AtretJS* i, i887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
93 
siderable improvement in quality upon -that exhibited. 
It would be well to look into this matter from the 
botanical point of view. By modifying the conditions 
of growth, introducing such artificial restrictions as 
are known to contribute to the development and im- 
provement of fibre, doubtless a much 6uperier pro- 
duct can be obtained. Secondly, I would call atten- 
tion to plants of the species Sida, mentioned in Mr. 
Morris's report above mentioned. In the Indian and 
Queensland Sections there are excellent specimens 
exhibited of the best fibre of this plant. It is of the 
jute class, but in all respects superior. The probable 
future of this fibre is fully discussed in my official 
report. Without going over this discussion again, I 
may call attention to the general conclusion that it 
is a fibre destined to displace jute in many of its 
applications. The separation of the fibre is a simple 
process, requiring only a preliminary retting treat- 
ment ; and although no specimens were exhibited in 
the West Indian Section, I think it, nevertheless, a 
matter of interest to the authorities as a probable 
item in future commerce in fibrous raw materials. 
In the higher grade textiles, Rhea, or Ramie, is 
the only fibre which appears to adapt itself to the 
particular conditions, agricultural and otherwise, of , 
West Indian planting. Upon this fibre there is noth- 
ing that I cim s-ay beyond expressing my opinion that 
the estimates which have been formed of its cap- 
abilities are, in many cases, inflated, and the line of treat- 
ment at present adopted for isolating the fibre (Fremy- 
Urbain process) is not altogether sound. The treat- 
ment I should recommend is to strip the stems, and 
boil the bark strips in a solution of sulphite of 
soda, then wash, to thoroughly free from all non- 
fibrous matter. This chemical is now prepared in a 
highly concentrated form by Messrs. Gaskell, Deacon, 
and Co., at so low a rate (£7 a ton) as to be well within 
the range of a number of applications, formerly pro- 
hibited by excessive cost. Its employment upon veget- 
able fibrous materials, in preference to all other alkaline 
reagents, for the purpoi-es of pui ification, is justified, 
not only on theoretical grounds but by the results of 
processes now working on the large scale. 
In conclusion, I would point out that there are now 
generally recognifed methods of investigating fibres and 
fibrous meti rials which effectually holve all problems 
both of treatment and application, without recourse 
to the uncertain process of what is termed practical 
experience. At least, therefore, in the early stages of 
development, the co-operation of scientific investigation 
will be found the most effectual aid to progress. 
Should any of the Government chemists in the several 
islands require specihl information as to these methods, 
1 shall be gl;id to afford whatever it is in my power to do. 
Cotton— Ottbis product the West Indies at one time 
supplied the largest quantity. The samples from the 
Bahamas ran most regularly, and were quite up to 
American growths of the same grades. Attention 
miuht be turned 1o it agaian. The bug, of course, is a 
great enemy, and labour is another difficult. The asso- 
ciation, however, of cotton with slavery is now a thing 
of the past, and on the principle of not putting too 
many eggs in one basket, this useful product should 
be more grown. 
Red oh Nankeen Cotton.— Great attention has been 
given to thie, and large quantities could be sold at 
from 5£d. to 6d. per lb., and if, as has been stated, 
the bug does not attack this kind of cotton, it ought 
to well repay the growers. Not only would there bo 
a great demand for hosiery, but also for clothing for 
the troops in India. Sume of the samples sent have 
been worked up into cloth, and have been submitted 
to the India-office and War-office for use as Kliarki 
clothing for the troops. The report is favourable, and 
the colour stands well. The hosiery is excellent, soft, 
warm, and a nice natural colour. Large tracts should 
be at once planted out, and, as m iformity of colour 
is of very greut importance, c.ire should be taken to 
• void mixture and any othi r tr< a'ruent that would be 
likely to cause u variation of colour. 
