-94. [ Hep. Fo. 564. ], 
year. He has 500 acres of Pita to let to the Indians, pie gets about ^50 
per year for his Pita, [in each garden.] His name is Lnsana de Toris. 
I came to Goazacoalcos in 1825 ; the Pita then brought a fine price, three 
bits per pound and quick sale ; now it is one bit per pound and dull sale. 
I think in one year more it will be sold for 6-i cents per pound. All the 
thread for sewing here is made by hand by the Indians. I myself made 
a rope of the Pita for the use of my saw mill, that proved much stronger 
than one of hemp of the same size, and lasted longer. I have no more to 
say on the Pita, 
I remain your most affectionate friend, 
SAMUEL BALDWIN. 
Mr. Henry Perrine. 
It is my opinion, it the Pita was cultivated by people that know how to 
take hold of work, it could be sold for one cent per pound, and the labor¬ 
ers would make a good living at that. The labor (of cultivation) is much 
less than flax or hemj), for there is no use of cattle, ploughs, or fences. It 
can be planted in the woods apparently wild. 
SAMUEL BALDWIN. 
LILY TRIBE. 
Phormium Tenax: Flax Lily of New Zealand.~FvQX since the first 
voyage of Captain Cook, all voyagers have concurred in testifying to the 
immense utility of this plant among the natives of the countries where it 
spontaneously grows. Daring the.same period it has occupied the anxious 
attention of all intelligent men, who with the eyes of patriotic statesmen 
nontemplate the important changes Avhich will be effected by this single 
plant in the agriculture, manufactures, and commerce of all civilized na¬ 
tions. Until recently, at least, all attempts to cultivate this flax lily in the 
opennir of England have failed. At Charleston, South Carolina, in Au¬ 
gust last, I found it in a vigorous condition, and Avas informed that it has 
flourished several years in the open air. In Paris its vegetation is not 
vigorous, and it is sometimes damaged or killed by rigorous Avinters • but 
m all the southern departments of France it vegetates vigorously, and 
never suffers from cold. Although hitherto propagated by suckers or by 
division alone, all southern France is becoming covered Avith the progeny 
of a single plant introduced about 40 years ago. In 1791, LabiUardiere 
started^as a botanist in the expedition of d^Entrecasteau, designed to seek 
the unfortunate LaPeyrouse, and returned to France in 1798, with several 
plants of the New Zealand Flax Lily, but when in sight of the coast, all his 
collections Avere captured by the British. Nevertheless, shortly after- 
wards, Acton, the director of the garden at TIicav, remitted a single shoot 
to Thoiiin, at the Garden of Plants in Paris. As Thouin was fluly im¬ 
pressed with a deep sense of the great importance of this single plant, he 
distnbut^ all its progeny, as fast as they appeared, to many different por- 
tionsof France ; and for this persevering labor alone he sliould have a 
monument erected to his memory. It is stated that Marshal Clausel has : 
introduced the culture of the Phormium into Algiers, and it may be confix 
dently predicted, that Avithin a feAv years more, France may extract folia- 
