5 



They are then put into a screw-press, which may be worked by horse power. The liquid which comes 

 away is boiled for one hour with an equal amount of water. The clear oil is removed next morning, and 

 again boiled with a small quantity of water. 



" At the exact point when the water has all boiled away, which is indicated by the bubbles ceasing 

 to rise, the process is stopped, as every care must be taken not to push the heat too far." 



The oil is sometimes bleached by placing it in tanks or large glass vessels, and exposing it to the sun. 

 It loses some of its purgative power, but nevertheless obtains a higher price in the market. 



ROPES FOR FIBRES. 



f So much has been written of late years with regard to the adaptability of our native fibres for various 

 purposes, that it would be superfluous for me to attempt to go over the same ground again, but I cannot 

 refrain from making a few remarks on the large quantity of ropes of various sizes imported and used in 

 the Island, while rope-making materials grow everywhere in abundance. This latter fact is recognized, 

 and taken advantage of by the peasantry, indeed many of them partly make a living by the sale of ropes, 

 short lengths — usually about 25 feet long, and headstalls made of fibres from the barks of trees. 



The barks mostly used for this purpose are the " Mahoe" (Hibiscus elatus, L.) "Trumpet tree" 

 (Cecropia peltata, L.) and " Burn nose" (Daphnopsis tinifolia, Gr.); leaf-fibres are also made use of to some 

 extent, and it is a pity that they are not entirely used instead of bark-fibres. Very strong ropes are made 

 from the fibre obtained from the leaves of the "Keratto" (Agave Morrisii, Bak.) "Pinguin" (Bromelia 

 Pinguin, L.) "Banana" (Musa sapientum, L.) &c; also from the aerialroots of a species of Ficus. 



The fibres named are those most generally used, but there are plenty of others equally valuable, and 

 some of them, are ,very common in certain districts, e. g. " Ippi-Appi" (Carludovica Plumieri, Kth.) 

 " Silver Thatch" (Thrinax argentea Lodd.), " Ochra" (Hibiscus Abelmoschus, L.), " Dagger Plant" 

 (Yacca aloifolia, L.), several species of Crotolaria which are common weeds. " Pine- Apple." (Ananas 

 saiiva, Lindl,), "Aloe" (Furcrsea cubensis, Haw.) and many other plants to be had in abundance, yield 

 good, strong fibres suitable for making ropes and cordage. Nearly every peasant is the owner of one 

 or more head of stock, and he requires rope not only for reins, but also to tie loads on the animals' back 

 and for a score of other uses. When we look at the matter in this light we can form some idea of 

 the large quantity of rope which must be annually required. The use of barks for this purpose should 

 be discouraged, except perhaps the "Trumpet tree" which is very plentiful every where and. as far as I 

 am aware, is of no other value. The " Mahoe tree" which yields the bark most prized, also yields one 

 of our most beautiful and valuable native woods, and in country districts where this tree is plentiful 

 hundreds are killed every year through being stripped of their bark for rope making. I have only 

 alluded to the rope required by the peasantry, but there is no reason why every bit used in the island 

 should not be made here. The machinery necessary for the manufacture of rope is, I believe, 

 simple, and might be worked under the superintendence of any intelligent person. The raw materials are 

 plentiful, and the demand for the manufactured article, if offered at reasonable rates, would, I am sure, 

 be steady and good. I feel confident that a fortune awaits the man with sufficient means and 

 courage to start this industry. He might begin by manufacturing ropes of various qualities and sizes, 

 and when he gains sufficient experience of the relative values of the fibres at his command, and his work 

 people understood the working of the machinery, &c. he could introduce the manufacture of bags of dif- 

 ferent kinds. The number of these annually required for coffee, cocoa, and pimento, not to mention 

 many other things for which they are used, must be simply enormous. These are small matters, compa- 

 ratively speaking, and though the total spent on rope and bags by a single member, or estate during 1 

 the year, may not amount to much, yet, taking the whole island, the money expended on these two neces- 

 sary articles must be a very respectable sum. 



W. Harris. 



SOWING AND GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 



No hard and fast rule can be laid down for sowing seeds. Small ones are, as a rule, sown thickly 

 while large seeds are planted singly and at some distance apart. Then, again, large seeds require to be 

 covered rather thickly with soil, while small seeds need only be very lightly covered. 



Germination is the first act of vitality in plants. The quantity of moisture necessary to enable 

 the seed to germinate varies with the nature of the plant. Seeds of water plants should be entirely 

 immersed, but those of land plants need only be kept moist, and it is essential to germination that they 

 should be kept moist, for if allowed to become dry they shrivel (except of course hard coated seeds like 

 some palm seeds) and the germ looses its vitality. If seeds get too much water on the other hand (ex- 

 cept water plants) they undergo a kind of maceration which destroys their germinative power. The 

 atmosphere shoi/ld have free access to the seeds, hence the soil should be light and open. Seeds buried 

 in stiff clay, or at considerable depths below the surface do not germinate- All seeds do not take the 

 same time to germinate, beans and peas for instance germinate very rapidly, while some of the Palms, 

 Ceara rubber, &c, often take years before showing any signs of growth. 



The soil used for covering seeds should always where practicable, be sifted. Where a large quan- 

 tity of small seed is sown, e. g. tobacco seed, it will answer the purpose if, after the seed is sown, the 

 beds are lightly raked over so as to cover the seeds. Very small seeds need not be covered at all, but 

 immediately after sowing they should be watered and the water will carry them down a sufficient depth 

 for all their requirements. It is always safer to sow small and delicate seeds in boxes or pots, but it is 

 of great importance that these should be thoroughly drained. The boxes or pots may be covered with 

 glass which will prevent excessive evaporation and will keep the atmosphere in them in a state condu- 



