57 
Mr. Gibson, instead of charging you anything for this seed, will feel 
obliged if you will send him a small quantity, viz., 2 lbs. or 3 lbs., of 
the seed of Salsola sativa (Halogeton sativus) (Barilla) in exchange 
(Signed) W. WILFRED CAREY, 
Inspector of the States Domains. 
W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., 
C.M.G., F.R.S. 
The whole question was, however, carefully gone into five years ago, 
when, as will be seen from the following correspondence, exhaustive 
information was obtained on the actual state of the existing Barilla 
industry, and a supply of seed of the Barilla plant was sent to the 
Egyptian Government. 
ROYAL GampENs, Kew, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 
Sir, 25th January 1884. 
I am desired by Sir Joseph Hooker to inform you that inquiries 
have been made of this establishment on behalf of the Director-General 
of the Revenue in Egypt, on the subject of the mode of cultivating 
plants which produce Barilla. It is thought that this industry might 
be attempted in the Egyptian delta with success. 
Like the kelp industry of the British Isles the preparation of Barilla 
has, apparently, to a large extent become obsolete owing to the develop- 
ment of the manufacture of soda salts by purely chemical processes 
common salt in Great Britain and elsewhere. It is probable, however, 
that the manufacture of Barilla still to some extent exists in Spain. 
dried state before they are reduced to ash. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) W. T. THISELTON Dyer. 
T. Villiers Lister, Esq. j 
Foreicn Orrice to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. ; 
