196 CORDAGE FIBRES 



the years 1 876-1 880. The largest amount of the fibre 

 exported in any one year was 615 bales in 1879, and 

 the greatest value of the export (1,890) was reached 

 in 1880. A factory was established at Jamestown 

 for extracting the fibre, but as this was several miles 

 distant from the plantations the cost of transport 

 absorbed all the profit. 



The question of reviving this industry in St. Helena 

 came to the front in 1904, and in 1905 an attempt 

 was made to extract the fibre on a commercial scale. 

 This effort did not meet with much success, owing 

 partly to the difficulty of raising the necessary capital, 

 and partly to the fact that the machinery purchased 

 was not altogether satisfactory. 



A further endeavour has been made in recent years 

 to re-establish the industry with Government assist- 

 ance and under the guidance of an expert from New 

 Zealand. A fibre mill was established by the Govern- 

 ment in 1908 and another mill was started by a 

 private firm in 1913. Very satisfactory results have 

 been obtained. In 1913, 1,296 tons of Phormium 

 tenax leaves were treated at the Government mill 

 with the production of 128 tons of fibre and 39 tons of 

 tow. The fibre realised an average price of 28 105. 

 per ton and the tow 14 105. per ton. Almost exactly 

 the same quantities were produced in 1914. In the 

 latter year, the private mill treated 1571 tons of the 

 green leaves and produced 177 tons of fibre and 45 

 tons of tow. The total exports of fibre and tow in 

 1914 amounted to 347 tons, of value 7,439. 



CULTIVATION IN THE AZORES 



The cultivation of Phormium tenax is now being 

 carried on in the Azores. The plant is said to grow 

 well in all parts of the island of St. Michael, and the 

 leaves vary in length from 6 to 8 feet. A factory has 

 been erected and equipped with machinery, and a 

 small export industry has been established. 



