FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 189 



" {B) A fibrous Bark, in the Gold Coast Section. 

 A bale of this was exhibited by Dr. J. F. Easmon, 

 of Accra, with a request that it should be put through 

 a paper-making trial. 



" In external appearance it was not unlike the 

 Adansonia, except in being comparatively free from 

 medullary matter. The following determinations 

 were made : — 



Moisture . . . . . . 1 1 • o per cent. 



Ash . . . . . . . 7 ■ 6 , , 



Cellulose . . . . . . 66'S,, 



Ultimate fibres. Lengtii . . . 10-15 "■"^• 



Not only in the relatively high yield of cellulose, but 

 in the exceptionally great length of the ultimate 

 fibres, this material is such as to command the 

 attention of paper-makers. It only remains to add 

 that the substance is easily treated, and that the 

 resulting pulp bleaches under the ordinary treatment 

 to a high colour. 



(C) "'Grass,' epidermal strips of the leaves of 

 Raphia vinifera. Exhibited by Mr. A. Sibthorpe in 

 the Sierra Leone Section, with specimens of straw plait 

 illustrating its more usual application by the natives.* 



* A further examination of this substance comparatively with 

 the Raffia, imported from Madagascar, which still commands a 

 high price amongst gardeners and nurserymen, showed that it 

 was so closely similar as to be applicable to precisely the same 

 uses, and such an application would of course take precedence 

 of that above indicated. This fibrous material is well worthy of 

 ftuther attention. 



