Lecture est donnee d^une lettre de M. R. Berton 

 sur les fibres du bananier. 



'' Souillae, 30 Septembre 1886. 

 "Sir, 

 " Having- read in a newspaper that there will be a 

 meeting of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences on 

 Thursday the 23rd instant, I beg of your kindness to 

 present on my behalf to the Society, on that day, the 

 cord made with plantain fibres herewith enclosed, as well 

 as the loose fibres I sent to you some time ago. 



" The extraction of these fibres can be more easily 

 made than that of aloe fibre, and I estimate that the 

 preparation of same does not present any danger when 

 viewed in a sanitary point. 



" These are not the only advantages that plantain 

 possesses on alee ; for it goes quicker, — in less than a 

 year, in certain localities, it has reached its full growth, 

 —and is known to absorb great quantity of azote, which 

 last particularity makes it one of the most suitable 

 plants to fertilize the soil empoverished by too long a 

 culture of the sugar cane. 



*^ I hope that the question I have the honour to 

 submit here to the Royal Society of Arts & Sciences 

 will meet on the part of that Body with the considera- 

 tion I believe it desires. 



" I have the]honor to be, 

 " Sir, 

 " Your most obedient servant 



" (S.) R. Berton. ^^ 



