, 1875-10-30

GUO0 tCOk0 o. VIC uuH6 OUGdlk%
ed on the subject of the above letter,
we are in a position to vouch for
the reliability of the information con-
tanned in it, Judging from the char
acter OF the source whence it was
derived, AS, however, the names. by
which the species of Agave treated of are
designated did not convey to US The in
formation required as to whether the two
varieties exhibited at the Tidende Office
are the same as those growing almost
spontaneously in this island, we have cor
responded with a competent party ip st.
Thomas on the subject, and the informa-
ton required will be found in the follow
ing extracts from q letter received from
him:
The fbres of The Agave are utilized
in the whole of Spanish America for the fabri-
cation of rope, hammockS, etc. In Mexico the
cleaned fbreS are q common article of commerce,
like fax or hemp in moe n~Ortherly countries.
This application of the fibre would not,
however, be sufficient, if the plant were. Gull
tivated on a larger scale. lis principal utli-
cation would be found as raw material for the
manufacture of paper, by which the market
for it would be almost unlimited. During
his stay here MIR. Hagemann was quite taken
up with the idea of cultivating the Agave in
these islands for that purpose. He was Of
opinion that it would fetch about 6 cts. a
pound ....-......."
"The one of the specimens exhibited at the
Tidende Office is our common Agare americana
(popularly called Careeta in St. Croix). The
other species, with narrower leaves, l am al
most certain is Fourcroya gigantea (also called
C%areeta) which is not in ST. CrOix,
growing, among other places, behind Mt. Wei
come and along the road up TO ELIAS Re-
treat. This latter, which he writer in the
ST. THome Tidende calls the "Pita plant"
has less succulent leaves, and contains pro.
badly more fibre, for which reason he recon-
mendS its cultivation preferably to that Of
the other species. The Agave prefers, as
every one can ascertain for himself, a dry
soil, and would therefore be the plant to he
>ral'ivatcd par excellence on he Eastend Of
st. Croix ............"
Although the present article Mas Gully
Intended TO introduce the one subject Of
the cultivation and treatment of the .Agave,
we cannot refrain from Selling this
opportunity Of giving our readers yet
another valuable hint from The same Coz
respondent. There are others in his
Letter, such as that of the value Of
tree planting, supported by no less an
authority than Jules Clay6 (Etudes de
MeteoroIogie Revue qes deux Mondes for
The month Of June). The hint we allude
to is briefly the following
There is one point in this connection Chat
of cultivating something else than the Sugar
Cane) which ought not to be forgotten. |
nllude to the cultivation of Guinea Corn, rs
breadstuf instead Of Corn Flour. 1t is I'M
dOubtedly against all economical principles to
spend so much money annually in the importa-
tion of this article, when breadstuf not at all
inferior to it could be produced in the island,
at least in a great measure. In former times,
the importation Of Corn Flour was an unknown
thing in the island, as can be seen from Vests
Description of st. Croix. 1t was only when
the cultivation of the sugar cane, at the close
of last century, subsequent to the instruction
in Santo DnmiGgo, assumed so large prOpO:-
lions that about 80, 900 acres were appropriated
to 1t, causing a lack of both land and labour
for any other cultivation, that people began to
import corn meal from America, which, with
the prices of sugar of those days and the
abundant production of it, was, no doubt,
economically correct. At present, however,
when these relations have been materially
changed, a great deal would be saved by
planting Guinea Corn on the turned-out estates
whereas experience has .shown-it would give
q good return .........."
We have no hesitation in recommending
H. 49, ! = ~L~V0 %