546 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. . 



invented in 1867, has been patented by Carlos de la Baqiiera, of New 

 York Citj", and in the latter part of the year just passed another ma- 

 chine was brought to public notice by Pedro Sanchez, of Tabasco, IMex- 

 ico. 



The plants come to maturity in about three years, though they do not 

 flower for eight and sometimes twenty years. 



Among other uses of the agave it is employed in portions of South- 

 ern Europe as a hedge plant, the spiny leaves particularly adapting it 

 for the purpose. Soap is also manufactured from the juice, and the 

 fresh leaves cut in slices are occasionally used as food for cattle. The 

 most important product, however, is the sap, which forms an intoxicat- 

 ing liquor known as pidqite, from which a kind of brandy is manufact- 

 ured, as a fui'ther product, known as Aguardiente de Maguay. 



Br. Forbes Royle states that the India Pita has been found superior 

 in strength to either coir, jute, or sunn hemp. In a trial of strength, 

 near Calcutta, the tests were made with ropes one fathom long and three 

 inches in circumference, with the following results: The agave or pita 

 broke in a strain of 2,519J pounds; coir, 2,175 pounds; jute 2,456^ 

 pounds, and sunn hemp 2,269} pounds. An experiment with Russian 

 hemp and pita, the first named broke with 160 pounds' weight, and the 

 latter vrith 270 pounds. These experiments show the great strength of 

 the liber, which is worthy of more extended cultivation and employment 

 in the arts. 



Agave fiber is composed of quite large filaments, white, brilliant, stiff, 

 and light (in weight). They are easily separated by friction, while at 

 the same time preserving their stiffness. 



VetiUart states that, viewed with the microscope, the isolated fibers 

 are short, with, slender walls, and very large central cavity. They are 

 swollen in the middle, and terminate in a point, the most frequent form 

 of which is that of a spatula blade. They are sometimes lobed or bifur- 

 cated, and the thickness of the walls varies in the same fiber. It is very 

 irregular, the exterior profile undulated or toothed to the extremity. 



The peasant women of Fayal employ tlie fiber of the '■' bitter aloe" in 

 the manufactui^e of the celebrated " Fayal lace," which has brought such 

 high prices in Paris, where the greater liortion of this delicate fabric is 

 sold. 



Ill the museum of the department there is a comi^lete scries of the ar- 

 ticles in the fabrication of which this fiber is employed. There are about 

 twenty-five women only on the island capable of producing this delicate 

 fabric, its manufacture requiring practice from childhood. 



Fine samples of agave fiber were secured at the Centennial Exhibi- 

 tion fiom New South Wales and Victoria. Dr. Guilfoyle states that in 

 the last-named locality ''the plant is of quick growth, and thrives ex- 

 ceedingly weU." 



Agave ASisalana. — Mexican grass, Sisal hemp. — Also called grass hemp. 

 It is the Cabulla of Central America, and the Losquil Henequen or Jene- 

 quoi of Yucatan, and produces the fiber known as Sisal hem]>. 



Tin's species of agave is not so widely known as the preceding, as its 

 cultivation seems to be confined to the new world, particularly the West 

 India Islands, Yucatan, and Central America. Dr. n. Perrine intro- 

 duced it into Florida in 1S3S, together with the Agave Americana^ and 

 the records of liia experiments are among the chief sources of inform n- 

 tion regarding the plant and its uses. The full and complete collection 

 of Dr. Perrine is most carefully preserved in the museum of this depart- 

 ment, having been received from the National Museum a few years ago. 

 . The native method of extracting the fiber is slow and laborious. It 



