397 



especially as compared with the Sisal, as I believe, from the 

 nature of the soil in which it is raised in this State, that it might 

 be profitably introduced into some of the islands of the West 

 Indies and other parts of the Empire within the tropics. 



I have, &c, 



(Signed) L. J. Nunn, 



British Vice-Consul. 



The Cultivation and Uses of the Zapupe in Mexico. 



Of the many experiments that have been made with fibre- 

 producing plants to discover one that would equal for production 

 and results the Henequen or Sisal of Yucatan, all seem to haw 

 given but little result with the possible exception of the Zapupe. 

 to the cultivation of which, in a limited way, a considerable 

 degree of attention has been devoted in the State of Vera Cruz 

 during the last three or four years. Attempts have been made, a? 

 is well known, in various parts of the world, but more especially 

 in some of the islands of the West Indies, to raise Sisal or 

 Henequen, but in general these attempts have been failures, the 

 consensus of opinion being that there are certain peculiarities in 

 the barren and arid plains of Yucatan, which, together with 

 climatic conditions, render the land unrivalled for the cultivation 

 of this particular class of hemp-producer. It would seem, 

 however, that in the Zapupe a rival to the Henequen or Sisal has 

 been discovered, that can be produced under equally as economical 

 conditions, and which will give as good if not better results under 

 more varied conditions of soil and climate. 



Botanists, it would appear, have not yet decided on the exact 

 classification of the Zapupe, and although it resembles m many 

 points the Henequen, it can only be said that they are both of the 

 Agave family. 



The first experiments in the cultivation of the Zapupe were 

 undertaken in the year 1901 or 1902 on a small scale, on some 

 lands cleared for this purpose in the Canton of Tuxpam, in tne 

 State of Vera Cruz, where it is found in its wild state and it M 

 estimated that in the same vicinity there are now set out over nve 

 million plants in various stages of growth. 



M The cultivation of the plant requires no Pf*^ *¥Lf£ 

 does it require much attention, a point of considerable moment m 

 countries where labour is scarce and apt to be jroidiable. ine 

 usual methods adopted are to take the young ^^^""nt 

 are but a few inches high, cut them clear from the ^rent plant 

 and set them out in carefully prepared nursenes, -jhere rt > are 

 allowed to remain from eight to ten months, by wMit^ethej 

 will have assumed a height of from a foot to two fee- abov tne 

 ground. At this sta*e they are then transplanted t °^f ? 



ground 



lands, all the preparation required being to tum»e^ - g 

 With a plough andset the young plants in the > furrow b nkm^ ^ 

 soil up around them so that they may ^ ™" ^^nfted from 

 he reasons for this is that when the .young plan toareht ^ 

 the nursery all the roots are cut off, tnat pan 



