4:45 
need not be dilated on. The remaining four viz. Tuba Jenow, Tuba 
Lucheh, Tuba Pahang, Tuba Ambi Ara are quite unknown to me, and 
specimens identifiable are most desirable. Perhaps some of the Dis- 
trict Officers, medical men and others who are in contact with the up 
country Malays would take so much trouble as to make enquiries of 
the natives as to these plants and get them to bring specimens for 
identification. Plants of this nature are often valuable medicinally, 
and it surely hardly needs to be pointed out how important it is to 
be acquainted with the poisonous plants of any country. 
H. N. Ridley. 
RAMIE FIBRE. 
PROGRESS OF ITS MANUFACTURE IN EUROPE. 
Adaptability to Malaya Soil. 
(Written Specially for Straits Times.) 
It will be a matter of interest to planters of ramie fibre in the 
Straits Settlements to learn that the progress made in the profitable 
spinning of this fibre in 1906 was more than maintained in Europe 
last year. 
In accordance with expectations formed, theErste Deutsch Ramie 
Gesellschaft, of Emmendingin, Baden, Germany, declared an increased 
dividend of 15 per cent., as against one of 12 per cent, for 1906, their 
net profits amount to 197,382 marks for the year, as against 646,767 
marks for 1906. This represents a net profit in English currency of 
nearly £43,000. 
The mills established some two or three years age at Enschede, 
Holland, and Grevin, Westphalia, are also making satisfactory pro- 
gress, and it may be said generally that the sales and profits of the 
mills engaged in spinning the fibre, with one or two exceptions, all 
showed marked increases over those of the preceding year'. It is to be 
hoped that ramie growers in the Straits Settlements, so often referred 
to as the best ramie growing area, may be able to find an increased 
outlet in Europe for the product. 
The Faure Decorticator, according to a statement made by the 
inventors and patentees, Messrs. A. Faure and Company, of Limoges, 
France, is likely to be still further improved upon in many respects. 
Of the two classes of these machines made by this firm, it may be 
stated that the product of the large machine, which has been invented 
with a view to obtaining a larger yield of dry fibre per working day, 
than the 140 lbs. given by the smaller machine is not as good either 
in regard to regularity or the manner in which it is cleaned as that 
produced by the smaller machine, it being stated by ramie spinners to 
