189 
may be most economically and successfully carried out these experi- 
ments are likely to be of great value to the fruit-growers and to the 
Colony in general, 
CCCXC.—SISAL HEMP ro THE SAFARAS: 
consequence been felt in regard to the future of this important fibre 
industry. The plantations established "i in the Bahamas are now arriving 
at such a stage that a successful machine to extract the fibre is a, 
matter of the greatest importance. The information supplied to the 
Colonial Office by His Excellency the Governor, would appear to show 
that the “ Todd : machine has, so far, proved so atasoy that it is 
likely to be universally adopted i in the Colony :— 
COLONIAL Orrice to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
SIR, ; Downing Street, 19th May 1894. 
Wirtu reference to your letter of the 7th July 1893, I am directed 
by the Marquess of Ripon to LE to you a copy of a despatch from 
the Governor of the mas reporting upon a fibre-extracting machine 
which is now in successful Gbirátiok t in that Colony. 
Ripon proposes to forward a copy of Sir Ambrose Shea's 
despatch to the Governor of Fiji, and his Lordship would be glad if you 
would be good enough to add any observations, which would be likely to 
be of assistance to Sir John Thurston. 
: I am, Xe. 
The Director, (Signed) EDWARD WINGFIELD, 
Royal Gardens, Kew. . 
ova OF THE BAHAMAS to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
Government House, Nassau, NLP; 
My Lorp, 24th April 1894. 
WirH reference to Dara ine oae verbal and otherwise, soe 
I have received from the Colonial Office during the past three years, o 
- subject of machines for the extraetion of fibre, on which i prthation 
as desired for the Fiji Government, I have now the honour to acquaint 
Tour Lordship that I am at length in a posi ition to ver definitely of a 
machine that is now in successful operation in this Colony. 
` . 9. The machine in question is one ee ple ids & Mr. Todd, of 
New York (address, J. C. Todd, Patterson, New Jersey, U.S.A.), and 
during my late visit to the Waroo plantation at Abaco. be witnessed its 
performance, and have no doubt it will be univ ersally adopted here. 
Tt dresses the diee perfectly and with a minimum amount of waste, and 
though half a ton is all that a sacle machine will yield as a day's work, 
