10 



plications. From the specimens it was to be concluded that they were obtained from a perennial, from 

 the main stem or more probably the .branches. In regard to a probable commercial future for this 

 fibre, the most favourable conditions of growth of the plant should be first determined. Questions of 

 this nature are outside our province, but it scarcely needs to be mentioned that the authorities at Kew 

 are always ready to advise and assist in the necessary investigations. 



(b) A fibrous Bark, in the Gold Coast Section. A bale of this was exhibited by Dr. J. Esmond 

 of Accre, with a request that it should be put through a paper-making trial. 



In external appearance it was not unlike the Adansonia, except in being comparatively free from 

 medullary matter. The following determinations were made : — 



Moisture ... ... ... 11.0 per cent. 



Ash ... ... ... 7.6 " 



Cellulose ... ... ... 66.5 " 



Ultimate fibres. Length ... ... 10.15 mm. 



Not only in the relatively high yield of cellulose, but in the exceptionally great length of the ultimate 

 fibres, this material is such as to command the attention of paper-makers. It only remains to add that 

 the substance is easily treated, and that the resulting pulp bleaches under the ordinaryjj;treatment to a 

 high colour. 



Messrs. Joynson have kindly undertaken a paper-making trial of the substance, the results of 

 which will be reported in due course. 



(c) Grass (epidermal strips of Ratia vinifera) exhibited by Mr. A. Sibthorpe in the SierraJ Leone 

 Section, with specimens of straw plait illustrating its more usual application by the natives.*^ This 

 specimen also proved itself on analysis to be worth the attention of paper-makers. The following deter- 

 minations were made : — 



Moisture ... ... ... 9 8 per cent. 



Ash ... ... ... ... 2-7 „ 



Cellulose ... ... ... 60.8 „ 



Ultimate Fibres. Length ... ... . 15-2.5 mm. 



It is needless to say that the raw material is particularly clean, in length of fibre, but more 

 especially in yield of cellulose, it is superior to Esparto ; it only remains, therefore, to determine the 

 cost of production, and if within the limit, to introduce this raw material into European commerce. 



Notwithstanding that, as is to be judged from appearances, but little attention has been bestowed 

 upon the fibre exhibits in this section, results have been obtained which should stimulate inquiry into 

 the undeveloped resources of these Colonies, in the department of miscellaneous fibres. 



WEST INDIAN COLONIES. 



In these Sections the exhibits of miscellaneous fibres are more prominent : and the matter is 

 doubtless of first importance to the commerce of these Colonies. It is scarcely necessary to point out 

 that there is a general resemblance between the flora of the tropical countries of the East and West 

 hemispheres, sufficient to warrant our regarding India and the West Indies from a common point of 

 view, and the results of our investigation of the Indian fibre exhibits will in a great measure apply to 

 those of the latter. 



In determining questions of commercial value, on the other hand, the conditions which have to be 

 taken into account are very different in the two cases, and further are by no means uniform for the 

 several members of the West Indian group. On these latter points I can only offer very general 

 remarks, which I reserve until I have detailed the results of the special investigations which have been 

 made. 



Amongst the exhibits the Monocotyledonous fibres largely preponderated ; indeed but little atten- 

 tion seems to have been bestowed upon the working of the bast fibres of indigenous Dicotyledons. From 

 the various Courts I selected well-dressed specimens of the following : — Penguin {Bromelia P.) Sanse- 

 viera Zeylanica, and Agave Keratto. These are to be found in nearly all the exhibits of the various sec- 

 tions. In the St. Vincent Court I found a small specimen of the Groo-Groo (or Gri-Gri) fibres, con- 

 tained from the Acrocomia sclerocarpa, which is distinguished from the other fibres of this class by its 

 remarkable fineness and softness, and this superiority is confirmed by a comparison of the results of the 

 analysis, which are as follows : — 



Penguin. Sanseviera Z. Agave K. Groo-Groo. 



Moisture ... 10.0 ... 9.7 ... 10.5 ... 10.3 



Ash ... 1.3 ... — ... 1.4 ... 3.4 



Hydrolysis (a) 12.6 ... 12.0 ... 10.0 ... 7.6 



„ (6) 22.8 ... 24.4 ... 20.0 ... 16.5 



Cellulose ... 67-2 ... 73.1 ... 75.8 ... 83.5 



Mercerising ... 22.5 ... — ' ... 11.0 ... 11.2 



Nitration ... 103.5 ... 105.6 ... 109.8 ... 118.3 



Acid purification 3.1 ... 4.5 ... 0.4 ... 0.7 



Ultimate fibres. Length 1-2 mm. ... 1.5-H.6 mm. 2-8 mm. ... 1.5-3 mm. 



* A further examination of this substance comparatively with Raffia, which still commands a high price among 

 gardeners and nurserymen, showed that it was so closely similar as to be applicable to precisely the same uses, and such 

 an application would of course take precedence of that above indicated. This fibrous material is well worthy of further 

 attention. 



