ee PE es ee re ee TE 
237 
of creamy white), very short (one sample was longer), all stringy, not 
flat-open. The moda unless in famine, would not entertain it ; appear- 
ance goes a long way nowadays, alt mpeg haa some siom purposes, this 
West Coast product should do as well as t no Madagan 
If asked for a value, we would hazard 207. per 
Yours faithful ly, 
(Signed) IDE AND Ganse. 
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc., 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
MEssRS. J. A. NOBLE & Co. to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
136, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C., 
DEAR SIR, September 6, 1895 
WE are favoured with your letter of the 3rd instant, with 
sample of Lagos Rafia. We are desirous of showing this to the 
difficulty in getting them to put it forward in the place of the 
Madagascar Rafia, as it is not so sightly and the smaller buyers gin 
prefer the broader and lighter colour. Our own opinion is that w 
more care in the TTEA it will come into use with those who da 
not look to colour so much as strength. We see no reason why it may 
not be broader, gi it has simply been allowed to curl up in the 
preparation, and i consequently harsh, with a tendency to cut in the 
using. It is cortainly the strongest we have seen from the West Coast - 
what we have seen before has been soft and good colour, but very 
tender and unsaleable. 
ill write you again after we have given the consumers an 
opportunity of testing it and have received their opinion upon it. In 
the meantime, Mr. Millen should continue his experiments, and _ ~~ 
no doubt he will be able to improve meee on this 
traly, 
(Signed) a A. NOBLE & Co. 
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc., 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
As already Aig esti small shipments of West African Rafia have 
been made, from time to time, for many years, but no commerce has 
arisen in it owing rae e unfavourable chara cter as co 
Madagascar Rafia. The natives all along the coast manufacture cloths, 
mats, baskets, and hammocks from Rafia, and samples are in the Kew 
Museums from the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, and Old 
Calabar 
Furt athe specimens of Rafia from West Africa were brought to 
Kew recently by Mr. Walter Haydon, Curator of the tanic 
ort. o a 
received from West Africa. The follwing Here shows also, t 
ee were valued commercially at a ghee prios than e former 
ecim Disie 
