14 



cuttings will be available soon. I purpose establishing a plot of each va- 

 riety, with a view to determine their merits here. 



I am also forwarding immediately^o the Agricultural Departnient at 

 Washington the entire collection, also of the bitter cassava which is much 

 richer in starch than the one under cultivation in Florida. I am forward- 

 ing a supply for extensive propagation. Millions will soon be dissemi- 

 nated over Florida. 



Two varieties the " Bitter" and the ■' Sweet" have been cultivated here 

 from time immemorial ; they are also spread throughout the West Indies. 



Starch is made bom the former for household purposes ; from the latter 

 cassava cakes are made and frequently the roots are cooked and eaten by 

 the pea santry though the variety is inferior. Small patches are grown 

 everywhere by the peasantry. The total aggregate may be 100 acres, 

 conseq uently seed cuttings may be obtained for thousands of acres for im- 

 mediate Cultivation. Doubtless twenty thousand tons, of roots could be 

 produced within a year. 



The cultivation is exceedingly simple ;. it thrives under the most diverse 

 conditions of climate, on the Liguanea and other dry plains, on rocky hill 

 sides, as well as on humid plains and hills wherever the soil is friable or 

 gravelly. To obtain large crops it must be planted annually ; it may be 

 planted twice a year in Jamaica ; the roots or tubers can be dried to keep 

 for some time ; thus the weight is greatly reduced for transport to be 

 brought from distant parts to a factory. I have mentioned that the fac- 

 tory at Orlando is in operation only four months a year. In Jamaica a 

 factory can be kept going most of the year. It is impossible to exaggerate 

 the importance of a great cassava industry in Jamaica. As a matter of fact 

 an acre of it is worth more than an acre of sugar cane. We have cheap 

 labour compared with Florida. The land is sufficiently rich without 

 artificial fertilizers, 



A peasant can cultivate a few acres, each yielding at least ten tons at 

 $5 per ton ; this is ^50 per acre. A factory here would confer im mense 

 benefit on the community. 



Mangoes, dec. 



Palm Beach is perhaps the most famous Winter Besort in the world. At 

 one of Mr. Flagler's Hotels 400 rooms are added annually. The tropical 

 aspect of the grounds is extremely grand ; great avenues of palms mile* in 

 length and forests of palms. The coco-nut plays an important part ; thou- 

 sands of them commonly 30 feet high are transplanted to command effect. 

 Many other tropical plants are displayed here. There are also hundreds 

 of acres of pineapples and the shed system is strongly advocated. Ons of 

 the finest plantations is that of Mr. Mattham, and he has several hybrid forms 

 from Washington. Mango and Avocado trees abound here ; Mango fruit 

 is extremely populiar ; hundreds of thousands are eagerly bought at about 

 $7 per thousand. In the city of Key West the consumption is very large 

 and its popularity is extending northwards, where in the near future it 

 will doubtless become a staple fruit. My programme from Washington 

 included a visit to a noted Mango grower. Professor Gale. He was de- 

 lighted to show what he has done. Great Indian grafted trees as well as 

 our no. 11 variety are propagated far more successfully than is the case in 

 the West Indies, — by budding, grafting, and inarching. 



It affords me great pleasure to report that I obtained from the Director 

 of Botanical Gardens at Washington six plants of anew variety of Banana j 

 it is described amongst bananas as " ttie best fruit of any." My attention 

 will be directed to its propagation with the^least possible delay. 



