Oct.  i,  1892.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
283 
wages  in  thinly  settled  districts,  adopted  the  plan  of 
scattering  the  allotments  about  the  different  islands, 
or  in  localities  remote  from  each  other  on  the  same 
island,  so  that  each  settlement  should  have  its  share 
of  the  benefits  of  the  new  industry,  by  obtaining, 
at  fair  wages,  employment  for  its  local  labour.  In 
this  way,  also,  a surplus  of  labour  at  one  point 
and  a scarcity  at  some  other  has  been  avoided. 
When  the  entire  labouring  population  becomes  em- 
ployed, as  will  happen  before  fong  at  the  present 
rate  of  development,  a new  phase  of  the  labour 
question  will  arise;  but  that  time  is  yet  in  the 
future,  and  the  remedy  can  be  applied  when  the 
situation  demands  it. 
Small  shipments  of  fibre  continue  to  be  made  by 
nearly  every  steamer,  a few  old  plantings  furnishing 
the  material.  It  is  not  likely  that  shipments  in 
any  quantity  will  be  possible  under  two  years,  but 
after  that  time  an  enormous  increase  may  begin 
to  be  looked  for,  increasing  steadily  as  new  fields 
come  into  bearing,  until  the  annual  exports  of  the 
colony,  which  now  average  about  §600,000  will  leap 
well  up  into  the  millions,  as  a moment’s  reflection 
will  show. 
It  is  a very  low  estimate  to  expect  half  a ton  of 
fibre  per  acre,  and  a very  low  estimate  to  call  it 
worth  §100  per  ton,  for  it  is  worth  over  $200  per 
ton  in  the  world’s  markets  today.  When  even  the 
present  quantity  of  land  sold  and  applied  for,  to  wit, 
300,000  acres,  is  bearing,  which  ought  to  happen 
within  five  or  six  years,  it  will  produce  150,000  tons 
a year,  worth  $15,000,000,  an  increase  of  prosperity 
that  sounds  more  like  a fairy  tale  than  a strong 
probability  deducted  from  reasonable  figures.  And 
yet  300,000  acres  is  but  a small  portion  of  the  un- 
cultivated lands  within  the  limits  of  the  Bahamas. 
It  is  estimated  that  about  6,000  acres  of  land  have 
already  been  planted  in  Sisal  (a  plantation  once 
started  needs  no  replanting  for  many  years),  and 
that  many  additional  ones  have  been  cleared  and 
made  ready  for  the  plants,  the  obtaining  of  which  has 
been  almost  impossible,  the  industry  being  seriously 
retarded  thereby.  The  prices  paid  for  plants  have 
risen  from  6 cents  per  dozen  to  36  cents,  so  great 
has  been  the  demand  ; but  the  price  will  now  decline 
rapidly,  since  the  supply  of  plants  is  developing 
enormously,  about  2,000,000  being  now  available  for 
planting,  and  others  coming  on  speedily.  The  Pita 
plant  is  being  found  on  all  the  islands  growing  wild, 
and  the  stock  of  old  plants  is  very  great.  From 
the  centre  of  the  old  plant  rises  a pole  about  16 
feet  in  length,  on  the  branches  of  which  small 
plants  grow,  averaging  a thousand  to  each  pole,  and 
from  these  poles  a vast  supply  is  coming  into  market, 
creating  a profitable  business ; for  what  were  two 
years  ago  only  noxious  weeds  have  all  at  once 
become  worth  §20  apiece  for  pole  plants  alone. 
Quantities  of  old  plants  have  lately  been  discovered 
growing  on  the  cays  along  the  Florida  coast,  and 
Bmall  schooners  are  already  buying  these  up  and 
bringing  them  here  for  sale.  This  fact  suggests  the 
question  whether  this  new  hemp  industry,  which  is 
about  to  revolutionise  the  condition  of  the  Baha- 
mas, may  not  also  be  developed  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Florida.  The  plants  are  found  there 
growing  wild  just  as  they  are  in  these  islands,  and 
they  flourish  best  in  dry  sandy  soils,  fit.  for  little 
else.  I would  earnestly  call  the  attention  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  to  this  matter,  and 
suggest  the  propriety  of  looking  into  it,  and  of 
calling  the  notice  of  the  people  of  Florida  to  this 
possible  source  of  wealth  and  prosperity.  The  con- 
ditions of  soil,  climate,  &c.,  which  make  its  culture 
a success  here  may  not  obtain  there,  but  the  simple 
fact  that  the  plant  is  found  growing  wild  in  Florida 
is  of  itself  a consideration  that  should  warrant  an 
investigation  at  the^  hands  of  the  Department. 
The  unexampled  success  of  the  Sisal,  industry,  in 
so  brief  a period,  in  this  colony  is  entirely  attribu- 
table to  the  business-like,  systematic  manner  in  which 
it  has  been  managed  by  the  present  Governor,  bir 
Ambrose  Shea,  who  has  all  long  taken  a most  earnest 
interest  in  the  matter.  He  is  a man  of  large  ex- 
perience in  affairs,  and  has  practical  knowledge  of 
proper  way  to  manage  industrial  enterprises. 
