ON BOEHMERIA NIVEA. 
203 
let. Women and children are then employed in splitting 
the fibre, which they do with their fingers. Finally, the 
threads are gathered into balls and subjected to several 
Boatings and washings. Lime or ashes are placed in the 
water used for soaking ; but some merely expose the fibre 
to dew and sun. 
The stalks of the plant are considered fit for cutting 
when they have become of a brown color for about six 
inches above the roots. The scraping off the bark may 
be performed when the plant is cut, or it may be deferred 
until the whole crop is gathered. 
Tuesday , 12 th May , 1868. 
Dr. Francisco Padron in the Chair. 
Andre Blasini Knox, Esq., was elected a Member. 
The following Donation was announced : — 
“ Chart of the Bahama Hurricane of October, 1866.” — By 
John H. Redfield. Presented by Thos. Bland, Esq., F.GKS. 
Tuesday , 9 tli June, 1868. 
The Hon. Louis Antoine A. de Yerteuil, M.D., President, 
in the Chair. 
A letter from the Hon. P. Hill of Jamaica, Correspond- 
ing Member of the Association, was read, promising a 
communication on Poisonous Fishes. 
The following table of Eainfall was presented ; and Mr. 
Lechmere Guppy remarked upon the chief features of in- 
terest exhibited by the table, which was further illustrated 
by a diagram 
