148 
plants removed to this, and set out at regular intervals to form a 
Government nursery. It was here that I observed the large specimens 
of silk grass mentioned in paragraph 6 of this letter. These plants were 
introduced here from Jamaica in 1883- 84 by Mr. Plummer, the Instructor 
in Agriculture, sent up by Mr. Morris at Mr. Llewelyn’s request. They 
have certainly thriven marvellously, though, as far better results are 
obtained from the Pita, it is unlikely that we shall be able to put them 
to much practical use 
11. Our schooner having returned from Grand Turk, Mr. Leslie and 
I left on Thursday morning for West Caicos, the waste lands on whic. 
have been recently leased in accordance with a ee contained in 
your letter, No. 4269/6302, of the 28th ultimo. My visit was only for 
the purpose of forming an opinion as to the. pest means of surveying 
these lands at the least expense to the lessees, as I am most anxious to 
afford every possible encouragement to the new industry. Otherwise I 
should not undertake this work, as repeated absences from Grand Turk 
are very inconvenient where the whole of the executive work is centred 
b m ga n 
send, and to obtain the services of a surveyor from abroad would entail 
an expenditure which the lessees of the land are not prepared to meet. 
As the work is hajtek: for the success of the new imonei; I have 
promised to do it, and propose to return there early next month. 
12. That this ani of West Caicos is suitable for the Dira cultiva- 
tion is proved by the fact that in cutting the bush from the small 
portion of land which the company has been able to clear, since they 
were allowed to go to work a fortnight ago, sgh he Pita plants in good 
condition, and growing strongly, were found, which were before hidden 
in the bush, which is so thick as to be abooliitely impassable. I found 
that the manager of the company had his house half built, and had 
some 30 acres of land in an advanced state of preparation, and he hopes 
to begin early in October to set out the plants, of which they have 
already upwards of 200,000. The labour for this property is drawn . 
from pre ee gaco Gave Hills), the poorest Settlement in these 
islands, and one in which it has hitherto been necessary to distribute 
provisions to the see and infirm almost Sega a necessity whic 
abundance of labour will entirely remo 
with cockro: 
obiainsble here, and indeed Asch nly safe one in heavy weather. 
n conclusion, I may say that the saat of my visit has been a 
conviction that the future oe the fibre industry in the Caicos isan is- 
assured, if no useless obstacles or unnecessary restrictions be 
to harass the companies now commencing operations. The land 3 in 
every way suitable, and the management of the companies possess 
energy, ability, and capital to direct them. The directors and share- 
se are not speculators, but men whose fortunes are involved in the 
beyond the success to individuals, however, is the 
un ing. 
preiera to the condition of the outlying Settlements, hitherto 
