and fibrous products exists in the United States, Mexico's next door neighbor. Besides the products of cotton, enormous quantities of fibrous material are utilized in the handling of the cotton crop itself. Immense quantities of jute are used in handling the grain crop and its products. Fiber in the shape of twine is used in enormous amounts in harvesting the grain crop of the United States. Besides being a larger consumer of fiber in these forms than all the rest of the world, the United States is the largest consumer of fiber in miscellaneous fabrics, employing it in a greater variety of uses than all other countries together. Thus, at the doors of this country, there stands the readiest of purchasers. The value of henequen exported from this republic in the five years, from 1877 to 1882, amounted to $1,649,850.88, or a yearly average of $330,000, approximately. The export of the same article in the single year 1883 increased to $3,311,062, or more than tenfold. The increase for 1884 will be proportionate. Henequen fiber thus assumes the the first place, after the precious metals, on our export list, with the maguey, ixtle, pita, and other fiber-leafed plants. That this production and export may closely approach, or fully reach the very first place, dethroning the precious metals, seems by no means an extravagant opinion when the facts upon which it is based are considered. Henequen, ixtle and sisal grass now pay an import duty in the United States of $15 a ton, and India hemp, India manila and other like substitutes for hemp, $25 a ton. Under the reciprocity treaty between this country and the United States, Mexican fibers are admitted free of duty. In consequence the heavy duty on manila hemp, India jute, &c., must cause a displacement of those articles in favor of our Mexican fibers, just as Mexican henequen has for general use, as well as for harvesting, already in the manufacture of twines displaced or superseded manila hemp, the fiber of the plantain of the Philippine Islands. An India-jute grain sack weighs from 3 to 34 pounds, and costs in New York about 25 cents. A Mexican maguey grain sack of equal capacity weighs but 2 pounds, and costing not 20 cents, fully replaces it. The maguey is both stronger and lighter, and, even apart from the item of tariff, is cheaper than the jute, and in the manufacture of cotton bagging, cotton-seed bags, and ore sacks it must continue its work, already so well begun, of displacing the foreign fiber. The maguey will always be cultivated in Mexico extensively, if for nothing more than its products of pulque, mescal, and tequila, and the extent of its present cultivation may be imagined when we consider the thousands of gallons of pulque, the fermented sap of the maguey, which are daily consumed in the City of Mexico alone. There are single haciendas almost wholly devoted to the cultivation of the maguey for pulque, some of the largest fortunes in the country have come from production of pulque, and the value of the pulque produced on some of these haciendas amounts to over $100,000 a year. The plants, after the pulque has been extracted, die, and the fiber has been comparatively little utilized on account of the lack of adequate means to manipulate it. But with the mechanical devices now available for that purpose this can be easily and profitably done, and the fiber products of the maguey will add immensely to the value of the crop, standing in a similar relation to the regular products as that of cotton seed, formerly a waste product, to the regular cotton crop. Ixtle is another important fiber whose export is growing. The value of the exports in 183 amounted to $596,533.23. It was consumed principally in the manufacture of brushes of all kinds, both in Europe and the United States, and a smaller portion especially selected was spun into thread. It has been demonstrated that jute, which is now one of the greatest staples of India, can be grown with great ease and abundance throughout the hot lands of the coast. In recent years all exports of flour from the United States have been made in sacks of India jute. These sacks are seamless, made on looms constructed for the purpose, and the number used annually is enormous. The history of jute shows what may be expected from Mexican fibers. The increase of its production has been enormous. Its use in manufactures was not begun until 1823. This was in Dundee, Scotland, where the industry now employs over 30,000 people in more than 100 mills. India derives over $100,000,000 a year from its jute culture. The production amounts to 2,500,000 bales a year. The demand increases so that the price is steadily advancing, although the advance has been confined chiefly to the better grades. India produces a great amount of very inferior grades, not equal to the demands of the manufacturers, owing to the unintelligent cultivation and manipulation practiced there. It is here that Mexico's opportunity comes in, for by the aid of machinery the fiber can be extracted in first-class condition and bring correspondingly high prices. Government aid has been promised to efforts for the introduction of jute culture in this country, and the reciprocity treaty will give the Mexican product the advantage of free importation into the United States against a duty of 20 per cent. on the valuation charged on India jute. The purposes for which jute is used are rapidly multiplying. Besides coarse fabrics, such as grain and ore sacks, it is used for fine goods like cambrics, furniture linings, and room hangings. By recent improvements in dyeing the brilliant colors and beautiful finish of silk are imparted to jute, so that it cannot readily be distinguished from the former. Ramie, or vegetable silk, is a fiber whose cultivation is destined to become of great importance in this country, and much attention is now being paid to it. There is a valuable fiber which grows wild in the hot lands of the coast, known as silk grass. It is a member of the bromelia family, and produces a beautiful long silky fiber which is worth 35 cents a pound in Manchester, where the demand is immensely ahead of the present supply. Among the places where it grows in great luxuriancemay be mentioned the Tuxpam Valley and the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Among other important fibers of Mexico may be mentioned the escobilla, pita, and rush. General Diaz has a sample of pita fiber 11 feet 6 inches, or over 3.51 meters, long, which grew