-trees in New Providence. The same wood is 

 used for burning the stone of the country, and reducing it into lime, 

 which is sold at from sixpence to nmepence the bushel. 



The wood of the Pine has the reputation of being very durable when 

 unexposed to the weather, and, having been seasoned some time by 

 remaining under cover after being cut up, of being able to bear expo- 

 sure. What the effect on the durability of this timber would be by 

 relieving it of its resinous matter in the proper season, as is said to be 

 always done in the United States, remains to be tested by experience. 



The qualities of the Pine-wood may be much affected by the soil. 

 The greater part of the Pine-forests of the Southern States have, I have 

 been informed, a surface-soil of sand. It is so at Abaco; while on New 

 Providence, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island, the surface is rocky 

 and rugged. 



Catesby says, " One would expect (speaking of the Bahama Islands) 

 that they afforded the disagreeible prospect of bare rocks, but on the 

 contrary, they are always covered with a perpetual verdure ;" and again, 

 " Though the trees on these rocky islands grow generally not so large 

 as in Virginia and Carolina, where the soil is deep, yet it is amazing to 

 see trees of a very large size grow out of rocks where no soil is visible. 



I have thus, I believe, nearly exhausted the subject of Pine-trees ; 

 and will merely add that, a bale containing about eighty pounds of 

 Pine-leaf fibre has been forwarded hence to the "Anglo-Franco- Algerian 

 Fibre Company," in London, with a view of its being put through 

 their process, and obtaining a report of its commercial value, as esti- 

 mated by them, 



I have since observed a prospectus mentioned, of a British Colo- 

 nial Fibre Company, from which I anticipate favourable results to the 

 colonies, 



I have sent, agreeably to your req^uest, in a small box, specimens of 



