194 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



criteria now well established enables us to make 

 definite selections on the basis of superiority. The 

 authorities in the several islands should decide 

 generally that the growth and preparation of a fibre 

 is desirable, then a particular fibre — the best for each 

 locality — should be selected, and the trade in that 

 fibre thoroughly organised. The importance of an 

 organisation cannot be overestimated, and in support 

 of this we may cite the case of the trade in jute. 

 There are, as we know from the results of investiga- 

 tions, not a few fibres capable of replacing this 

 particular bast, some in fact of the same class being 

 superior in all essentials. Nevertheless the trade in 

 jute holds its own unassailed, and the cause, in so far 

 as it does not reside in intrinsic superiority and 

 commercial fitness, must be sought in the concentra- 

 tion of attention upon this fibre, and the resulting 

 organisation of the trade. These facts deserve to be 

 borne in mind by all who are contemplating the 

 founding of any such enterprise. 



"There is a good market for Monocotyledonous 

 paper - making fibres. The preparation involves 

 machinery, but this may be of the simplest kind, as 

 in the preparation of Manila {Musa T.) in the 

 Philippines. 



"We recommend Mr. Morris's brochure on West 

 Indian fibre-making plants (Jamaica, 1884). 



"The fibre from Musa Paradisiaca is generally 

 inferior. 



