177 
decortication and he hopes he has found an effective method which 
avoids waste. e treatment is by a solution of crude petrcleum, and 
this Ed are now in communication with the Professor. · If the 
results meet our requirements, a most important end will be attained, 
which will have the. further advantage of enabling small padre to 
dress their own leaves instead of being capella to sell sms. a loss 
to a large neighbouring planter, who is able to procure a machine. 
e process being enterprised by Professor Edison aos other 
and most Mots interests in this colony. Many thousands of tons of 
pine-apple 1 are now annually left to waste. The fibre commands 
a high price, from 60/. to 80/. a ton, for use in fine textiles. The small 
quantity now produced cumes from China, where it is roughly and ex- 
It is understood that the same solution may be used many times, and, if 
present hopes are realised, the petroleum will be admitted free of the 
duty now imposed. 
CCII.—ARGEL LEAVES. 
(Solenostemma Argel, Hayne.) 
Alexandrian Senna of commerce has commonly been adulterated with 
Argel leaves yielded by — Argel, Hayne, a native of Upper 
Egypt, Nubia, and the northern parts of A Arabia. It is figured in 
Bentley and Trimen's Medicinal Plants (tab. 175). It appears to have 
formerly been the cu * to mix two parts of Argel leaves with eight 
* of senna en and рч orate thus formed constituted commercial 
* Alexandrian 
Argel leaves may ro known from senna leaflets by their paler colour, 
ep leathery texture, less conspicuous veins, and by being equal-sided 
t their base. It appears from the experiments of Christison “ that 
" they possess little or no P effect, but cause sickness, griping, 
“ and other unpleasant symptom They were gemens d collected 
by the Arabs in the valleys of the desert to the east and south of 
Assouan. They were thence sent to Cairo to be mixed with true senna 
leaflet 
No authentic specimen of Argel leaves existing in the Kew Museum, 
an applieation was made to the Foreign Office to procure a sam sample. In 
the correspondence given below it will be noticed that during the last 
few years, since the trade with the Soudan has been closed, Argel leaves 
have not been brought into Egypt. 
Колі GARDENS, Kew, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
SIR, Royal Gardens, Kew, 31st October 1890. 
I am desired by Mr. Thiselton Dyer y inform you that the 
leaves of a plant, native of Ps pe Egypt and Nubia, known as o- 
stemma Argel, are said to be used for rare commercial senna 
leaves at Alexandria. 
