€ 
131 
eath’s patent fibre cleaning machine costs about 7OZ.; it requires 
either water-power or a 5 horse-power steam-engine of English make to 
drive it; this costs 1507. 
If the aloe is left lying for a day or two in the sun it ruins it; it should 
be treated at once, and under sheds. 
4. I know of no water-power within any reasonable distance of the 
coast 
5. There appears to be any amount of aloe within reasonable distance. 
I have heard that it would be mueh improved by being properly 
cultivated, such as thinned in places where it is growing too thickly. 
. Labour is obtainable at the seaport towns, but the Somali is ex- 
tremely lazy, and it might be necessary to import Arab labourers at first, 
though regular employment for the Somalis, who swarm as idlers about 
the ports, would be very desirable. 
Royat GARDENS, Kew, to Foreign Orrice. 
Sin, Royal Gardens, Kew, June 27, 1892. 
I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you, in reference 
n 
stems, leaves and fibre from Somali-land has been received at Kew 
from Lieutenant-Colonel E. V. Stace, C.B., Political Agent and Consul 
at Aden. 
The specimens arrived in excellent order, and they have enabled 1s 
to determine very readily that the plant yielding the new fibre from 
Somali-land is not an “Aloe” cr Agave like that yielding Bombay 
Ak bre. The plant is a Sansevieria, one speciss əf which 
o 
very imperfect and sub- 
cylindrical, terrninating in a strong spine. They are solid through- 
out, and are feet in length and, according to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stace, under exceptional circumstances they attain a length 
of about 7 feet. The circumference of fresh leaves at the would 
be about 5 to 7 inches. The flowers have not yet been received. 
The plant is altogether a very interesting one, and its existence as 
source of a valuable supply of fibre is a fact that will be sure to 
awaken attention amongst commercial men in this country. 
*- 
