SN ale LER ag 
31 
on the subject, including a zepari of Messrs. Ide and Christie on the 
commercial value of the fibre 
COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
SIR, Downing Street, 12th December 1888. 
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to 
transmit to you, for your observations, a despatch from the Goyernor of 
Tagos, enclosing a correspondence with Mr. Al Se Millson He sen, 3 a 
local fibre-yielding plant known as “ ceo pole ” or “ Agbo 
Gieneay = ROBERT G. W. HERBERT. 
The Director, . 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[Enclosure.] 
Government House, Lagos, 
MY LORD, lst j eam nes 1888. 
I BEG to trouble your Lordship with a copy of the corres- 
pondence with reference to a local Mariine plant od in the 
Popo vernacular as “ Bolobolo” and in Yoruba “ Agbonrin Ilassa,”’ 
which has heen: supplied by Mr. Millson, the Ve a a mR of the 
Western Distri 
Thecor besiege covers herbarium specimens and a sample of the 
fibre on which this Government would be obliged to be favoured with 
an expression of opinion by the Director of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew. 
ave, &c. 
(S ie) C. A. MOLONEY, 
The Right Hon. Lord Rayietorl, G.C.M.G Governor. 
éc, &e. 
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
72, Mark Lane, London, E.C., 
DEAR SIR, 17th December 1 
E have spu favour of the 15th instant, with specimen of 
= Bolobolo ” fibre from Lagos. We consider this a very sic fibre 
of the jute class, but ; distinctly superior to the latter in many re 
and more particularly in strength. Itisof good length and well eke 
If this fibre is capable of being aa a in large quantities there isa 
very wide field open to it commercially. Its market value would be 
regulated by that of jute, but i in our opinion it would always command a 
higher price. At to-day’s currencies it would sell at 167. per ton in 
London. We do not think the minimum price would ever fall below 
fibre might realise 207. If this fibre could be prepared of a whiter 
eats it would prove still more acceptable ; but even as it is, we should 
ry glad to see large quantities placed on this market, where they 
would: sell readily. 
We are, &e. 
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE. 
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
