THE tropical agriculturist. [November i, i8go. 
quen (Agave I'igida). 4. Fastid aloe or Blailritius hemp 
(Furcrcea (/’g.iritea). 5. Silk grass (Furcraa cuhensis). 
6. D 'gger plant (iMcca aloifolia). 7. Bowstring hemp 
iSawseri'em zeylanica). 8. Bowstring hemp (Sanseviera 
guineensis). 
II. Ananas or Pineapple Family- — 1. Pineapple 
(Ananassa sativa). 3. Pinguin (Bromelia pingidn). 3. 
Silk grass (Karatas Plumieri). 
III. Banana ami Plantain Family. — 1. Banana 
(Alusa sjpienium). 2. Plantain (Musa sapientum). 3. 
Manila plantain (rJ/ttsa tea-iii(s). 4. Abyssinian plantain 
(Musa ensete). 
IV. Nettle Family. — Ramie or rhea (Boehmeria nivea). 
“ As regards the fibre of the plantain and banana, 
it is estimated that about two million stems of these 
plants, after beari-’g fruit, are cut down every year in 
Jamaica. In the absence of a suitable machine to 
prepare the fib^e, these stems are allowed to rot on 
the ground, o- are converted into manure. A full- 
grown plantain or banana stem weighs about one 
hundredweight, and contains only about two pounds 
of fibre. The bulk of the stem is made up of watery 
juices and soft pulp. A simple and effective machine 
of the natnre of a wringing or mangling machine is 
required, through which portions of the banana or 
plantain might be passed to free them from water. 
The machine must be portable, aud the rollers should 
be made of hard wood. Iron would soon rust, aud 
also be too heavy. When the stems Lave been passed 
through the machine, they could then be easily carried 
to a more elaborated fibre machine, or taken to the 
nearest stream and washed and beaten. 
“ It is well known that banana fibre is not of high 
value, and probably would not be worth more than 
one penny or penny half-penny per pound. On the 
other hand, its production, under present circumstances 
in Jamaica, would entail very little expenditure, and, 
with a suitable machine, would bring in a consider- 
able revenue to the cultivators. Even at one penny 
per pound, Jamaica could produce banana fibre worth 
about £20,000 per annum.” 
We also want information as to the latest processes 
of sugar-making — that is tbe means of extracting the 
greatest quantity of juice from the cane, and the 
greatest quantity of sugar of good quality from the 
juice. We should like to obtain, for instance, a model 
of a diffusion plant, now so largely used in Europe 
in the beet factories. It is possible that the fibres of 
the cane may prevent the rapid and easy slicing by 
knives, which is found adapted to the beet-root, and 
that the process may not be found a good substitute 
for the old-fashioned system I believe that enter- 
prising planters, both in Demerara and St. Lucia, are 
making practical experiments, and we hope to be able 
to obtain for the information of sugar makers in 
Jamaica a model of the apparatus employed. Rum 
distillation, too, is important for Jamaica. Rum is a 
natural product of the sugar-cane, and is an article 
for which Jamaica has long been famous, the flavour 
and quality depending not so much upon manufac- 
ture as upon soil. The Chancellor of the Exchequer 
recently asaed: ‘‘Who drinks rum?” It is evident 
that a considerable quantity is drunk, and some is 
no doubt employed in the rnanuFacture of European 
brandies and whiskies. So long as there is a demand 
for rum, .Jamaica is justified in producing it, and 
no other country has such natural advantage for its 
production. A knowledge of the latest improvements 
in distillation might supersede the somewhat crude 
and rule-of-thumb method too frequently adopted. 
It would bo also interesting to obtain models or 
specimens of machines for preparing the coffee berry 
for consumption, and others showing the different forms 
into which cocoa aud chocolate are made such attrac- 
tive articles of food. The preparation of turtle for 
food, ca.stor-oil for medicine, and the different gum 
and rubber manufactures, would likewise be desirable 
for the exhibition. 
