108 



Fiber Investigations, Report No. 3. 



Sisal hemp culture, C. R. Dodge (pp. 59, plates 8, figs. 21).— 

 This includes a brief history of the culture of sisal hemp in Florida; 

 notes on the soil, climate, and cultivation adapted to these i)lants, and 

 on rate of growth, harvesting, and yield per acre; descriptions of 

 machinery for extracting the fiber; an account of the present condition 

 of the industry in Florida ; notes on other leaf fibers {Apave americana, 

 A. tnexicana, and Sanseviera zeylanica) observed by the author in Flor- 

 ida; compiled notes on Agava rigicla, var. sisalana, and on the sisal 

 hemp industry in the Bahamas. 



The imports of sisal hemp fiber iuto tliis countrj' from Yucatan for the fiscal year 

 ending June :{0, 1S90, amounted to 2S,31'2 tons, in round numbers, worth §4,330,:J0O ; 

 and for the year previous the imports amounted to over 35,(X>0 tons. This does not 

 take into account the imported manufactures from sisal hemp, which are considerable, 

 the value of which can not be given. It is said that the United States purchases over 

 80 per cent of the marketable liber produced in Mexico. 



The fact that the sisal hemp plant can bo grown in this country in any ([uantity, 

 as far as the more question of cultivation is concerned, was satisfactorily diMuon- 

 strated many years ago. Over 50 years have i)as8ed since the plant was introdnci-d 

 into Florida by Dr. Henry Perriue, and it is now growing wild in many portions of 

 the State. 



Sisal hemp is now extensively grown in Mexico and has been success- 

 fully introduced into Cuba and the P>ahamas. There is reason to 

 believe that it can be profitably grown iu southern Florida. 



