305 
merits showed that it was the strongest and best fitted fibre tor 
deep sea soundings of any kind known. It has been long used for 
cordage, cables, etc., by the Portuguese in Angola. Owing to its 
stiffness and form, it is easier to handle in cleaning by machinery, 
and specimens cleaned and exhibited at the Agricultural Show 
were good white and silky fibre. 
S'. Ehrenbergii , Schwemf.— A Nubian and Arabian species is in 
cultivation in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. It was received 
from Kew some years ago, and is at present quite a small plant. 
Its recurved distichous thick leaves like those of one of the 
small aloes gives it a very quaiiT appearance. The leaves which 
are half round with a broad groove above and a sharp point are 
very short in our plant, but they attain a length of four to seven 
feet. The fibre though merely beaten out by the Somalis with 
sticks, and very roughly prepared was (in 1892) considered as a 
very good strength and colour. 
It is probable, however, that the climate is too damp for this 
species, for our only plant has made but little growth since its 
arrival. 
S. Roxburghtana.- — -This is the name of the common cultivated 
species here, which is a native of India. It has long been grown 
as an ornamental plant and is very wddely spread and abundant 
all over the Peninsula. An account of it’ under the name of S. 
Zeylanica , Murva fibre, was published in Bulletin, Voi. II, p. 220. 
It Is perhaps the easiest’ to grow but the leaves are not as tall or 
broad as those of S. Guineensts. It works well with machinery 
and produces an excellent fibre. 
COTTON AT PORT DICKSON 
Port Dickson, 
2nd September , 1904. 
Dear Mr. Ridley,-—! forwarded to you yesterday by Parcel 
Post a small box containing samples of cotton obtained from the 
plants I received from you some months ago. I have never seen a 
proper sample of cotton so cannot say whether those I have sent 
you are good, bad or indifferent. The staples of the cotton are 
certainly not conspicuous by their length. 
\ou will doubtless remember you forwarded to me young plants 
oi bea Island, Egyptian and Upland Cottons. 
The Sea Island seemed to do very well indeed at first, but after 
a while they became unhealthy in appearance, and every boll which 
they now carry shows signs of having been pierced by a worm or 
grub, the latter measuring about five-eighths of an inch long. An 
examination of the inside of the boll clearly proves that the worm or 
grub entering it are bent on devouring the seeds. 
( have noticed a peculiar kind of fly-red back with black spots- 
on the plants on several occasions, and I have no doubt the grub 
t 
