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 luxuriance may be mentioned the Túxpam 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 plants makes 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 When thus cleaned to the extent of one-half or more of their length the stalks are automatically withdrawn and laid upon the feed-table, by reversing which the other end of the stalks is presented to the machine and similarly treated, after which the ribbons are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 years. ago. 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, products, 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, Consul-General.

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,

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.

Guaymas, June 3, 1884.

EATING UNCOOKED PORK.

REPORT BY CONSUL FOX, OF BRUNSWICK, GERMANY, INCLOSING AN OFFICIAL WARNING AGAINST THE Use of UNCOOKED PORK.

I have the honor to lation, issued by the

inclose herewith copy of official order, with transpolice 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.
WILLIAM C. FOX,

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 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

in duration according to the different sorts of vine, soils, and aspects. This fruit pruning consists in cutting the canes back to two eyes from the old wood; and is so performed as to insure an open space in the middle of the stock so as to admit of free ventilation; four or five arms are left radiating from a common centre, trained as far as possible to a horizontal position, so as to induce the fruit spurs to assume a perpendicular.

The best results for making wine are obtained in a stiff clay soil, decomposed granite always found on the hillsides; whereas the yield of raisins is highest on a light clay soil, containing a sufficiency of sand and carbonate of lime; this latter is what is called here the karoo soil, and is alluvial and principally found in the valleys.

The wine vineyards are seldom cultivated more than once a year; while the raisin districts require continuous attention. Digging is considered preferable to plowing-the latter operation tending to disarrange and injure the vines. In the wine districts, such as the Hex River Valley, Andtshoven, Zwellendam, and Montagu, where rains are very irregular and of rare occurrence, irrigation is resorted to about three times a year, and a thorough cleaning of the vineyards is gone through with about a fortnight subsequent to each irrigation. In these districts irrigation is not difficult, for being situated in the plains or valleys and surrounded with mountains, giving rise to numerous small rivulets, the operation becomes comparatively easy. In planting, the distance between the canes depends much upon the variety of the grape as well as the site of the vineyard; in a hot district it is admissible to plant closer than in a cool district; but, generally speaking, 4 by 4 feet is consid ered a safe distance. In very rich soils, where the vines grow luxu riantly, even more space is given; the vines are planted in trenches from 2 to 3 feet deep. The month of July is considered the proper season for planting in this country. The cuttings, about 18 inches in length, are planted as soon as possible after separation from the parent stalk. As before stated, the young vines are not pruned or interfered with for the first two years, but they should be kept scrupulously clean. The first pruning should be done in such a manner as to give form to the stock with a single trunk, and so as to insure an even supply of sap to all the future arms or branches. The advantage of deep trenching will now be manifest in the deep rooting, luxuriance, and vigor of the plants.

As a rule about three thousand vines are planted on an acre of ground. The average yield in the Worcester district is 4 leagners of wine to one thousand vines,* that is, 1,524 gallons to the acre. In other parts of the colony the yield is not so much, say one-fourth, or about 380 gallons per acre. The average weight of a bunch of raisin grapes (Hanepoort) is a fraction less than one pound, and the average number on the sticks forty.

The vines in South Africa remain in full vigorous bearing from forty to fifty years, but there are vineyards here now more than sixty years old which amply pay all working expenses besides interest on capital invested. Indeed I have been informed by Mr. Hertzog that he has vine stocks on his farm which are in vigorous bearing and are one hundred and twenty-eight years old. The life and vigor of the vine therefore depends doubtless upon the nature of the soil and the care taken of it.

The mode of manufacturing wine here is of the most primitive character, no improvement in that respect having been made within the

*A leagner equals 127 gallons.