ane ee SST Sov Lt ee ee ee 
a 
145 
ROYAL GARDENS, ied to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
no 
Turks sf rN TORG on the subject of fibre plants. 
2. The specimens of leaves mentioned by Captain Jackson have duly 
arrived at Kew and they have been carefully examined. The leaves 
marked A. and pales “Pita” taeda in conjunction with the specimen 
of fibre enclosed belong to the true Pita or Henequen of Yucatan 
(Agave rigida var. sisalana), and are identical with the apne yielding 
the valuable fibre which has rage attracted so much attention at the 
dD.a 
Bahamas, The leaves marke e derived from the same aa but 
the leaves in this instance gs furnished witha few jie. a circumstance 
which often occurs in this and other species of Aga The original 
wild plants of Agave r igida were plentifully pie, With teeth. “The 
present ùnarmed varieties have been selected for cultivation as being 
more readily handled. The three amaii living plants ininda with the 
leaves A. zya D. were also ay true “ Pita” Sue 
3. The plant known locally as “ Manila,” gnc supposed 
by Taa Falter as eget) in his letter ‘of p rd July, “to be 
“the Sacqui or Henequen of Yucatan, of lighter colour and having 
i 
cubensis. This is ee Eeoa nearly everywhere in the West 
Indies, and is kno n Jamaica, Tobago, and elsewhere as “Silk 
Grass.” It is Pra ‘allied to the cant yielding Mauritius hem 
yields a good fibre, but it cannot be regarded as so saladhia a plant as 
g “ Pita.” Where this latter is plentiful already, or easily Shtate 
n large ne, it would not be desirable to devote attention entirely 
to the “ Silk Gra 
4. It -will be seo than an examination of these specimens from the 
Turks Islands has proved very interesting. Captain Jackson has 
eoryoees valuable service by drawing ne ba the existence of the 
“Pita” in these islands, and there eason why 
Sita fibre fndaners should not be established here. The apes | 
the Turks Islands “Pita” with that of the Bahamas is a fact t 
should alone suggest some sw being taken to improve the condition af 
the people in these Settlement 
Sir R. G. W. Herbert, K.C.B. Signed)” D. MORRIS. 
COLONIAL OFFICE TO ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
SIR, Downing Street, February 25, 1890. 
AM directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the 21st instant, ee specimens of fibre 
plants sent home by the Commissioner of Turks Teds, and to inform 
you that a copy of it has been anti to the Governor of Jamaica 
for communication to the Commissioner. 
am, &c. 
The Director, Gim ROBERT G, W, HERBERT. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 
