176 
There is no reason why this business should not be en pro- 
secuted, as most of the islands are well adapted for its cultivat It 
is hope: t the presence of strangers now coming in to каршын the 
their attention cannot fail to be directed. It is quite possible that, in 
time, cotton may be found only secord to the fibre in the category of 
rts from the colony. The pine-apple crop realised 49,795/., as 
compared with 25,5582. in 1889. Of canned pine-apples there were 
exported 26,789 cases, valued at 6,1267., and in 1889 the export was 
21,683 cases, with a value of 4,5007. In oranges there wa 
in Florida, as we are proo oof а against frost, which often visits that — 
This branch of emer may also be favourably affected when m 
of enterprise from outside, appreciating the opportunity, use it wit ith 
energy and the зом wa of well-ordered methods of packing and 
shipping. 
Fibre Cultivation. 
Ste teady progress continues to be made in this industry, with increasing 
faith in its value and permanence. A report of the cultivation to the 
present time om Rea prepared by order of the Government, which, 
though strictly accurate, would not convey true impressions to those at 
a dis 
ce. 
The m speaks of 4,100 acres being already planted with 
2,500,000 of plants, but it states that there are also 1,300,000 plants in 
nurseries, which, being in course of growth, adds 50 acd cent. to the 
active cultivation, making an aggregate of over 6,000 acres. Plants 
are now kept much lo mpi in nurseries to lessen the cost of weeding, 
which is an expensive operation, and annually attended to after the 
plants are set out in the fields. 
There has been some question as to the time to bring the plantings 
to maturity, but four years is now the accepted period, while plants 
tained in the nurseries, as above stated, will mature in three Ages 
There is but liftle to add to former reports on this enterprise, which has 
passed out of the experimental stage and will not probably present any 
new features of interest until exports of fibre begin, which will be, 
on a moderate scale, in 1892, then developing annually into proportions 
of increasing importance 
e value of the fibre, like that of other Ner will, of course, be 
Buffet to market conditions from time to time, but п the natural order 
tures. The time is now approaching when the machines for separating 
the fibre from the leaf will acquire practical importance ; of those now 
Some of them clean 
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stake we must suppose inventive genius will be found equal to the 
casion. Professor Edison has directed his attention to the matter of 
