May 1, 1903.] Sufphment lo the " Tropical AgrkuUwisty 
703 
related to his daily life and the world about 
him. Once the chiUl's mind is awakened to the 
iiKiumernhle wonders of nature, and his interest 
excited in expLinations of phenomena witli 
which his farm life makes him familiar, it 
will be far e.i'ier than ever hef'U-e to stimuhite 
him to continuous endeavour to widen his 
knowledge through reading, as well as through 
observation. He will have mire thoughts to 
put on paper, and he will often wish to draw 
objects he has seen. 
The country boy often has a wonderful 
familiarity with nature — animals, birds and trees — 
which is of little value till it is broadened 
and deepened by being connected with facts and 
principles of which he has no knowledge. 
The school is the place where we should leirn 
to eonnect the practical and other knowledge 
we already hava, with what other men knew 
who have lived in the past or in other places, or 
who have studied certain subjects very thoroughly. 
What is wanted in our schouls is to connect 
a child's limited knowledge of nature with what 
science has improved of nature's mysteries, 
80 that life and work in the country may be 
improved thereby. If we have any such idea 
ae that practice and science must remain 
opart, we must discard it at o.ice. So far from 
being "divorced," they are joined as Dr. True 
forcibly puts it "in indissoluble wedlock." 
When Uie needs of the coKimon schools are studied 
with unprejudiced minds, it will be seen that 
if they are to be brought into harmony with 
modern progress in horticulture, agriculture and 
other industries, they must be developed so as 
to bring them into direct touch with the land 
and its productiveness. The nature study move- 
ment promises to do this, and for this reason 
all those who have any concern with the 
cultivation of land should take an interest in 
it. True, nature study in the vilhij^e school 
is only in its beginning, and much experience 
will have to be gained before we learn its 
j'ust limitations and develope its proper service ; 
but this can only be done through its actual 
working in the schools. Therefore, says Dr. True, 
open the common schools to instruction in 
nature, and make that instruction relate directly 
to the land. Insist also that normal schools 
and teachers' institutes prepare teachers for 
this line of work. 
^ 
PLANTAIN FIBRE. 
Hitherto the general impression has been that 
plantain fibre was only got from a particular 
species of tnusa which produces the fibre ktiown 
as manilla hemp," and hence no serious attempt 
was made to utilize the stems of the trees so long 
cultivated only for fruit. 
Since of late, however, considerable interest has 
been aroused by the publication of reports on the 
value of the fibre to be got from the edible 
varieties of the plantain. iMiisa fibre, extracted 
from the ouier sheath of the banana or plantain 
(call it what you will, for there is no real 
distinction) after the fruits have been cut, is 
reputed to be suitable for making " mats, coarse 
canvas, cords, hats, plaited work, niw fibre cables, 
rope-i, twine, fine muslins, md fabrics 'half stuff' 
and paper of all kinds, hice, fine lace handker- 
chiefs, and cloth of a clo?e texture and very 
durable." 
In a contribution to the March number of the 
Indian Af/ricullurist, Mr. G. S. Sykes deals at 
lengtn on this subject. It is needless for us to 
give a full summary of the article, but a des- 
cription of the method of extracting the fibre will 
no doubt be acceptable to our re:i'iers, some of 
whom have, indeed, been muking eiiqiiiries as to 
h()4V this could be l)est doi.e. According to Mr. 
Sykes the method of extracting the fibre is simpli- 
city itself. The stem is cut down to the ground 
and each leaf is sliced of. The operator then sit-j 
OH the grouiul with the end of the leaf stalk in 
his lap, makes an incision under the fibre at the 
end, and with a smart twitch rends off strips of 
the outer skin with adhering fibre, up to t,he whole 
length of the stalk. In this way ribbons of fibre are 
got, and in the same way tlie stem i«; also stripi>ed 
into ribbons. 
The contrivance for extracting the fibre consists 
of a small plank, to which is fixed a blunt iron 
knife that can be weighted, under which the strips 
are drawn three or four times, separating pulp and 
juice from the fibre. The exact amount of pressure 
to be applied must be learnt by practice. The kuife 
must not be too sharp, but also not too blunt. 
From ordinary stems 1?; to 2 lbs. of fibre should be 
obtained, but from 2^ to S lbs. could be got from 
large stems when the whole length as well a» the 
petiole.s are used. It is estimated that one man 
can produce 50 lbs. of fibre per day. The fibre 
should be at once thoroughly dried it; the sun to 
preserve colour and quality. Carefully prepared 
fibre is said to be worth from £25 to £30 per ton in 
Loudon, while the entire cost of placing it on the 
market should not exceed £10 per ton. 
This is certainly very encouraging to those who 
aire in a position bo embark on the new industry. 
HOrS E HOLD H IxV TS. 
Arboweoot Biscuits. — I lb. of butter, 1 lb. 
sugar, 1 lb. arrowroot (or corn flour), 1 lb. flour, 
two eggs. First beat well together the butter, 
sugar, and yolks of the eggs till it is like cream^ 
then add the white of the eggs which have been 
beaten to a stiff froth, then add slowly the 
flcur and arrowroot, mix well, and roll out on a 
board till the required thickness is got. Then bake. 
Akrowuoot Cake (Bermuda Cake,). — Take 
4 oz. each of butter, arrowroot, and sugar, two 
eggs, and the rind of half a lemon. First beat the 
butter to a cream ; beat the yolks and white of 
eggs separately for ten minutes. Next add the 
sugar and flour rubbed through a sieve and the 
grated lemon peel. Beat all together for twenty 
minute , greiise a flat tin, line with butter paper, 
pour in the above mixture, decorate it with 
ahuoiuls, and bake in a quick oven. Turn on to a 
sieve to cool, and cut in squares. Sift sugar over 
and serve, 