wild on his hacienda in Oaxaca. The great difficulty in the utilization of nearly all these fibers has been that of extracting the fiber, which has been possible only by a slow and laborious process. But a recent invention for the disintegration and decortication of the fiber-bearing plantsmakes the work easy, effective, and cheap. This invention promises to create an immense industry in Mexico. It consists of a machine called the Universal Fiber Decorticator, invented and patented by Mr. T. Albee Smith, of Saint Louis, who was here a few days ago with the object of making arrangements for its introduction in this country. The machine has been successfully operated in Mississippi upon jute and hemp for the past two years, reducing in one process the stalks to the condition of soft, pliable ribbons, free from slivers or bark, which, after maceration in soft, clear water, are entirely free from gum. The inventor has devised a process which washes and rinses the fiber, which, after drying, is ready for the bale. Following is. a brief description of the process: The material to be treated first enters between a pair of plain crushing rolls, then between the breaking rolls, thence passing to the cleaning rolls and aprons, the latter preserving the material parallel and untangled while under treatment. When thus cleaned to the extent of one-half or more of their length the stalks are automatically withdrawn and laid upon the feed-table, by reversing which the other end of the stalks is presented to the machine and similarly treated, after which the ribbons are subjected to the macerating and washing process heretofore described. The construction, both of the breaking rolls and the cleaners, is peculiar to this machine. While under the operation of the cleaning rolls jets of liquid (either water or chemical preparation) are ingeniously and effectively applied along the entire sheet of the material, the effect of which is to form a kind of cushion to the fiber while being. treated. Air, steam, or gas can be applied by the same jets, the selection to be determined by the peculiar characteristics of the plant under treatment. EXTENSION OF THE ZONA LIBRE. REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL SUTTON. OF MATAMOROS. Under date of the 4th instant I sent you the following telegram: Apparently reliable information from Mexico is that Zona Libre which now extends,. from here to Nuevo Laredo, has been extended along our froutier to Pacific Ocean. It is probably only strip, say custom-house jurisdiction, in width. So far as it goes it will be an important benefit to our manufacturers, as it increases the buying capacity of towns affected, and in which three-fourths of the goods now used are American. To this date no additional information is to hand, but it would appear to be certain that the report is correct. This will make Piedras Negras and Paso del Norte, as also other smaller places, ports of first entry in the new Zona Libre, where, as at Matamoros, goods may be imported, held, sold, or consumed free of all duties except small local and inspection charges. The Zona Libre was established at Matamoros twenty-seven yearsago. It was done at the especial request of the merchants of Matamoros, and was then intended to be, and then was, avowedly hostile to American interests. The Zona Libre is now to be extended to Paso del Norte and the Pacific coast. This, it is probably correct to say, is done at the special request of the Mexican Central Railway Company. While it is prima rily a benefit to that company it is also to a certain extent a benefit to American manufacturers. All residents of the territory of the newly established Zona Libre can legally buy two dollars' worth of goods where they formerly bought one dollar's worth. On this frontier three-fourths of this increased sale will be of American goods. At Vera Cruz this increase would be more nearly if not quite equally divided. Owing to the probable narrow limits and limited population in the newly made free zone the immediate increase and effect will not be very noticeable. The effect upon Piedras Negras, Paso del Norte, and the other newly made ports of first entry will be considerable. It will give them an impetus, as by free introduction of American food, prodncts, furniture, &c., it will render life possible there under more favorable conditions than heretofore. Many Americans are ready for such an opportunity, and will move in and establish themselves in business there. Many Mexicans will also come in from the interior to enjoy the advantages of the Zona Libre. WARNER P. SUTTON, CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, Consul-General. Matamoros, April 8, 1884. FREE PORTS IN MEXICO. REPORT BY CONSUL WILLARD, OF GUAYMAS. I have the honor to inform the Department that the law of March 22 last, which went into effect the 26th ultimo, provides that imported goods may be bonded at Paso del Norte, in Chihuahua, and Nogales, in Sonora, in this consular district, and other frontier custom-houses named in the law and those which may be established, by filing a bond that the duties shall be paid when taken out for consumption or importation into the republic, or they may be re-exported and the bond canceled. This law does not go into effect, so far as making Nogales, in this consular district, one of the free ports, until such time as the State authorities define its limits and establish there a municipal government, which has not as yet been done, though such action it is expected will soon be made. Goods may be sold for consumption in the free zone thus established, and pay no duty except $1.37 per $100, a municipal tax, and the package duty, which must be paid in all cases when received; also warehouse charges of two cents per cubic foot per day during the time they remain in warehouse. Importers desiring to avail themselves of the privileges of this act must make a written application, stating the number of packages they intend to import, one mouth before the importation, which special permits must have $8 in stamps, duly canceled, and be in triplicate form, written in ink. Hectograph copies or aniline will not be accepted. They must also be accompanied by a Mexican consular invoice. Goods coming from Europe are on the same basis as American goods. A. WILLARD, CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Consul. 1 Guaymas, June 3, 1884. 