864  the  tropical  agriculturist,  /June  r,  i8c 
“Timeiiki.” — The  only  matter  to  notice  in  the 
latest  number  ot  tliis  British  Guiana  Magazine, 
is  a lieport  on  Ecomomic  Prorluots  exhiliited 
at  the  Horticultural  Show  ot  1806.  But  there 
is  really  nothing  new  to  us  in  the  re])ort  itself — 
only  it'is  interesting  to  see  the  list  of  products 
aetuUly  shown,  which  we  quote  as  follows: — 
(making  a few  exceptions  as  to  details)  : — 
Class  B.  Economic  Products.  Section  I. — Open  to 
Amateur  Exhibitiors.  Cuft’ee  (cleaned). — The  sample 
to  which  we  awarded  first  prize  was  an  excellent 
sample  ol  creole  coffee  of  almost  perfect  colour  and 
very  well  cleaned,  its  only  defect  being  in  some 
irregularity  of  the  sizes  of  the  beans.  That  to  which 
the  second  prize  was  awarded  was  distinctly  inferior 
to  the  former,  but  st'll  was  a sample  of  high  class 
coffee  ot  not  such  perfect  colour,  and  not  quite  so 
well  cleaned.  The  other  samples  exhibited  were  of 
inferior  colour,  and  in  many  cases  the  beans  were 
very  imperfectly  cleaned.  We  would  impress  upon 
cultivators  that  if  ever  this  Colony  is  to  again 
attain  eminence  in  coffee  production,  it  is  essential 
for  every  care  to  be  exercised  so  as  to  obtain  coffee  ot 
good  colour,  perfectly  cleaned  and  even  in  size  of  bean, 
especially  avoiding  the  presence  of  broken  beaus. 
Coffee,  Liberiair  (cleaned). — VVe  cannot  accord  to 
this  the  same  praise  as  to  the  exhibit  of  creole  coffee 
The  sample  to  which  the  first  p)'!ze  was  given  was 
dinstinctiv  the  best  shown,  but  all  were  inferior  to 
samples  we  have  previously  examined  of  this  product 
Cocoa  Beaus,  (cured). — This  class  of  exhibits  was 
distinctly  inferior  to  the  simiiar  eshibits  in  the  Show 
of  1895.  In  that  Show  the  first  prize  was  given  to 
an  exhibit  of  fairly  cleaned  regular  sized  beans, 
heving  a fair  break,  but  somewhat  dark  in  colour. 
The  second  prize-ample  closely  approached  the  fiist 
in  quality  and  we  shad  some  little  difficulty  in  making 
an  award  between  them.  We  are  inclined  to  ascribe 
the  f.illing  off  in  general  quality  of  this  class  of 
exhibits  to  weather  conditions,  unfavourable  for  the 
production  of  fine  full  sized  beaus. 
Kola. — Three  exhibitors  only  competed.  Two  which 
received  prizes  ,sent  samples  of  go-d  colour,  well 
dried,  and  of  fair  size.  The  third,  although  undoub- 
tedly the  finest  sample  as  regards  size  of  the  nub, 
undoubtedly  had  been  spoilt  in  colour  during  curing,' 
Bice,  Cornmeal,  Plantain  Meal,  Cassava  Meal  Fariue, 
Arrowroot,  Tapioca,  Tous-les  Mois. — Never  a taking 
looking  starch,  the  samples  exhibited  did  not  add  to 
its  reputation  ; Other  Starches.  Vanilla. — Two 
samples  exhibitec?,  unfortunately  the  finer  of  the  two 
was  spoilt  by  t Ae  oil  with  which  it  had  been  dressed 
having  turned  raUcid  ; Honey,  Tobacco. — This  _ class 
of  exhibits  showed  us  that . 4 .s  last  year  the  curing  of 
tobacco  is  not  understood  in  this  Colony.  A faint 
odour  of  ammonia,  the  origin  of  which  is  open  to 
conjecture,  is  not  an  improvement  to  leaf  tobacco; 
a mouldy  condition  again  is  not  usually  considered 
to  be  typical  of  merit  in  tobacco,  and  these  two 
appeared  to  be  the  points  at  which  the  majority  of 
the  exhibitors  aimed.  The  first  prize  only ' was 
awarded  and  to  a sample  in  which  these  points  were 
not  present,  ca-yenne  Pepper.  Guinea  Pepper,  Black 
Pepper,  Essence  of  Pepper,  Pimento,  Dried  Ginger, 
Piokle.s,  Hot  Ghntnce,  Curry  Powder,  Guav.a 
Jelly,  Other  Jehiea,  Prepared  Chocolate,  Crushed  Food. 
