6 



gallons put up keep about one gallon of the same for refilling the casks during fermentation. Lay casks 

 on the side, fill full, and leave bung opfn. Do not let it be exposed to much cold. Pill up the casks 

 very day, from the quantity kept out, as the scum is thrown off, and watch closely until the wine passess 

 through the stage of alcoholic fermentation. This will usually require from ten to twenty days, or longer 

 if the weather is cool, and can easily be determined by scum ceasing to rise, and the cessation of brisk 

 fermentation. When it arrives at this stage, place the bung in loosely. Watch closely for a few days, 

 and as active fermentation ceases, put the bung in fast. Let it stand two months, then rack off carefully 

 into clean casks. If perfectly clear, seal and let it stand six months, when it may be bottled. If not 

 clear, it should be racked off a second time in two months after the first time, and sealed for six months 

 before bottling. Be sure your casks are full, for contact with the air will cause the wine to pass into 

 acetic fermentation. Considerable wine from oranges has been manufactured in Florida, and the de- 

 mand for it has been very good at $5 per gallon. The wine continues to improve with age. 



FIBRES AND FIBRE PLANTS. 



A case of fibres has been received by the Botanical Department from Kew Gardens for the Jamaica 

 Exhibition. It is a very fine and complete set of commercial fibres as they come into the London mar- 

 ket, obtained by Mr. Morris from the celebrated Fibre Brokers, Messrs. Ide & Christie. 



Mr. Morris writes : — " Some of the fibres now sent out are quite new. For instance the 'China 

 Jute' and the • Manila Aloe Fibre' were not represented until quite lately in our Museums; and no 

 doubt you will be interested to see the ' Quilot' variety of Manila hemp about which you wrote to us 

 last year." 



Messrs. Ide & Christie are kindly sending their Trade Circulars every month, so that the market 

 prices will be known to date. 



The following is a list of these fibres. The numbers and common names are those attached by the 

 Brokers ; the scientific names were added at Kew ; the rest of the information is given, as it may be 

 convenient to have it at hand. 



Abtjtilon Avicenn^e, Gaertn. 



China Jute, No. 16. 



Native of N. Asia, extending to S. Europe and N. America. 



An annual herb, with yellow petals and rounded leaves with long points. It belongs to the same 

 family as Hibiscus {Malvacew). 



Great attention is being paid to the cultivation of this plant in the United States, and the fibre 

 produced there is called American Jute. It would probably do well on all the higher grounds in 

 Jamaica. Abundance of water is necessary for retting, which might also be utilised far running the 

 machinery. " It is stated that an acre of ground will produce 5 tons of stalk, and about 20 per cent, 

 of pure fibre is obtained after preparation." — (Christy.) 



" China Jute, in sympathy with hard Hemps, is dearer, and 17s. [per cwt.] paid in public sale 

 for a choice parcel of small bales : private sales have been made as low as 14s. 6d. ; tendency is to higher 

 prices." " 15th Dec. — All importers have cleared out, and the last figure marked was 16s. 9d. A 

 large business has been done, and dealers now demand 20s." — (Ide 8f Christie's Circular.) 



Agave heteracantha, Zucc. 



Mexican Fibre. No. 5. 

 Native of Mexico. 



An agave with short leaves (1 ft. to ft.), the edges of which have a horny border of the same 

 texture as the spines. 



It grows in great abundance on rocky limestone. 



" The fibre is quite unique as a vegetable substitute for animal bristles, and is used in the manu- 

 facture of cheap brushes of all sorts. The range of value of late years has been from £21 per ton to 

 £50 per ton."— (Ide and Christie in Kew Bulletin). 



" Mexican Fibre — 15th Dec. Dull. Extra long 32s. Fair 29s. Common 28s. 



{Ide 6jr Christie's Circular.) 



Agave rigida, Mill., var. Sisalana, Perr. 



Sisal Hemp, No. 23. 



Native of Central America, naturalized in Florida. 



An agave with glaucous leaves, with or without prickles. 



Dry, rocky soil suits this plant best. Information on Sisal Hemp will be found in Bulletin No. 



15. 



Betting is not required for the Agaves. Sisal Hemp resists the action of wet, and is therefore 

 useful for cables, rigging-cordage, &c. 



" Sisal Hemp. — 15th Nov. Smartly up £6 to £8 per ton, but buyers looking on. 



1st Nov., 1890. 1889. 1888. 1887. 

 _ , f Deliveries, Jan.-Oct., 1890 150 tons Stock 38 12 19 nil tons. 



London j l mport8 200 Spot value 33s. 



Arrival " 32s. 



{Imports. Stock, 1st Nov. 



Jan.-Oct., 1890. 1889. 1888. 1890. 1889. 



bales 15,323 1,383 8,642 2,266 151 



Messrs. Crocker's American Statistics, 1st Nov. 1890. 1889. 1888. 



Imported into the United States from January 1st to date Bales 186,542 188,844 168,190 



Stock in Importers and Speculators hands in New York and 



Boston, Oct. 31 ... ... " 2,900 8,246 7,225 



