May i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
949 
value £122,901, from New Zealand; pitch, 57,188 cwt., 
value £12,979 ; tar, 140,507 barrels, value £93,482— the 
greater part of these products from Russia ; Spruce-beer, 
1,756 barrels, value £12,027 ; resin, 1,155,523 cwt., 
value, £328,021 ; turpentine, 258,051 cwt., value £290,647, 
nearly the whole coming from the United States. Other 
products are ambor, Canada and a large variety of bal- 
sams, creosote, frankincense, saudarac, &c. — P. Stakkie 
Gardner. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 
INDIAN FIBRES. 
The following Memorandum by Messrs. A hmuty & 
Co., Calcutta, has been published in the Gazette by 
the Government for general information : — 
Coir. — This fibre is very valuable for its extremely 
elastic qualities, and in cases where " give and take " 
is required, no other known rope fibre, except hair, 
can approach it. This fibre, of good quality, will 
not grow beyond the influence of sea-air, and cannot 
for auy great length of time be preserved beyond 
the influence of salt-water. Immersion in fresh water 
without immediate dry age re.-ults in deterioration 
and ultimate rot, while constant or occasional immersion 
in salt water will, with fair wear aud tear, preserve 
it for probably three or four times as long as a 
rope of any other fibre would, under the same con- 
ditions, last. Where a dead strain or heavy lift is 
required, coir is not recommended as a safe or reliable 
rope, the fibre beiug too short and elastic. Coir is 
very largely used by the Marine Department for riding 
cables aud springs for the Light Vessels and for 
towing hawsers, warps and running genr for the 
Marine Service. For the Murine Service, the Super- 
intendent of Marine annually invites tenders for the 
manufacture of coir ropes and cables, and the Marine 
Storekeeper supplies the successful tenderer with coir 
yarn, which is laid up to order, aud returned to 
the Dockyard. We may note here that wo at present 
hold this contract, and, with the exception of two 
years, have done so since 1S5S. We attach some 
certificates from the Marine Department regarding our 
supplies of coir ropes and cables. 
Manilla Hemp.— is the strongest of vegetable rope 
fibres, and where heavy lifts of hard usage are re- 
quired, is the most reliable of ropes. During the 
recont campaigns in Afghanistan we supplied large 
quantities of this rope for contractors in Bombay, 
fcurracbee and tho Punjab presumably for the Ordnance 
aud Commissariat Departments for the haulage of 
guns aud stores over the mountain passes. For such 
pnrposesit ia admirably adapted. It is lighter, stronger, 
and more endurable than ordinary hemp rope, and 
weight for weight per coil is about the same price. 
Calicut Hemp. — Is grown on the Malabar Coast, 
and is of very great strength and lineness, and is es- 
pecially suited for sin dl ropes and lines It is very 
little inferior to the best Russian hemp, and is a 
most reliable rope for heavy purchases, second, in 
this country, where Russian hemp is not used, only 
to Manilla. 
Jubbulpore Hemp. — A much coarser fibre than tho 
above is in general use for heavy cordage. In utilizing 
this materid there is much wastage, but it turns out 
a very satisfactory aud reliable rope, is tough and 
strong, and will stand much rough usage. Hemp ropea 
are largely nted by tho Marino, Ordnance, Commissariat, 
and Public Works Depai tments. 
Sunn Hemp —This fibre is of a soft and somewhat 
silky texture, and when I ml up into cordage looks 
well, but has uot tho advantage of possessing much 
Strength, It is usually made up into spun yarn for 
engine packing, nr into light lines for packing dried 
fish, or for baling hides in the interior for transport 
to screw presses. 
Ju'c- Fibre.— I* produced in largo quantities in the 
Sonthal hills, and when new is of fair strength, stronger 
than coir, but inferior to Manilla or Calicut hemp. 
It is, however, incapable of resisting the action of 
water without serious injury, becomes black and un- 
sightly, and soou ceases to bo a rope on which 
dependence can be placed. Natives manufacture this 
material by hand power into rough ropes, and these 
are extensively used for the haulage, mooring and 
running gear of country boats, but presumably only 
for its cheapness. 
Jute. — We manufacture this for the Marine Depart- 
ment for maroons used on board the Light Vessels 
at the isandheads, and also in considerable quantities 
for export to Australia, where it is used for packing 
loose wool for transport to the coast. It is also very 
extensively used about Calcutta as lashings for jute 
bales. The fibre does not possess much strength, 
is unfit for heavy lifts or hard usage, and quickly 
rots if kept wet or even damp. 
Cotton. — Th is we manufacture into tent ropes and 
lines and into fine cord for driving gear for cotton 
and jute spinning machinery. The yarn we obtain 
from the local cotton mills and lay up to any size 
to order, but its high price prohibits its very extensive 
use unless in the case of mill gearing, where smooth 
running is a desideratum. 
Cannabina hemp pineapple Fibre. — About up to thirty 
years ago there was considerable demand for cordage 
made from these fibres, but they have been superseded 
by the introduction of Manilla hemp and by the 
greater facilities for obtaining Calicut and Jubbulpore 
hemp. The fibres are.however, of considerable strength, 
and will stand a deal of hard handling. This manufact- 
ure is now confined to native hand-laid lines for cargo 
boat and household purposes. 
Steel wire rope, iron wire rope. — This wire is imported 
from Englxud and is laid up to order. The quality 
is the best procurable. These we supply for bridge- 
work in the hills and for standing rigging for vessels 
of the Marine Service. 
A e would condense the foregoing as follows, viz : — 
Coir. — For marine uses, light work, rough usage. 
Manilla Hemp. — Hard work, heavy lifts, and where 
great strength is required. 
Calicut Hemp.— For fine lines and ropes, heavy 
purchases, and where great strength is required. 
Jubbulpore Hemp. — For heavy ropes, rough work, 
hard usage, and where great strength is required. 
Sunn Hemp.— Engine packing, baling lines little 
strength. 
Aloe Fibre. — Cargo boat uses, gooniug lines. 
Jute Fibre.— Maroons, baling ropes aud lines, very 
little strength. 
Cotton Staple. — Tent ropes, mill gearing, driving 
bands for machinery. 
Cannabina hemp pineapple Fibre. — Almost obsolete. 
Boat ropes and lines, household purposes. 
Steel wire rope, iron wire rope. — Bndgework across 
khuds. Standing rigging. - -Madrai Mail. 
Ou> Orchards on grass frequently become worn out 
for want of some such assistance, for which lime mid 
manure cannot often be spared. All crowding of branches 
should be prevented by regular attention, for the sudden 
removal of quantities of wood is not unfrecpiciltly at- 
tended with loss of crop and impaired energy for years 
after ; therefore, >\ here necessary, remove annually h few 
ol the worst of the crossing branches, and prevent other 
yuiini; ones from procecdim; in wroug directions l>\ 
cutting back or removal. Where it is iicccssarv to tv 
plant any trees, see that tho old roots are carefully 
grubbed out, and thai the fresh stations are trenched 
ami enriched with manure over as huce an area us may 
he consistent with due ram for the preservation of the 
loots of adjacent fruit liw*.— ti'ii/./< ;i.t.<" Chronicle. 
