297 



years before I got it to put it into its present condition. 



Your friend Mr. Edwin Cummixg, manufacturer here, will be 

 able to assure you that he and others in his way of business would 

 gladly welcome the introduction of this fine fibre. As to the clean- 

 ing it from gum if you can devise a simple means of decorticating 

 the stem on the lines that I suggested I can furnish the explana- 

 tions that will enable it to be cleaned out in the Straits and sent 

 here ready to spin or bleach snow white. 



NOTE. — Black Ramie appears to be the trade name for the brown 

 ribbons simply stripped from the stem and dried. — C, C 



Letter No. 2. 



1. Pollock Street, 



Calcutta, 2jt/i February, igo2. 



Dear Sir, 



Under the auspices of Major Praix, Superintendent Royal 

 Botanic Garden, Shibpur, I take the liberty of addressing you and 

 shall be much obliged if you can let me know if sou. are able to 

 supply me with roots of Baehmeria nivea (China Grass) ; as you are 

 doubtless aware experiments have been recently made on an 

 extensive scale in the cultivation and decortication of this plant 

 and His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal went up to 

 Dalsing Serai where we have a large quantity of land under Rhea 

 cultivation, in order to witness experiments with Faure's Decorti- 

 cating Machine. Both the Bengal and Imperial Governments are 

 much interested in the extension of Rhea cultivation and it is 

 likely that this new and important industry will soon be firmlv 

 established. The only difficulty so far is in obtaining roots. Major 

 PRAIN has supplied all he could but there is demand for many 

 more, and I shalj he much obliged if you can help us either by 

 supplying roots or telling me where I can most likely get them. 



The Decorticator that is being u-ed in the experiment referred 

 to in this letter is one of Faure's which has been greatly improved 

 since it was first brought before the public. This machine weighs 

 11 cwt. and costs about R.. 1.800 landed in Calcutta. It turns out 

 pure fibre to the extent ot 3 % of the weight of the stems and pro- 

 duces a minimum of 70 lbs. a day. Taking the value at 4 pence 

 per lb. the value of one day's output amounts to £1.3.4. The cost 

 of cultivation, yield per acre, most suitable varieties, and many 

 other points, might with advantage be workd out in one of the 

 experimental Stations of the Federated Malay States where with 

 its abundance of cheap land and heavy rainfall it should pay if it 

 will pav anywhere. 



C. CURTIS. 



FRUIT CULTIVATION 



The Cultivation of most kinds of fruits in this country is one which 

 at present is more important as an additition to the luxury and 

 comfort of colonial life than as a direct pecunia profirty. Excep- 



