Le coe ee eee ee ee 
201 
r two moderately large st ome > the plant be forwarded in a dry box 
fe this establishment. In the case of Agave leaves, it may be mentioned 
that they travel very well if Poig in a perfectly dry state without soil 
or any other material. If the box is pierced with holes to afford 
ventilation all the better. It would add to the interest of the specimens 
if the Consul could add a few words in regard to the methods employed 
in preparing the fibre. 
I have, &c. 
Sir Villiers Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed) D. MORRIS. 
Foreign Office. 
FOREIGN OFFICE to ROYAL oe KEw. 
SIR, Foreign Office, July 7, 1891. 
WITH reference to your letter of the ” Sth of October last, I am 
directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to request you to inform Mr. 
Thiselton-Dyer that Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila reports that he 
has forwarded to p Ga rdens, under the charge of Captain Wilson, 
of the ss. “ Barden Tower,” a small box containing a few leaves of the 
Manila Aloe plant (Maguay). 
I am, &c. 
The Assistant Director, (Signed) JAMES FERGUSON. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Mr, Consul GOLLAN to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
British NEET Manila, 
SIR, May 20, 1891. 
I BEG to inform you ge under directions from the Foreign Office, 
I, this day, forward to you a small box containing four leaves of the 
Manila Aloe (Maguay), which I trust may arrive in good condition and 
answer the parpom you have in view. I enclose a few notes from Mr. 
the preparation of the 
I send, in the same boas mall specimen of rope of ote strength 
and durability made from ine fibre called “ Cabo nae 
(Signed) reti GOLLAN, 
Her Majesty’s Consul. 
W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., 
Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[Enclosure. | 
PREPARATION OF MAGUAY FIBRE. 
The leaf is first soaked in water until it rne quite soft and pulpy, 
which takes place in about a fortnight. It is drawn between the 
thumb and fingers, which easily mege off the Arer leaving a clean fibre 
This is afterwards dried in the s 
If required for immediate use, T leaf is first pared down on each of 
its flat sides, and afterwards drawn between two pieces of cane lightly 
* The fibre sent as “Cabo Negro” was the produce of the sugar palm of the 
East Indies, Arenga saccharifera. 
