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275 
LXXXIV.— BOTANICAL ENTERPRISE IN THE WEST 
INDIES, 1890-91. 
[K. B., 1891, pp. 111-166.] 
From the notes prepared by Mr. D. Morris, C.M.G., F.L.S., the 
Assistant Director of Kew, a his mission in the West Indies in 
1890-91, and published under the above heading in the SeN Bulletin, 
the following extracts are taken relating to fibrous plants 
ANTIGUA. 
Although operations at the Botanical Station had only been com- 
ne during ¢ the past 12 months, considerable progress has already 
been made in laying out the land, and in starting nursery beds ae 
piet ia plots. The latter were devoted to 20 varieties of grape- 
vines, pine-apples, fibre plants (Sansevieria, Boehmeria, Furcraea), 
nanas, cacao, Egyptian cotton, coffee, mulberry for silkworms, an 
fruit trees. The nursery bed con ntained several hundred small plants 
ready for Sans and some ornamental trees and shrubs suitable for 
shade and shelte 
good deal “of scrubby bush is found at Piccadilly, near English 
Harbour, and in it are found large quantities of the Keratto (Agave 
Eraik and the Turk’s-head Cactus (Melocactus communis). 
plot about 4 acre in extent is opened on Cedar Valley Hill, about 
mile ge fas the Dome Station in a Peso tk direction. It 
contains + acre of Furcraea park isis and pine-apples; and another 
d acre of y PEE lan ugino a d to the pi ea one growth 
of this plant on a stron paie 
e Government sonic an sages ve tract of cuuntry at Piccadilly, 
near English Harbour. The land is somewhat poor and arid, but it 
may be utilised for growing fibres and pine apples, and other a 
might be devoted to pen-keeping for cattle, sheep, horses, mules, 
e Curator of the Botanic Station, acting under the orders is the 
Government, has started a small experimental plot with pine-apples and 
fibres at Piccadilly. An effort will also be made to try cotton there. 
MONTSERRAT. 
Very fine plants of Furcraea gigantea, the unarmed varieties of which 
yield the Mauritius hemp of commerce, were plentiful in the neigh- 
urhood of the Arrowroot factory belong to the Montserrat Company. 
ey are used chiefly as hedge plants. 
ANGUILLA. 
Careful search was made for any plants in the island that apai jer 
likely to afford the means for starting a fibre industry. 
numerous species of Tillandsia, Pitcairnia and other plants of “this 
character on rocks and trees, but ‘only one species of Agave was found, 
and that was, unfortunately, one that yielded a very inferior class of 
fibre. 1t was useless, therefore, to attempt the systematic cultivation of 
this plaut. After considerable difficulty, one plant of Furcraea cubensis 
was found on land to the north-west. This it et had been intro- 
duced there. The leaves were of good length and texture, an 
was excellent. It was evident that if two or three thousand acres of 
absolutely useless land in Anguilla could be established with fibre A rena 
in a few years an important in might be started there. ` 
