SISAL HEMP 177 



The cost of cultivating Sisal hemp and preparing 

 it for the market varies greatly in different countries, 

 and depends on the climate, soil, labour supply and 

 other local conditions. The following results, based 

 on actual experience at Punda Milia in the East 

 Africa Protectorate, are of interest in this connection. 

 The establishment of a plantation of 1,000 acres 

 requires a capital of 4,000. The cost of machinery 

 required to prepare the fibre from the leaves produced 

 on a plantation of this size is 5,000. A return can- 

 not be expected until four years after the plantation 

 has been established. As already stated, one ton 

 of dry fibre per acre per annum may be anticipated for 

 three years from the date of the first cutting. The 

 cost of producing a ton of dry fibre is about 12, 

 including i per ton for transport to the railway. 



It is estimated that in German East Africa the net 

 profit varies between 15 and 30 percent., depending 

 on the current price of the fibre. The crop possesses 

 several advantages, among which may be mentioned 

 that it is almost immune from the attack of insects 

 and practically free from disease, and that the manu- 

 facture of the fibre can be carried on more or less 

 continuously throughout the year. 



CHARACTERS AND PROPERTIES OF SISAL HEMP 



Sisal hemp consists of strands or filaments from 

 3 to 5 feet long, of a nearly white or pale yellowish 

 colour. It is very strong but a little harder and less 

 flexible than Manila hemp. The fibre from different 

 sources varies a good deal in diameter. The strands 

 are composed of a mass of ultimate fibres about 2-5 

 millimetres (o'o8-o'2 inch) long, which are polygonal 

 in transverse section and have a large polygonal 

 lumen. The fibre substance consists of a lignified 

 form of cellulose. The commercial value of the 

 product depends chiefly on its length, strength, colour, 

 and freedom from pulpy matter of the leaves which 

 sometimes adheres to the fibre owing to inefficient 

 cleaning. 



