141 



The coconuts are so liable to the attacks of pests that M. Dupont 

 says it is a surprise to find a tree which is not diseased. Three 

 beetles, a Calandra, Melitorumna insulate and the well known 

 Rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros play havoc with them, and- 

 there seems to be an obscure disease also possibly fungal, which 

 is injurious. M. DuPONT has introduced a number of Ceylon nuts, 

 and is taking steps to combat these diseases. 



Most kinds of rubber trees of value have been introduced, and 

 of these curiously Para Rubber seemed to stand the drought better 

 than Funtumia, Ficus, Castilloa and even Ceara Funtumia is not 

 attacked by caterpillars as it is here and ranks next to Para in 

 value. The others grow slowly. Para of 2 years' old, measure 17 

 feet in height with a circumference of 10 inches. 



All the rubber seedlings available were bought by six planters, 

 at the price of 15 cents each. The total number of plants in the 

 Seychelles exceeds 8,000 seedlings. More seed was introduced 

 from Ceylon, 97,400 being received but took two to three months 

 to arrive. The delay had little influence on the case of Para Rubber 

 packed in charcoal, and on a tin of the same seeds " packed dry", 

 2,600 plants were raised from the case of 10,000 seeds which were 

 at sea for 2 months and 400 from the tin of 2,000 seeds which took 

 3 months. Of the rest only half a dozen germinated. This does 

 not appear to be a very successful shipment. 



RAMIE. 



A VAST INDUSTRY OPENING. 



FORTUNES FOR PLANTERS. THE TEXTILE 

 OF THE FUTURE. 



DEAR Sir, — At last the merits of this wonderful fibre are becom- 

 ing known. The Government has at last issued a bulletin recom- 

 mending its cultivation, though I doubt if it will get beyond the 

 pigeon-holes of the Bureaux of those to whom it has been sent, and 

 it will still be left to the individual to make it known. 



I am pleased to see also our Agricultural and Horticultural and 

 Botanic Societies, Technical Colleges, and Chambers of Commerce 

 are alive to its merits. Special praise is due to that most up-to- 

 date, painstaking and perservering, though very young Institution, 

 the Liverpool University. This admirable Institute of Commercial 

 Research is making the claims of Ramie, the king of fibres, known 

 to our Empire. 



It can be grown in most of our Colonies. If Ramie were pro- 

 duced in quantity cotton and flax crises would be banished. It 

 would be universally used if supplies were forthcoming. There is 

 no fear of overstocking the market ; the trouble is, those who could 

 and would use it are prevented starting owing to absence of supply. 

 There are fortunes for planters. 



