20 
of plants cut from the area sown was 2,800, These weighed when 
— 22 lbs., and the amount of cleaned fibre obtained was 
€ 
The following od tok has been received from the Dundee Jute 
via owers’ — ation on a sample of jute grown and prepared at 
this station 
JUTE from the GAMBIA COLONY. 
Dundee, December 21, 1597. 
DEAR SIR, 
I HAVE now to advise that the sample of jute from the 
Gambia Colony which was returned to you yesterday may be 
said to have been seen by the whole trade here, by whom it has 
been Varie with much intere 
The sample does not have the high colour of the best jute from 
India, but it is similar in that darsi to jute which is received in 
large quantity from that count 
The fibre is good, Dossdlisirig strength and good spinning 
quality. It has been very well prepared, is free from “ blacks” 
(small pieces of bark sometimes left pep to the fibre from 
want of thoroughness in preparing) and it has a good glossy 
fibre. The sample may be classed as medium quality of n and 
quite merchantable. 
The root end has not been cut off, nor what is known as 
** erop " at the other end been removed, no doubt in order to show 
the full extent of the growth as far as possible. Jute of the quality 
of this sample when prepare ed for market should be free from 
root and crop. It will be seen that if so treated the sample 
would not yield more than two feet length of fibre. 
Except forthe short length, there is no fault to find with the 
sample in comparison with jute from India of the quality with 
which it would be classe 
It is understood that itio short length of the sample is a Bee 
late planting and an exceptionally dry season. ing these 
cireumstances into m the sample gives ET promise 
that jute growing in the Gambia Colony will prove a pract 
tical 
success. It may be plodicen that the jute crop of this season 
now arriving from India is a very large one, and that the prices 
are exceptionally low ; but if with favourable conditions jute of 
the quality of the sample from Gambia can be produced, with 
length of uem s equal to the Indian growth, there is a large 
uture befo 
Taking one year with another, the values realised for the Indian 
crop have been sufficient to induce a constantly extending 
cultivation in that country. 
You would receive along with the sample a small portion taken 
from a bale of Indian jute which has been sent to show the "eom 
of jute of this season's crop. 
from the fact that a better price per ton is réitisei for 
jute of a long growth, the bulk of produce from the land is 
Seen mec thereby—a most important factor i in n the result 
to the produe 
