The Bpecimens of seeds of the Y-dzi forwarded by Mr. Justice 

 Ackrojd were duly received at Kew. Tt was evident that they were 

 derived from a species of Coir, and thev very closed v resembled those 

 of Coiv gigantea, Roxb., Fl. J ml. iii., p. 370. This plant is fully 

 discussed' in the Kew Bulletin, 1888, pp. 266-268. It is needless to 

 say it is not a shrub, and it possesses no merits for counteracting the 

 malarial influence- of marshy hv-alities beyond that possessed by any 

 coarse, quick -growing - - _ • .rbir>g a large quantity 



of water. The sperms of Coix arc well-known tropical grasses, found 

 in dam]) and marshy places. The host known is Coir Locliri/tna, and 

 this is widely distributed iu both hemispheres. In many countries it is 

 regarded as a troublesome weed, and a source of annoyance, especially 

 in rice fields. The drop-like fruits known as Job's Tears are used for 

 necklaces and in various ways as articles of ornamentation. The usual 

 colour is white, but they are sometimes found slightly tinned with pink, 

 and sometimes grey or almost black. An account of Ci.ir Lachr>/ma 

 vax.stenocarpa with h>ng cylindrical involucres, used by the Karens (a 

 semi-aboriginal tribe inhabiting certain districts of Lower Burma) for 

 ornamenting their dresses, is given in the Kew Bulletin, 1888, p. 144 

 ■(with plate). 



The peculiar medicinal and nutritive properties attributed to the Y-dzi 

 •plant in Tonquin and Cochin China have not been associated before 

 with any species of Coix. The results of chemical analysis of the 

 grains after the removal of the involucre, show only a slight Increase in 

 the amount of oil or fat pivsein in the groat majority of cereals. 



A comparison of the analysis of Y-dzi -rains given in the Bulb-tin <l- 

 la Socie'te d ' Acclimatation, December 1881, with that given of Coir 

 gigantea in the Kew Bulletin, 1888, p. 267, leaves little doubt of the 

 practical identity of their chemical composition, and, for the present, 

 we may assume that the Y-dzi is only a form of the Indian Coir 

 gigantea, Roxb., yielding a grain (a kind of pearl barley), long known to 

 yield "an excellent diet drink for hospital patients in China" [Dr. 

 Smith, quoted in "A Classified and I>o-oriptive Catalogue of the Indian 

 Department," Vienna Exhibition, 1873. p. 59]. 



CCC— MANILA ALOE FIBRE. 



{Agave vivipara, L.) 



e given to a fibre exported from Manila 



in moderate quantities, but quite di 

 from the Manila hemp of commerce. This latter is, as is well known, 

 obtained from a wild banana of the Philippines Musa tcxtilis {Kew 

 Bulletin, 1S87. April, p. 1). The origin of the Aloe fibre was ap- 

 parently unknown. It was, however, regularly met. with in commerce, 

 ■dthough the price realised for it was always much below that paid for 

 various sorts of Manila hemp. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, to Foreign Office. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, 

 Sir, October 8, 1890. 



I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that a sample 

 of " Manila Aloe Fibre" has recently been presented to the Museums 

 Botany at Kew, and a portion of this sample is enclosed 



