146 
S1R, Downing pRa October 8, 1890. 
I AM cote by the Secretary of Sta e for the Colonies to 
transmit to y r your peg eres , Papers "relating to botanical 
paises in several West Indian rone 
The Director, (Signed) ae G. W. HERBERT, 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
The COMMISSIONER, TURKS ISLANDS, to the COLONIAL SECRETARY, 
JAMAICA, 
(Turks Islands, No. 76.) 
IR, Grand Turk, August 19, 1890. 
VING just returned from a tour of inspection round the whole 
“ the Caicos Islands, during which I was able to visit all the lands 
lately taken up for fibre cultivation, I have the honour to submit to his 
ohare the Governor a short report on the present prospects of this 
indus 
gr Grand Turk in a small schooner on the evening = the 
5th instant, in company with Mr. Hance, the American Consul, we 
arrived early on the following day at the west point of East Cais 
better known as “ Breezy Point.” The island — upwards of 
25,000 acres, and is held on a lease, without rent, of 99 years, of which 
M 
Companies Act to register as a limited Sate com y. 
aa At present, about two-thirds of the island is held as a ere 
there being about 1, ead on the island, and there is a 
considerable quantity of cave earth (guano), about 200 tons of hiak 
have seen % any other part of the Caicos. Itis chiefly oddiar tae i 
earth, freely interspersed with limestone rock, rich in phosphates, the 
fortilising power of which is amply attested by the luxuriant growth 
anchorage i e anc 
n 
up to 300 tons, and could easily be made available for larger craft by 
the removal of a few isolated coral patches. 
4. The only obstacle to the assured and early success of the company 
working this eed is the difficulty of obtaining ae ient plants of 
the — variety (Agave rigida var. sisalana), but it is one which I 
hope shortly overcome. At present, the company has the 
Danis of sufficient plants to stock about 200 acres, but they are ready 
to clear 2,000 acres a year if plants can be had. The labour for this 
land is drawn from Grand Caicos, where, as reported in my letter 
No. 67 of the 22nd July 1889, there is no Government land available 
for the people, and they have hitherto been forced to hire land at 
was ae nts. 
re joined at Breezy Point by Mr. Leslie, the magistrate -= 
the ‘Ce District, and, leaving there Be the Tth i nstant, we = proceeded 
to Lorimers, on Grand Caicos, to the fibre plantation Pati by Mr, 
