24 PROPAGATION <>F TROPICAL FRUIT TREES, ETC. 



between $6 and $17.12. The inferior grades were 25 to 40 per cent 

 lower in the Manila market. The ( razetteer states that under existing 

 conditions, abaca Manila hemp plantations in the Philippines with 

 careful management yield an annual return of 30 per cent on the 

 investment, which indicates what may be expected from successful 

 hemp plantations in the near-by tropical possessions of the United 

 States. 



The introduction of the Manila hemp plant into the United States 

 has been attempted several times, but without success until recently, 

 when a supply of seed was received at the Department of Agriculture 

 from the insular bureau of agriculture of the Philippines. 



RAISING PLANTS FROM SEEDS. 



The plant is exceedingly easy to increase by dividing the under- 

 ground .stems, but in order to get a supply of plants for this purpose 

 propagation by seeds has. of course, to be resorted to. 



As the seeds received from the Philippines have been successfully 

 germinated, an account of the means In which this result was secured 

 may be of value to those who contemplate raising a stock in this way. 

 The seeds were gathered in the Islands as soon as ripe, mixed with 

 finely powdered charcoal, and shipped to Washington in small cylin- 

 drical tin tubes. A period of about forty days thus occurred between 

 the time of gathering and the time of sowing. As it has been thought 

 that the seeds lose their germinative power in less time than this, 

 owing to their failure heretofore to germinate in this country, some 

 of the seeds were kept and sown at intervals of from one to six weeks. 

 The percentage of germination was high in every case, and, although 

 it has not been ascertained just how long the seeds will retain their 

 vitality after ripening, it would seem that the methods formerly used 

 to p-erminate them were faultv. 



These seeds were sown in garden flats tilled to within an inch of the 

 surface with clear, large-grained river sand, upon which the seeds 

 were scattered, pressed down firmly, and covered with one-half inch 

 of sand. A sheet of glass was placed over the box and the sand kept 

 at a temperature varying from T.V to 80 c F., the lower temperature 

 occurring during the night. Only one slight watering was given 

 before germination. In fourteen days after the seed was sown the 

 plumules gradually made their appearance, and in three weeks more 

 the plantlets were large enough to go into small pots (PL VIII). To 

 give them favorable greenhouse treatment in this latitude, the glass 

 during autumn should be without shade and the temperature of the 

 house 60° F. by night and 20° higher during the day. 



In the island of Porto Rico, where it is intended to start plantations, 

 the seeds may be sprouted with the aid of a frame and sash, but it is 

 evident that a slight bottom heat should be maintained, especially 



