[Crown Copyright Reserved. 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. 
BULLETIN 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
No. 7] —— FL9i6 
XXX.—FIQUE. 
FURCRAEA GIGANTEA. 
(With Plate.) 
We have recently received from Mr. M. T. Dawe, Director 
of Agriculture, Colombia, some interesting samples of Fique 
fibre and articles made therefrom which have been placed in 
Museum No. II. ; 
In addition Mr. Dawe sent some photographs, two of which 
are here reproduced, one showing the method of drying the fibre 
and the other of the green leaves being used as thatch for a 
house. A sample of the fibre, which is usually known as Mauri- 
tius Hemp, has been sent to a firm of Brokers in London and was 
valued on April 19th at £40 per ton. : 
e accompanying note was sent to Kew by Mr. Dawe with 
the specimens and photographs. ; 
‘There are probably few vegetable products, the subject of 
domestic industry, particularly in the fibre world, which have 
so wide an application in everyday use as Fique in Colombia. 
“Fiqué is the fibre of Purcraea gigantea, and is grown 
~ g00 a wild condition growing abundantly on the hills 
“Tn travelling through Colombia one notices everywhere the 
great variety of application to which this fibre is put e 
Alpargatas or shoes worn by the masses in this part of South 
America are soled with Fique, and it is evident that the con- 
sumption of fibre for this purpose alone must be enormous. 
Sacks or Costales for the sltidion of coffee on the plantations 
are made of Fique. Sacks for the local transport of charcoal, 
e. 
customers for the conveyance of cash, in substitution for paper 
or linen bags generally used in other countries. Perhaps, 
(4506.) Wt. 71—798. 1,125. 8/16. J.T.&8., Ltd. G. 14. 
