36 



48. The following extract, taken from an essay 



SSS by Mr. P. S. Simmonds, will give a clear 

 idea of the relative value of plantain fibre 

 and other kinds. Referring to cotton, the author 

 writes : " It is subject to many deteriorating influ- 

 ences, particularly from frost or excessive rain ; 

 and a full average crop is considered to be one bale 

 per acre, or about four cwt. Flax, also an annual, 

 is regarded as a good crop at six cwt. per acre, and 

 hemp at seven cwt. per acre. The plantain will 

 yield, of the best quality of fibre, 48 cwt. per acre, 

 besides the coarser qualities, consequently its pro- 

 duce will be, as compared with that of cotton, twelve- 

 fold ; of flax, eight-fold ; and of hemp, seven-fold. 

 Moreover, the produce of the plantain from 500 

 acres would require to obtain the same quantity in 

 cotton, 6,000 acres, in flax 4,000, and in hemp 3,500 

 acres. But flax and hemp being exhausting crops 

 cannot be grown on the same land oftener (at the 

 utmost) than in a five year rotation ; therefore, to 

 produce annually, for seven years, 1,200 tons of flax 

 would require the use of an estate of 20,000 acres ; 

 and for hemp, in the same way, 17,500 acres. But 

 the plantain not being an exhausting crop would 

 continue to produce its 1200 tons of fibre per annum, 

 without replanting for a term of twelve or fifteen 

 years about 500 acres." 



<Bnb of fart I. 