Section  If.  Oioen  to  Artiz.ans  and  Labourers  only. — 
Preserves,  -Jellies,  Pickles  or  Hot  Sauco,  Coffee 
(cleaned),  Liberian  Ceffee,  Cocoa,  Bice,  Corn,  Starch, 
Leaf  Tobacco)  Baw’  Cotton  (cleaned). 
A letter  was  received  from  Mr.  Norman  Eor.ster, 
Miiiicliester,  stating  it  was  his  intention  to 
eultixatc  jute  in  British  Guiana,  if  lie  gets  a 
laud  eoiicessioii. 
Hhii’.v  Fibre  : Its  CuLTivATtoN  and  Manu- 
facture.— A paper  was  read  before  the 
Indian  Section  of  the  Society  of  Arts  at  the  Im- 
.IT  i T ..  ,1  . „ 1,,. 
Irctuier,  said  th.at  any  new  raw  material 
be  a subject  of  interest  to  those  eiigaj 
indust  ry  and  manufacture.  It  might  also  pt 
be  of  jm]iortaT;ce  to  flie  country  as  a ■ 
Therefore  be  held  that  no  .suggestion  of  s 
material  should  be  scouted  or  scorned,  altl 
lie  knew  that  there  were  a number  of  pessi 
in  the  world  who  thought  that  nothing  v 
importance.  It  appeared  to  him  that  there 
three  conditions  which  any  new  material 
comply  with  if  it  was  to  he  of  use.  1. 
must  be  a fairly  plentiful  supply  of  it, 
actually  or  prospectively.  It  was  no  use  t< 
with  any  material  of  which  only  a small  qui 
could  be  produced  annually.  2.  It  nii 
capable  of  manipulation,  so  as  to  get  il 
the  form  of  yarn  or  tluead  that  it  inighl 
on  to  the  weaver  to  be  woven  into  a 
tile.  Of  course  it  was  possible  that 
machinery  might  he  required,  and  tin 
opportunity  would  be  given  to  inventor.^ 
there  mu.st  be  no  absolute  bar  to  the  m; 
latiou  of  the  material.  3.  The  cost  mus 
he  excessive  as  compared  with  existing  mat 
cxceiit  in  cases  where  the  material  disci 
might  be  jiossessed  of  some  special  beau 
cliaracteristic  of  its  own.  Mr.  Bariaclou, 
the  outset  of  his  (laper,  said  he  thought  he  : 
he  able  to  show  that  rhea  libre  complied 
tlic  three  conditions  laid  down  by  the 
m in.  He  maintained  that  it  was  the  str 
tihre  known,  and  the  longest  of  all  textile 
with  a brilliancy  or  lustre  superior  to  all  ( 
In  certain  classes  of  goods  only  an  expert 
distinguish  between  silk  and  ramie  (a 
generally  used  name  for  rhea).  After  disc 
the  best  methods  of  cultivation,  Mr,  Barra^ 
inquired  into  the  causes  of  the  failure 
fibre.  This  he  attributed  largely  to  ign 
of  its  nature  and  requirements  by  pi 
Climate  and  soil  also  bad  been  unsuitabl 
the  treatment  mistaken.  The  so-called  d 
cuing  machines  had  further  contributed  to  f 
because  in  removing  the  skin  they  had 
removed  the  internal  pith  or  wood,  pro 
what  were  called  in  the  trade  “ ril 
Similarly  a large  proportion  of  the  i 
raing  processes  injuriously  afl'ected  the  streng 
lustre  of  the  fibre,  making  it  harsh  and' 
ami  difficult  to  dye.  Mr.  Barraclougli  sa 
ramie  could  never  supersede  silk,  althon; 
conjoint  use  of  the  two  materials  im 
daily.  Ramie  might,  however,  be  expec 
supplant  flax  in  certain  descriptions  of 
while  in  mixed  woollen  goods  it  would 
less  play  an  important  part.  Everything  ] 
to  a gradual  but  certain  development.  J 
discussion,  in  which  Mr.  S.  G.  Laue-Fo> 
Macdonald,  and  others  took  part,  the  ch 
said  that  the  difference  of  opinion  vvhi 
been  expressed  as  to  the  best  manner  o 
paling  ramie  for  textile  use  would  perha 
fruit.  As  to  its  cost,  it  must  not  be  ex 
It  must  come  into  something  like  the 
cotton.  He  thought  it  important  that  th 
meat  of  ramie  should  take  place  on  tl 
where  it  xvas  growm.  This  he  said,  s| 
from  general  jirinciples,  w-as  to  ai  oid  freighi 
dently  there  was  iimcli  to  be  done  in'  tl 
lopment  of  this  fibre.  Manufacturers  lui 
give  it  up  in  spite  of  the  disappointm 
twenty  years,  but  must  pursue  the  quest! 