Mkdicikai. Plants 
I may mention mediciual plants, but it would bo 
obvii GMJ impossible to review the enormous matin of 
exhibits under this head in a paper like this. They 
are amply detailed in my report on products. Dr. B 
H. Paul's report to the Royal [Commission is well worth, 
perusal. Of cinchona from Jamaica he says: — Some 
very fine samples of cultivated cinchona bark were 
al60 shown in the Jamaica Court. The growth of 
cinchona in the island was introduced experimentally 
by Government in 1866, and upwards of 150 acres are 
now under cultivation. Some of the bark grown in 
Jamaica is of very good quality. 
The samples of Jamaica-grown cinchona bark received 
from the Jamaica Court give the following results, 
on analysis by Dr. B. H. Paul: — 
Officinalis Hybrid Succirubra 
quill. 
quill. 
renewed. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per eent 
Quinine 
... 3-86 
8-17 
2-97 
Quinidine 
... Trace 
Trace 
051 
Cinchonidine ... 
... 0-67 
1-95 
150 
Oinchonine 
... 005 
047 
230 
Amorphous alkaloid 
... 026 
0-85 
1-06 
Total alkaloid 
... 4-84 
6-44 
8-34 
Kola-nut. 
The nut of the Cola acuminata (also called Sterculi* 
acuminata, Gourou Ombene, Nangoue, Kokkorokou, 
Female Kola, Bissy-Bissy, and Ooorooah), is destineel 
to play an important part, both in commerce and medi- 
cine. In an exhaustive paper by Professors Heckel and 
Schlagdenhauffen, the eminent French chemists, kola is 
ranked equal to tea, coffee, mate and cocoa. They 
found the nut to contain over 2 per cent, of caffeine, 
as much, and, in good parcels, rather more than is con- 
tained in coffee, besides about 36 per cent, of sugar and 
starch, and other imporant constituents which deter- 
mine the use of the nut as a food and medicine. 
The properties claimed for the nut are : for checking 
dysentery and diarrhoea, more especially when con- 
tracted in the tropics, many cases of Oochiu-China 
diarrhoea having been entirely cured ; for restoring im- 
paired digestion; for nervous debility arising from the 
group of symptoms known professionally as neuras- 
thenia, which consists of chronic excruciating headaches, 
loss of appetite, costiveness, exhaustion, &c.;for re- 
storing the system when under influence of alcohol, and 
to prevent a return to the habit of drinking. The latter 
property is claimed for it in " New Commercial Plants 
and Drugs," where it is related that a Jamaica planter 
treated the negroes with the fresh nut when in a state 
of drunkenness; the good effect is probably due to the 
caffeine in the nut combined with the tonic action of 
the other constituents upon the nervous system ; the 
statement that after the use of the kola nut the patient 
does not return to drink is, no doubt, explained by its 
stimulating property inducing so healthy an action upon 
the system that the want or craving for spirit is not 
felt. 
The nut is ground and mixed with coffee, much to 
the gain of the latter in so far as stimulating effects 
are concerned, and for this purpose the prioe at which 
the nuts are obtainable make a very advantageous 
pecuniary difference to the dealer. When the nut con- 
tains over 2 per cent, of caffeine, and can bo had at 
5d. or 6d. per lb. it pays to extract caffeine from them 
instead of from coffee. They form, also, the basis of 
a patented aerated drink and beer. Ground and made 
into » paste, the Kola nut is now coming to the frout 
as a beverage. The nut has the singular property of 
clarifying beer and spirits, and rendering the foulest 
water healthful; this nction is due to the gum it con- 
tains. The tree, which stands from thirty to sixty feet 
high, resembling in general aspect the chestnut, fre- 
quents the moist hot woods of Western Africa, and 
has been successfully introduced into the East and 
West Indies, Seychelles, Ceylon, Mauritius, Zanzibar, 
Guadaloupe, Cayenne, Cochin China, and the Gaboon. 
It like s low, moist lands, at the level of the sea, or 
a little above, but it |docs not do well above 800 to 
00O feet. It yields its first crop at the age of five 
years, and is in lull bearing at ten years; a single tree 
thou yields an average of 120 lbs. of seed annually, 
the flowering being continuous niter maturity. Tlioro 
are two crops — iu October or November, and iu Al»y 
