POSSIBLE EXPORTS. 283 



small capital and energetic habits ? AYliat of the culture of 



bamboo for paper-fibre, of which I have spoken already ? It 



has been, I understand, taken up successfully in Jamaica, to 



supply the United States' paper market. Why should it not 



be taken up in Trinidad ?. Why should not Plantain-meaP 



be hereafter largely exported for the use of the English 



working classes ? Why should not Trinidad, and other 



ishmds, export fruits preserved fruits especially? Surely 



such a trade might be profitable, if only a quarter as much 



care were taken in the AVest Indies as is taken in England 



to improve the varieties by selection and culture ; and care 



taken also not to spoil the preserves, as now, for the English 



market, by swamping them with sugar or sling. Can nothing 



l)e done in growing the oil-producing seeds with which the 



Tropics abound, and for which a demand is rising in England, 



if it be only for use about machinery ? ISTothing, too, toward 



growing drugs for the home market ? Nothing toward using 



the treasures of gutta-percha which are now wasting in the 



lialatas-? Above all, can nothing be done to increase the 



yield of the cacao-farms, and the quality of Trinidad cacao ? 



For this latter industry, at Least, I have hope. ]My friend 



if he will allow me to call him, so Mr. John Law, has shown 



what extraordinary returns may be obtained from improved 



1 Directions for preparing it may be found in the catalogue of contribu- 

 tions from British Guiana to the International Exhibition of 1S62. Preface, 

 pp. lix. Ixiii. 



