15 



" There are no published returns showing the importation 

 of raw material used in this trade, but from figures which we 

 have been at some trouble to obtain, it would seem that of 

 rattan canes alone imported during the year 1886, there were 

 some 1,500 tons, of the estimated value of £30,000, while other 

 canes imported from the East numbered 28,950,000, valued at 

 £94,000 ; and to these may be added imports from other parts 

 of the world, such as Brazil, Algeria, West Indies, France, &c, 

 bringing up the gross total value of rough material to £189,000. 

 Placing this against the value of the imports in 1850 of £1,600 

 it will be seen what progress has been made in this one trade 

 alone, which deals almost exclusively with produce furnished by 

 the vegetable kingdom." 



A plant which I understand is much used for providing 

 saplings is Eugenia pimenta, or "Allspice" tree, this plant 

 grows well in the Gardens, and has borne seeds for many years 

 past, and it is quite likely that some of our indigenous plants 

 might be found suitable for this purpose, such for instance as 

 one of the Grewias, whose stems are in traverse section 

 cruciform, and no doubt others will be found equally or still 

 more suitable. The following extract from the " Shamba " 

 will be useful to any person who may wish to take up this 

 matter. 



Messrs. Howell & Co., Old Street, London, have kindly 

 supplied us with the following points to be observed in collect- 

 ing walking sticks : — 



Length. — The total length should not be less than 42 

 inches, end to end, but if possible they should be 48 inches. 



Size. — The best sizes are of the diameter of \ to 1 inch, 

 measured about mid-way, they should not be larger than 1^ 

 inch in diameter. 



Form. — It is indispensable that the diameter should 

 gradually diminish from the root or handle to the point, so that 

 the stick is not top heavy. 



Handle. — It is always better, when possible, to send sticks 

 with some kind of handle ; if the plant should be pulled up, 

 the root should be left quite rough and untrimmed ; if a 

 branch be cut oft', a part of the parent branch should be left on 

 to form a knob or crutch handle. 



Sticks without Handles. — Sticks without handles can be 

 used, especially if they are nicely grown, and have any 

 peculiarity of structure or colour, but if there is any handle, 

 however small, it should not be cut off. Young saplings of the 

 different kinds of Palms, Bamboos, &c, &c, should always 

 have the root left on. 



