3°5 



merits showed that it was the strongest and best fitted fibre tor 

 deep sea soundings of any kind known. It has been long used for 

 cordage, cables, etc., by the Portuguese in Angola. Owing to its 

 stiffness and form, it is easier to handle in cleaning by machinery, 

 and specimens cleaned and exhibited at the Agricultural Show 

 were good white and silky fibre. 



S. Ehrenbergi), Schwemf. — A Nubian and Arabian species is in 

 cultivation in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. It was received 

 from Kew some years ago, and is at present quite a small plant. 

 Its recurved distichous thick leaves like those of one of the 

 small aloes gives it a very quaint appearance. The leaves which 

 are half round with a broad groove above and a sharp point are 

 very short in our plant, but they attain a length of four to seven 

 feet. The fibre though merely beaten out by the Somalis with 

 sticks, and very roughly prepared was (in 1892) considered as a 

 very good strength and colour. 



It is probable, however, that the climate is too damp lor this 

 species, for our only plant has made but little growth since its 

 arrival. 



S. Roxburghiana. — This is the name of the common cultivated 

 species here, which is a native of India. It has long been grown 

 as an ornamental plant and is very widely spread and abundant 

 all over the Peninsula. An account of it under the name of S. 

 Zeylanica, Murva fibre, was published in Bulletin, Vol. II, p. 220. 

 It is perhaps the easiest to grow but the leaves are not as tall or 

 broad as those of S. Guineensis. It works well with machinery 

 and produces an excellent fibre. 



COTTON AT PORT DICKSON. 



Port Dickson. 

 2nd September, ipoj. 



DEAR Mr. RIDLEY,— I forwarded to you yesterday by Parcel 

 Post a small box containing samples of cotton obtained from the 

 plants I received from you some months ago. I have never seen a 

 proper sample of cotton so cannot say whether those I have sent 

 you are good, bad or indifferent. The staples of the cotton arc 

 certainly not conspicuous by their length. 



You will doubtless remember you forwarded to me voung plants 

 of Sea Island, Egyptian and Upland Cottons. 



The Sea Island seemed to do very well indeed at first, but after 

 .1 while they became unhealthy in appearance, and every boll which 

 they now carry shows signs of having been pierced by a worm or 

 grub, the latter measuring about five-eighths of an inch long. An 

 examination of the inside of the boll clearly proves that the worm or 

 grub entering it are bent on devouring the seeds. 



I have noticed a peculiar kind of fly— red back with black spots— 

 on the plants on several occasions, 'and I have no doubt the grub 



