59 
[ Rep. No. 504. ] 
manufactory into complete operation, at a great expense, in 1S29, the same 
legislature repealed the law, alleging that the use of machinery was pre¬ 
judicial to the poor carriers of logwood to the shore ! 
Very respectfully, 
H. PERRINE. 
Extracts of letters from Charles Howe, inspector and postmaster at 
lnd^a^ Key, tropical Florida, to Doctor Henry Perrine, at Wash¬ 
ington City. 
September 'll, 1837.—I have planted a few of almost every kind of 
your seeds, or, at least, I have got to No. 156 in boxes, including the few 
tubs we planted before you left, (5th August;) and in some of the boxes 
1 have planted three different kinds, somd two, and others only one. 
I conclude, however, that there are now at least two hundred in number 
planted, and several of the first have come up very finely. On opening 
one of your trunks a few moments ago, to look for the books you re¬ 
quested me to send Dr. Leitner, I found more seeds, which I shall exam¬ 
ine more particularly very soon.’^ 
“ November 1.—About one-third of your seeds have come up, and look 
finely—say between fifty and sixty different kinds; and others, I Rave no 
doubt, will make their appearance soon. My front yard, you must know, 
begins to look quite respectable, with 168 boxes placed in rows, contain¬ 
ing such a variety of choice tropical plants. It excites the attention of 
almost every body who passes the street.” 
Extracts of letters from John Dubose, formerly inspector and light¬ 
house keeper at Cape Florida, but now at Key West, to Doctor H. 
Perrine. 
November 1, 1837.—Of those plants and seeds sent by you from 
Mexico, (1833,) there now remains the Sisal hemp, or Tropical Flax plant, 
called Peter. I have not seen it since January, 1835. It was planted in 
a rich soil, and was at that time growing finely; and as it was a danger¬ 
ous plant to intrude on, owing to the thorns with which the ends of the 
leaves were armed, the presumption is that the Indians have not inter¬ 
fered with it. The Pulque, or substitute for the Mexican beer, was grow- 
ing in great perfection, having put out a great many suckers, which could, 
by this time, have been multiplied to any extent; and as soon as the In¬ 
dians give us permission to return to our homes, I expect to find more 
plants than will be wanted. As far as my recollection extends, there are 
two other kinds of Aloes growing and doing well; one of which appeared 
to be very fruitful, judging from the great number of sprouts or suckers 
springing up around the original plant. The Turmeric was also growing. 
The Cochineal Cactus, or large oval prickly pear, as well as the three- 
cornered prickly pear, (called by you the strawberry pear,) were also 
growing when I last saw them. You will also find the Arnotta plant, 
African Date, Paper Mulberry, Multicaulis, and a plant like-the Tanyar.” 
