377 
Mr. Radcliffe it to be thoroughly understood that he is 
not posing as an expert ap dtu^st, on the contrary he feels so 
much harm has bee* 7 d,me. nc the indiscriminate publication ot 
reports even under f^rnment sanction that he wishes to repair 
some of the mischita that has resulted. “The so-called reports 
issued by Botanic Gard- ns are mostly prepared from Laboratory 
experiments after plants have been nursed often under conditions 
that are quite unnatural and of course useless as far as practical 
results are concerned. We should rather urge our Colonies to start 
experimental patches.” This quotation gives the readers a very 
fair idea of Mr. Radcuf ve'S knowledge as to what has been done 
in Ramie cultivation by Botanic Gardens, experimental stations 
and planters. 
It is suggested to start a Ranrie Association like the Cotton- 
growers Association to encourage the cultivation, trade and manu- 
facture of Ramie. This idea is a good one, but it will be essential 
first for the Association to send some capable man to the various 
Colonies to see what has been tried and why it has failed so con- 
stantly and why so much money has been lost on a fibre which 
according to Mr. RADCLIFFE can be grown almost anywhere at a 
cost of less than £7 a ton, and can be sold at £40. 
Ramie may have a big future before 7 *t> but as it will not have 
any till the buyer realizes that it is not possible to grow it at any- 
thing like the figures given by Mr. Radcliffe and are prepared 
to pay a reasonable price for one- of the most valuable fibres m 
the world. 
CASH FW NUTS. 
We have received a letter and sample* of the sedd of the Cashew 
nut, [Anacardium Malay “Oaui* ; from M f ^UIOT. oj 
Aix en Pres ence, France, who asks if it would not bt possible to open 
up a trade in this product here. The best time for die sale is - 
September or the latest in October in Marseilles. He woufcl b 
triad to take at first : 0,000 kilos, and considers that the demand 
would rapidly increase. He offers good references to anv vill 
tranship them to him. 
The Cashew nut is not uncommon in Pahang, near Pekan, and 
in ^other places along the Coast. I am not -quamted with any 
place where it is really abundant enough to supply any ve ry 1 large 
amount of kernels. Perhaps some of our readers know where and 
how this nut can be procured in quantity, and would care to put 
themselves in communication with Mr. GUIOT. H N R 
Mr. Herbert Wright’s Lecture at Ratnapura. 
Sir —Allow me the space in your columns to make the 
comments upon Mr. WRIGHT’S lecture on rubber recently 
at Ratnapura. 
following 
delivered 
