Description

Dodge asks for Morris' help in identifying one of the Florida fibre plants they are experimenting with. He sends by express today, charges paid, a plant of Sanseviera [Sansevieria], which they have supposed to be S. zeylanica. He tried to obtain specimens of the blossoms, but they came in such wretched condition that they were thrown into the waste basket. It may interest Morris to know that there are some 50,000 roots of this plant being set out in two localities in Florida with a view to experiment with their culture for fibre. From the factory in Dade County he has fibre samples that measure over seven feet in length, although the average is about five. He will be glad to send specimens of this fibre later on. Page contains a note initialled 'JGB' [John Gilbert Baker], 15 June 1892, stating that this is S. guineensis. Baker asks for one of these leaves for the Herbarium and asks Morris to get Dodge to send flowers. Baker finds no record of S. longiflora having been named at the Herbarium during 1890 or 1891. Page 1 of 2.