SUBSTITUTES FOR COTTON AND NEW FIBRES. 129 



facturers to give a fair trial to such, new products as may appear at all 

 likely to answer as substitutes. It would not only find occupation for a 

 large number of our operatives in this country, but would also be the 

 source of employment for a number of natives who are now dependent 

 upon a precarious mode of obtaining a living." 



In Jamaica, Mr. N. Wilson, the island botanist, has long laboured most 

 earnestly and zealously to develope and utilise the rich indigenous re- 

 sources, and to introduce new plants. Hundreds and thousands of useful 

 plants have already been distributed gratuitously over the island, and 

 we trust to find that many new staples may thus be brought into culti- 

 vation, and the rich lands now lying unproductive, become utilized. 

 There are very many fibrous plants, the culture and preparation of 

 which for market will require really very little labour. Every day ex- 

 perience is gained, and a better amount of knowledge respecting them is 

 diffused, new machines are invented, suited to the maceration and clean- 

 ing of leaves and barks. 



In the Island of Jamaica may be found or cultivated profitably all the 

 most valuable fibres of commerce. The Rheea fibre of India (Boehmeria 

 nivea), furnishing the Chinese grass cloth, which grows there more freely 

 and luxuriantly than it does in the east. The Sanseviera, which thrives 

 in any sand-bank, and the fibre of which is so strong that it has received 

 the name of bow-string hemp. Jute, about which there has lately been 

 so much furor, is indigenous. 



We have lately received from Mr. Wilson the following statement of 

 the produce of an acre of bananas, which is one of the most valuable 

 plants that can be grown, and the contingent expenditure. This esti- 

 mate is made on the most moderate calculation, for the banana requires 

 little or no culture, and the stem, instead of weighing 100 pounds, 

 yielding 2J lbs. of fibre, will in most cases double that weight, and a 

 bunch of fruit frequently weighs 80 lb., instead of 50 lb., as set down ; 

 indeed, we have known a bunch of bananas to weigh 120 lb. The value 

 of the bunch of fruit at 6d. is also very low. A few years ago the ripe 

 fruits were selling at New York at 6d. each, and in this country they 

 readily fetch 3d. or 4d. each. A bunch will number from 100 to 200 

 fruit. Mr. Hill certainly holds out no prospects to speculators which 

 cannot be realised, . and after more than twenty years' experience of 

 tropical culture, he ought to be able to judge correctly, and would not 

 suggest speculations likely to end in loss. 



Banana (Musa sapientum). — This plant, with judicious management, 

 would be found to be one of the most profitable for tropical cultivation, 

 for its products — viz., fruit and fibre, and by a moderate estimate the 

 following result would be obtained. 



At an average of 10 or 12 years, an acre planted at 12 feet apart, 

 will contain 302 plants ; each stool will produce at least 7 strong 

 suckers = 2,114 stems per acre ; per-centage of clean fibre, 1\ or say 

 2ilbs. per stem, = 5,285 lbs. Or 47 cwt. 21 lbs. Or 2 tons 7 cwt. 21 lb?. 



VOL. III. K 