Discu.ssion. 
Mr. Morris said Mr. Eves had stated that the cost 
of producing cinchona was too great for it to be 
succe.'sfully cultivated in Jamaica, but he thought that 
was not quite the case. After the cultivation had been 
carried on for soms time, the price fell so low that it 
was really not worth exporting, aud no doubt it- would 
be better for the people to keep their trees for the 
present, and let the bark become more matured, so 
that when the price rose they would get a better 
return. The cinchoni trees were more healthy in 
Jamaica til. u in many pans ol the East Indies, so 
that he had little doubt about the ultimate success of 
the industry. As to tea, he thought that in face of 
the enormous shipments from Ceylon and India, that 
it would not bo wise for the people of Jamaica to take 
up this matter. The fruit industry was one which bad 
grown very considerably within the last fifteen years, 
for whereas in 1876 the total value of the fruit exported 
was only about £10,000, it was now between £300,000 
and £400,000. That trad-e had done a great deal of 
good to the island generally, though there was no 
doubt better picking and preparation of the fruit would 
still further increase its value. The oranges grown 
in the island were very fine. With regard to fibre 
industries, he had urged the people to take np this 
branch, and as the price rose 50 per cent, during the 
last four years, they might have reajied the full value 
of the increase. However, it was not yet too late to 
takeup the matter. The .Jamaica Institute had offered 
a prize^ — £50 for a sot of machines to produce fibre in 
different ,-tages, and he had great hopes of such a 
machine being brought out. Thevalso wanted a machine 
for preparing Liberian coffee. Latterly the price of this 
coffee had increased to such an extent, that in Java 
it fetched a price equal to that of tbe best e.states 
coffee, aud it could be grown upon the old sugar 
plantations. With regard to the rum industry, attempts 
were now being made for the first time to carefully 
examine the yeast, and trace the real cause of the 
different qualities of rum produced. There were 
numerous industries in Jamaica which might be taken 
up, but the people were so comfortable, and so satisfied 
with their beautiful climate, that it was very difficult 
to stir them, and get them to take ruflScient trouble 
to develop fully the resources of the country. He bad 
no doubt that the Exhibition would be. a very great 
success, and that it would be a benefit not merely to 
Jamaica, but to the whole group of our possessions in 
the West Indies. 
Rev. D. J. Ei.st, who had resided for thirty years in 
Jamaica, said; — The great want of the island with regard 
to minor products had already been dealt with by llr. 
Morris. What was wanted was a better class of 
machinery, both with reference to fruit and fibre. 
The people needed instruction as to the gathering of 
the fruit. He had seen oranges pulled from Ihe trees, 
thrown into carts, and brought into Kingston in a 
condition which gave very little promise of their 
realising a return. He had also seen them hand 
picked and properly packed, first in paper, and then 
in suitable barrels for their conveyance, and the 
difference in the result bad been perfectlv amazing — 
the one method as contrasted with the other. Another 
great want in connection with the fruit industry was 
better roads in order to bring the produce to the 
wharves for shipment, and he was glad to know that 
Sir Henry Blake was giving special attention to this 
subject. He thought Jamaica might supply the world 
with fibres. Some of the most valuable fibrous roots 
would grow on land which was hardly suitable for 
any other production ; but the great want with 
reference to fibre was suitable machinery. They had 
not yet had a machine of so simple and effective con- 
struction as to be of much use, especially to the 
peasantry of the country. 
Mr. H. Stern said : — Reference had been made by Mr. 
Morris to the advantages which might have been reaped 
by cultivating fibre plants, but it was no use doing so 
unless they had a machine to extract the fibres. Some 
years ago the Government offered a prize of £50 for any 
machine which would extract the fibre from the Sisal 
hemp, and a machine was invented by Mr. Kennedy, 
but it was found that that would not extract the 
fibre with sulticient economy to make it marketable 
He was very glad to see that another prize bad been 
