Con.vcoK HORTUS J AM AI' NSl S, 237 



consistence. The f;!)?es of tiic Icas'es are oasi!)- separated by brnisiu<:^- uii"! ste-epi;K>- 

 taeir. Ibr some time ia water, and ut'tersyards bcatin^^^ thcin unid tlie)- are entirely dis- 

 entano-lcd j these fibres make an cxceileut strong thread for the common uses of ciotii- 

 ing, fishing lines, ropes, nets, &c. A method of preparing veget;il)le soap from llw; 

 juices was discovered by Mr. Anthony Robinson, who- received a preminu) from the 

 Douse of assembly for it. The following is the mode of procuring it, laid before that 

 h<(use ia the.sessions of 1767 :- 



" The lower leaves of the moderately grown, plants raaj he cut off for use, without in - 

 jury to the other ])?.rtSj but care must be taken not to cut ofT so great a quantity, as to 

 prevent the plants from flowering or vegetating ; for, by such naoaBs, the planter will 

 never be able to increase his stock. 



" Ttie plant blossoms in the springs and tlie whole top of-manjcf them is then co- 

 vered with a number of lutle plants, which are to be carefully gathered as the stem 

 wi-thers, and planted inthe f.ssurcs of the rocks, where there is some so:!, iJid_ at pro- 

 per distance, iiiaking allowance for the spreadu)'g of the.. plants, which, when arrived 

 at maturity, .espantl fourteea or fifteen feet :. 



'' Or,' they may be planted in the worst savanna soil,, where the prickly pears, an'l 

 such like plants, are usually fouHcl. . 



" When the .leaves are, cut off for use,, the most expeditious way of obtaining the 

 juice*;, by passing- them singly, with the point foremost, through the rollers of ^i 

 couiniun cane-niiU, and. straining it through an hair-cloth, crocus, or coarse blanket. 



" The leaves, after being press'eii, and the juice strained in thrs manner, maybe 

 soakei.l in water a few days, and then di-ied,..clean-sed, and the fibres manufactured into 

 ropes for plantation use. 



" III places where the convenience of cane-mdls Cannot be had, proper hand-mills, 

 M'ilh two.ar, more rollers of //i,'H?t7V.i', or other hardwood, to be worked by a negro 

 or negroes, may be erected at a very trifling expunce ; where these are not erected, 

 the juice may be obtained for the use of private families, by cutting the leaves in pieces, 

 ind bruising them v/itli an heavy pestle, in a wooden mortar, and then pressing the 

 bniised pieces ia a cassava or other press, or. finally wilU hands, i other means are 

 wajited. ; 



" -The juice being thus extEacted and strained, may he inspissated by three several 

 processes : 



" The first by corarHon coction, m a coppery tin, or iron vessel, over a slow fire. 

 frequeo.tly stirring the liquor during the operation, to prevent its burning, which it- 

 will be apt to do,, without proper care, and thereby lose scni^what of its detersive, 

 quality. 



" The second is l)y coction in halneo marice ; for example, put the extracteil juice 

 mio a tache or boiler, and place the tache or boiler within one of the largest coppers, 

 U)>on a trivet, or other support, in such manner as to prevent the tache or boiler 

 from touching the sides or bottom of the copper ; put such proportion of water into 

 tlie copper, tint, ia case of ebullition, it may not flow into the tache or boiler, ami 

 Bnix with tlie juice ; let the water in the copper boil with a brisk fne, and continue the 

 process until the juice in the tache is gradually brought to a due consistence ; by this 

 method of jjreparation, it will be effectually secured from burning. 



" The third method is by insolation, or exposing the juice, after straining,, in a 

 large shallow receiver of wood, or metal of any kind, to the action of the sun and. 

 Urseze : Tlie soap prepared ia this manner,. Is tbuiid to be the most detergent. 



" Whem 



