SISAL HEMP 179 



in the plantation itself for application to the soil. 

 It has been stated, however, that it is better to dry 

 and burn the refuse and employ the ashes as a manure 

 than to apply the fresh or dried refuse directly to the 

 soil. Lommel (DerPflanzer, 1911, VII, 531) has found 

 that 100 Ib. of the dry refuse yield about 13 Ib. of ash, 

 which contains about 80 per cent, of carbonate of 

 lime, ii per cent, of carbonate of potash, and 4 per 

 cent, of phosphate of lime. 



The refuse has also been suggested as a possible 

 material for paper-making, and it has been stated that 

 a company has been formed in Mexico for the utilisa- 

 tion not only of the leaf refuse but also of the stumps 

 of the plants for the purpose. It is proposed to erect 

 a mill in Yucatan, capable of working up 15 to 20 

 tons of the raw material per day. The work is to be 

 restricted at first to the manufacture of half-stuff for 

 export. Trials have been made at a mill in New 

 Orleans, which show that the material yields a very 

 strong paper. 



It has also been suggested that the leaf refuse could 

 be used as a source of alcohol, but considerable diffi- 

 culty is found in fermenting it. It may be mentioned, 

 however, that a factory has been established in 

 Mexico for this purpose. 



A patent has been taken out in Germany for the 

 extraction of oxalic acid and a wax, resembling 

 Carnauba wax, from the refuse. 



The utilisation of Sisal leaf waste in the fresh form 

 as a feeding stuff for stock is reported to have given 

 fairly satisfactory results. The waste contains a 

 moderately high percentage of sugar, and it has been 

 thought that it might also give good results when 

 used in the dry form and in admixture with other food 

 materials. 



SISAL HEMP IN WEST AFRICA 



In 1890 specimens of the leaves of an agave were 

 received in this country from Sherbro in Sierra 

 Leone where the plant is known as " Wild Sarsapa- 

 rilla." The leaves were identified at Kew as those 



