99 
“ discovered by the traveller Bruce in Abyssinia, and is remarkabl 
bs < being represented on ancient Egyptian sculptures. Specimens of this 
lantain growing at the Government Cinchona Plantations at 5,000 
“ feet have often dies 20 feet aa the stem is about 8 feet in circum- 
“ ference at the base, zipon to a height of 25 feet and weighs probably 
“ about a quarter of a t 
“ Specimens of fibre apa from this plantain are + excellent 
“ quality. Taking a portion of the central stem about 4 feet long an 
“ weighing 73 pounds, clean fibre, weighing 13 ounces, oe obtained 
“ by beating and washing by hand. This is at the rate of 1-16 per 
“ cent. on the gross igh 
“This plant might be grown extensively for its fibre, and it should 
“ prove valuable, but of course not equal to M. textilis, which is un- 
a Pr sage e as a fibre plant.” 
may be mentioned that samples of all the banana and plantain 
fibres a above are to be seen in the Kew Museum, 
e source we find that oem T 000 banana stems, 
after the ber is gathered, are cut down every year in Jamaica, whic 
fibre they contain. itissuggested by Mr. Morris that the perean wW 
purchase the fruit from the negroes E offer a small sum for dlan 
and well-dried fibre, and take it in small lots as it comes to a The 
merchant might afterwards sort and pack the fibre and put it up in tightly 
compressed bales for shipment. Some such plan as this, suited to local 
circumstances, evidenily í oilers the best means of starting a banana-fibre 
industry in the West Indies. 
In si course of a energetic serge mt by Governor Sir William 
Robinson, K.C.M.G., to develop what are called “ minor industries” at 
Trinidad, attention. has naturaily sais reset to = utilisation of 
fibre from both the iain and wild species of Mus 
As 
.A sample of fibre prepa re ed from ih is red banana was recently sent 
to Kew, and the opinion of Messrs. Ide and Christi obtained upon it. 
Their report, dated 29th October 1886, is as follow. 
“ We think highly of this fibre, for which we joni there might 
“bea R Pete demand, pro ovided it could be produced of a better 
“colour. Wea e inclined to think its dull hue is probably the result 
t 1 
“ discoloured before treatment. The tiantion of planters should 
“ directed to the production of a fibre of the bright natural colour of 
i consequence ley a = used for the Bariah of « wae hemp’ 
pe 
portance. In that case attention pare: be turned in another Posen 
and they might be partly prepared on the spot and utilised for paper- 
making. But to compete successfully with esparto and wood-pulp the 
fibre or “half-stuff” of banana and plantain should be delivered in 
8895 G2 
