198 
as to the success of growing bowsiring hemp in Cuba and also as to the 
best machines for preparing the fibre 
The Sisal Hemp plant, Agave rigida, var. Sisalana, could very easily 
be introduced to West Africa. Small plants, in quantity, are probably 
obtainable from Florida. The Sisal Hemp would grow in dry, arid, 
distriets unsuited to almost any other plants. If 500 plants were 
introduced at first, wee after -= or three years would yield sufficient 
suckers to establish se veral a The Ramie or China grass plant 
may be regarded as unsuited to o We: t African enterprise at present, and 
„it would be useless to dowd attention to it unless there is a sufficient 
supply of labour to work large Eo wm suitable machinery is 
obtainable to decorticate the fibre at a low cost. 
Of the jute class of fibre plants tales e two a valuable fibre 
plants already abundant in West Africa. "These ^e e the ** Bolobolo ” 
(Honckenya Var cm tes diseussed in the Kew Bulletin for Jan 
1889, and the Toja (Urena lobata). 'lhe fibres of these plants are 
probably worth 18/. to 201. 8 ton, and the price is always likely to be 
DM at such a figure as would render a jute industry remunerative. 
It might te possible to get he! natives to clean these fibres by hand and 
sell the produce in small lots 1 ocally. 
EN 
Bien "res en (Manihot Aipi) Arrowroot (Maranta 
| Arundinacea), " Vanilla ( ree planifolia), and Pimento or Allspice 
(Pimenta officinalis). ese do not appear to yield remunerative 
S * a lex 5, huevos, well worthy of attention, and 
especially if the natives can be induced to o grow any of them. Annatto 
seeds are now sold at prices that cannot pay expenses. It might, how- 
S — be a matter for consideration whether the colouring matter could 
nary indigo 
it is only necessary to eliminate the earthy matter and portions of 
e stems usually found in Yoruba In ndigo to produce samples worth 
nearly as much as the best Bengal Indigo. 
suited to the soil and climate of West Afries; "They might. , however, 
a inland where it is damper and moister, and it would be-wellon 
thus account to keep them under observation and increase the stock in 
: A doubtful whether the Cacao or Chocolate will eventually 
ae y hopes at present en ntertained respeeting it. Although the 
p! E. survive the seasons OM is possible that they r may not ultimately 
ie reris erops. On the other hand, in sheltered valleys 
: inland and in damp localities free from prolonged ‘droughts Cacao cete 
do very Manes Next to Coffee, i n, and spices, I 
iios regard Cacao or Chocolate as most promising and reliable 
ON T for West — if only the right soil and climate are found for 