From  the  start  he  realised  that  this  industry  would 
be  the  salvation  of  the  Bahamas,  and,  setting  his 
heart  upon  it,  he  pushed  it  forward  with  great  energy 
and  prudence,  overcoming  numerous  difficulties,  sur- 
mounting obstacles,  encouraging  the  faint-hearted, 
until  now  the  people  are  touched  with  his  own 
enthusiasm,  and  the  industry  is  fairly  afloat.  He 
visited  England,  and  by  personal  effort  enlisted  capi- 
talists and  procured  large  investments.  To  Sir  Am- 
brose Shea  the  colonists  owe  a large  debt  of  gratitude ; 
and  when  the  signal  prosperity  which  is  already 
hanging  over  the  islands  shall  have  been  developed 
to  its  full  measure,  they  will  more  perfectly  realise 
how  not  only  their  individual  interests,  but  those 
of  outside  investors,  have  been  wisely  and  prudently 
promoted  and  guarded  from  the  very  inception  of 
the  industry  by  the  practical,  discreet,  and  conser- 
vative action  of  their  Governor. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  or  question  as  to  the 
success  of  Sisal  culture  in  this  colony.  It  has  passed 
far  beyond  the  experimental  stage,  and  is  giving 
daily  evidence  that  it  will  become  a source  of  wealth 
to  all  concerned.  The  combined  conditions  of  soil 
and  climate  especially  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
first-class  fibre  giving  this  colony  a marked  advantage 
over  other  West  Indian  islands,  where  the  plant 
may  grow  luxuriantly  enough,  but  will  be  found 
deficient  in  good  strong  fibre.  The  poorer  and 
more  sterile  the  soil  the  better  the  result,  and  here 
the  plant  flourishes  where  ordinary  vegetation  seems 
almost  impossible.  It  is  a plant  of  unfailing  growth, 
it  will  live  without  rain  to  moisten  the  soil,  you 
can  scarcely  exterminate  it  if  you  try,  it  requires 
but  little  cultivation,  and  at  an  expense  below  that 
of  almost  any  other  agricultural  product,  and  its 
value  is  substantial. 
As  two-thirds  of  the  trade  of  the  Bahamas  is 
now  with  the  United  States ; as  their  only  steam 
communication  with  the  outside  world  is  by  a 
subsidised  line  of  American  steamships  running  be- 
tween Nassau  and  New  York;  as  their  increased 
wealth  and  prosperity  means  a larger  and  more  profit- 
able commercial  intercourse  with  our  own  country, 
we  should  view  this  coming  development  of  their  ma- 
terial interests  with  pleasure,  and  with  the  warmest 
wishes  for  its  complete  success. 
In  conculusion,  I would  add  that  I have  sent  by 
this  mail  four  samples  of  the  Bahama  fibre  for 
the  information  and  satisfaction  of  the  State 
Department,  believing  that  the  same  would  be  of 
sufficient  interest  to  justify  me  in  so  doing.  These 
specimens  were  not  specially  selected,  but  are  only 
fair  samples  of  the  average  fibre  which  is  now 
being  grown  and  shipped  from  the  colony.  Two  of 
them  have  still  attached  a stub,  or  portion  of  the 
butt  end  of  the  leaf,  which  was  purposely  not  passed 
through  the  machine,  showing  the  character  of  the 
Sisal  plant  when  extracted. 
Tho1;.  J.  McLain1,  jr., 
United  States  Consulate,  Nassau,  Consul, 
January  20th,  1890. — Kew  Bulletin. 
SYLHET  NOTES. 
A couple  of  years  ago  there  was  quite  & little 
sensation  amongst  the  cognoscenti  in  tea — a little 
tempest  in  a teipot — over  a mysterious 
NEW  PROCESS  OF  TEA  MANUFACTURE. 
It  seemed  to  be  on  a par  with  Sohrotky’s  dis- 
covery of  some  wonderful  process  connected 
with  indigo,  of  which,  I regret  to  say,  I am 
densely  ignorant,  even  as  to  whether  Sohrotky’s 
idea  ever  came  to  anything,  or  ever  amounted  to 
muoh  to  begin  with.  My  knowledge  of  the  processes 
of  indigo  manufacture  is  derived  from  “Ali  Baba’s" 
instructive  pages,  which  although  immensely  in- 
teresting, are  scarcely  quite  aconrate  in  detail.  There 
were  several  brilliant  (and  otherwise)  "skits”  in  your 
columns  from  Dooars  correspondents  about  the 
secrecy  and  mystery  enshrounding  this  new  process. 
The  tea  houses  wherein  it  was  carried  on  were 
tabu  and  no  one  might  enter  therein  save  the  duly 
initiated,  Fantastic  rumours  ns  to  bottled  esseuoe  of 