4 EATING UNCOOKED PORK. REPORT BY CONSUL FOX, OF BRUNSWICK, GERMANY, INCLOSING AN OFFICIAL I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of official order, with translation, issued by the police authorities of the province of Saxony, Prussia, warning the public against the danger of eating swine meat in an uncooked state. Comment appears to me unnecessary in the premises. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Consul. Brunswick, May 15, 1884. OFFICIAL NOTICE. [Translation.] The trichiniosis epidemic, which prevailed in Emersleben and vicinity from September to December of last year, was attended with fatal results. Of the 403 persons who became ill from partaking of the meat of a swine infected with trichinæ, 66 died. The instituted investigation proves that the intensity of the sickness and the grade of mortality depended upon the number of trichina found in the meat and upon the amount of meat consumed. In this respect it is noticeable that all persons who ate 125 grammes or more of the infected meat died. It is also proven that of all those who died each one, without exception, partook of the meat in a raw and uncooked state. Trivial cases were caused by eating sausage, meat balls, and liver sausage, made from infected meat, which in cooking had not been allowed to reach that grade of heat necessary to thoroughly boil or roast it, and consequently contained more or less raw particles. In the face of this deeply lamentable occurrence, I seize this opportunity to again and impressively give public warning, especially to the working class, against the inveterate habit which prevails in this province of eating raw hacked swine's meat. At the same time I call attention to the fact that in the preparation of swine's meat for household purposes the danger to health can be avoided only by thoroughly cooking the meat, by subjecting it to a continuous boiling or roasting before partaking of it. The royal president of police and landrath: MAGDEBURG, May 13, 1884. DR. VON ARNIM. VITICULTURE IN CAPE COLONY.* REPORT BY CONSUL SILER, OF CAPE TOWN. In 1653 the first vine stocks were brought into this country from the borders of the Rhine. The muscatel was the principal variety introduced, and was found to thrive well. In 1681 the first brandy from the grape was made at the Cape, but owing to the primitive mode of manufacture the quality was necessarily inferior. In 1687 the first census was taken at the Cape of Good Hope, when the returns showed the total number of vine stocks in the colony to be 402,900. Since then the industry has been constantly pursued, but in a conservative and unenterprising way. In 1865 the census returns showed 55,300,000, and in 1875, 69,910,215 *This report was received too late for insertion in No. 41, "Fruit Culture in the Various Countries." vine stocks in the colony. The number at present under cultivation was estimated by a commission appointed by government to investigate the subject of vine diseases at 120,000,000 stocks, covering an area of 45,000 acres and employing a capital of not less than £20,000,000.. South Africa possesses an immense area of territory available for successful cultivation of the vine, that now utilized being but a fringe of what is susceptible of proper cultivation. Indeed, viticulture has been and is now confined almost exclusively to the western province of the Cape Colony for no other reason than that the early vine farmers settled in that region, and that their conservative character has not favored the spread and development of an industry which they have ever striven to make a monopoly, for the fact is indisputable that the conditions of soil and climate of the eastern province of the Cape Colony is equally susceptible of viticulture as that of the western. The vineyards are situated at all distances from the sea-coast, a few lying right along and near to the beach. They are also successfully cultivated long distances from the sea, throughout the western and northern parts of the Cape Colony, some 400 miles from Cape Town. But the southwestern part of the colony is the region in which viticulture is most extensively and profitably carried on, and embraces the districts of the Cape divisions, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Malmesbury, Wellington, and Caledon. These districts are contiguous to the sea-coast, and the vineyards, from 100 to 500 feet above sea-level, are both on the hillsides and in the valleys, and the grapes are mostly used for making wine; while the raisin vineyards are mostly in the Worcester and Andtshoven districts, further from the sea and at a much greater altitude. The grapes grown on hillside lands with an eastern aspect, are, as a rule, superior to those raised in the valleys or on table land. Sea fogs and mists are not of frequent occurrence in this part of the colony, but when they come over the land the effect on the vineyards is highly deleterious, the damp rotting the fruit and occasionally causing considerable loss. The vineyards along the sea-coast where raisin farming is not attempted are subject to mildew during a very moist atmosphere, but this plague is readily and successfully checked and even prevented by the timely and judicious use of sulphur. In the raisin districts farther from the coast, where the air is much dryer, mildew is seldom known. Last year the farms in the Upper Hex River Valley, where fogs and mists are rare, did not require the application of sulphur the whole season. But under any meteorological conditions the South African wine farmer is confident of counteracting any effects of mildew by the application of sulphur. This is done by means of a well constructed bellows, and, if intended as a preventive, shortly before the budding season commences; and constant and careful application it is claimed will keep the vineyard free from disease where oidium exists and where much dew falls. The vines are kept short in all these districts which are subject to high winds; but regular pruning usually begins only when the vines are two years old. Great importance is attached to this operation by wine farmers here and it is performed by means of a sharp knife or shears. After this the vines are pruned twice a year at two distinct periods, the first commencing directly the vineyard is harvested; this is called early pruning and consists of the removal of all unnecessary shoots and suckers. The second operation is called the fruit pruning proper, and is generally commenced as soon as the buds begin to swell, and varies |