, 1893-02-08

say let this trading be done apart from the
proper economic and scientific work of the
department by @ separate stah. and let the
officers devote their full time and sner eiss to
the objects for which the Gardens were insti-
tuted. Without entering further on these de-
batable subjects, however, there 10 that in the
report which constitutes it about the most
valuable and most directly useful to the ooun-
try of the annual departmental statements.
One of the most interesting and certainly
one Of the most useful and suggestive parts
Cf the report 10 that in which the progress Of
tho Sisal hemp plantation at Hope Gardens 10
stated. This undertaking is considered as one
apart from the regular work of the garden,
but if SO, it is q very important adjunct. The
history is re ated at length. 1t had its ORR
gin in the fact that it was impossible TO get
plants from their native county, Yucatan, or
from the Bahamas, owing to the prohibition Of
any export; to the desire of many planters
in Jamaica to obtain plants III large anil
small quantities and to the willingness of the
Government to aid the industry, and meet
the wish q Of the planters in every possible
manner. IN the first place $4,000 plants wore
imported from Turks Island for g plantation
at Hope. These were intended, not for dis
tribution, but to be grown to afford material
for experiment with machinery when tho leaves
are fully ripe;-to determine whether when
grown on soil ike that of the Liguanea
plains, the fibre is of good maI ketable quality
and Of fair percentage-and to supply suck .
ers in abundance for future distribution.
Very many Of these plants were found on ar.
rival to be so young that they had not sur
vived the close paokin2towhich they had been
subjected. Mr.. Stoddart, who had experience
IN YucatAn. in management Of the Sisal Hemp
and had written a pamphle: on the subject
which was published by the Jamaica Govern
ment, was engaged for some weeks In starting
the plantation. The area on which tho In
dustrial School buildings were erected, was
chosen as having the suitable soil for plant
ing. 1t was necessary to cut down trees, dig
out stumps, and several times clear the bush.
The whole area had to bs strongly fenced,
and even 80 for some time watchmen were on
guard night and day to prevent damage be-
ing done by stray cattle, ~trampling down the
plants aud eating tho tender shoots. Nu-
mer0us applications having been received for
plants, 100 90 were Obtained from NJ ssrs.
Reasoner, Bros, from Florida. Delay, how-
ever, occurred il Forwarding the last portion
of the number and several planters refused
TO take the plants which they had al
ready ordered. These were therefore planted
at Hope in nurseries,. and some afterwards
transferred to the permanent plant alton, which
consists now Of about At acres, with %, 1000
plants. During the year under review the
plantation has been cleared throughout, and
the plants are stated to be all in good oondit-
ion, growing freely, and now Suckeriag. Con-
slant a tention has to be given to cleaning. as
bush must be kept down, and even whrn the
grass is long the suckers de> elopo very slowly,
The very mail plants in the nursery $4,000
in number, have been transplanted and ae
ready for distribution. The growth of the
plants put out has been very s~,tisfaoto y
those planted in 1890, then measuring from 6
inches to one foot. have now attained ~
height offrom 3 feet to four feet six inches.
That tho industry is making Roadway is
evidenced from the fact that during the year
1899 plants were sold. This is most satis-
factory, and justifes the sanguine anticipa-
tions of its chi + promoter, the Governor.
Now that wider attention has been called to
the fact of its i'm ~'ortanc~ az a Profitable en-
terprise we hope that its cultivation will ex-
tend and increase. Mr.Fnwcett states. how
ever, that it is not q product for q small set
tier to rake up. No less than go acres, 'e
stys. should form a plantatioH, and perhaps
not less than So acres can &c worke! scono-
mically. The plantation also should be III
such 4 situation that roatS and tramways
can be easily made through the whole extent
In the future this industry should form one