107 
Islands, was given in the Kew Bulletin for April, 1887 (pp. Ae 
More recent information was published on the same subject i 
number of the Kew Bulletin devoted to an account of the “ ti a 
and Principal perictioe, of Musa,” for August 1894 (pp. 248 and 289, 
290, with a figure). A fur wa brief note appeared in the following 
year (Kew Bulletin, 1895, p. 208). 
t the request of Kew, Mr W. B. Pryer, who is oR) in agricul- 
tural enterprise in British North Toras eo, has been good enough to 
prepare the following notes respecting the experiments now being 
carried on in that part of the world in cultivating Manila hemp :— 
The stems of all the Musaceæ yield fibre of more or less strength, 
but that obtained from Musa textilis is the best. From the indigenous 
or wild Musa textilis, however, the percentage of fibre of proper 
strength is so small that it does not pay to extract. a is from a 
cultivated variety that marketable Manila hemp is obtain 
The wild plant of Musa textilis is known by the natin as Saying 
Grotei or Gerdtei, and the fibre-yielding hie ead as Saying Lanut, 
Saying being the name for all bananas and plantains. Of Sayin 
Lanut there are several sub-varieties, such as Yani pula (red lanut), 
Lanut batang, and others. In general appearance Musa textilis varies 
very little from M. par adisiaca, the ordinary banana, but a sharp eye 
will soon notice that the leaves are narrower and more pointed, and 
a paler or more sea-green colour, while the Pace are of a dark pickled- 
cabbage colour with broad irregular streaks of a dirty green. 
season; it also demands ood soil : a war gage Sapna Its 
present cultivation is ce eo almost entirely to certain parts of 
the Philippine Islands and to the adjacent coast of Borneo. In fact, 
the requisite conditions of climate and soil are found in that part of the 
world only. It does not die es if exposed toa Stas of two 
or three weeks, but if spells weather occur at too frequent 
intervals its growth is stunted adi perd ; but again, although it 
prefers rain every two or three days, it does not like a continuously wet 
Season, Even in the Philippines its range is restricted. m t is chiefly 
found on the eastern side, and there only it thrives really w 
In districts where it does well it requires little aticnkios. The 
cheapest way of planting it is to get natives to fell and clear Ma forest 
and plant hill rice under an agreement that when (or before) they ha 
taken their crop they are to put in Manila hemp suckers. These saiket 
are planted some 10 or 11 feet distant from each other, and it is well 
to give them two or three rough weedings during the first few months 
to give them a start. After this they can be left almost to take een of 
themselves ; in fact, a few of the coarser large-leaved weeds be 
left, as they tend to keep the ground cool and draw the plants cies into = 
larger stems than would otherwise be the case. When the plants are 
well up, however, it is best to cut down all other large plants, and the 
plantation will then wa care of itself with only one day’s going over 
every three months or 
Almost any lay of lani will do for Manila hemp as long as it is not 
too swampy or too steep, but it thrives best on rich flat land, and does 
not much mind a flood as long as flo water does not stop too long on 
the land or leave it swampy afterwards. 
Manila hemp suckers take longer to sprout ger the ordinary bana: 
and send up fewer shoots, but in three weeks or so from the time the 
sueker is put in, if the weather is fairly da os the first shoot 
