FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 193 



" The root-ends should be cut off and supplied for 

 paper-making." 



So as to guard against rash adventure in the way 

 of thoughtless speculation, I cannot do better than 

 conclude this chapter with some general remarks by- 

 Messrs. Cross and Bevan, in case that ill-considered 

 attention should be turned to Monocotyledonous 

 fibres : — 



" In recommending any of the following fibres (Pen- 

 quin, Bromelia P. ; Sanseviera z., Agave K., Gri- 

 Gri, Acrocomia sclerocarpa) to the attention of West 

 Indian cultivators, this question (the superiority in 

 yield of Phormium) must be taken next in order ; 

 after which there comes the question of the process 

 of obtaining the fibre, together with those of supply 

 and transport. Assuming a satisfactory decision on 

 these latter points, attention should be confined in 

 each locality to one, or at most two, of those which 

 have been shown to be superior. Much time has 

 been wasted by diffuse investigations in the province 

 of fibres, and the cause lies in the absence of re- 

 cognition of the precise criteria of value. It is quite 

 certain that the conditions of European markets and 

 manufactures are not such as to encourage any large 

 increase in the number of vegetable fibres, more 

 especially of the Monocotyledons. The struggle is 

 severe, and only the fittest survive. There is no 

 necessity for the future that the question of fitness 

 should be left to work itself out. The application of 



O 



