314 



capitalists. The possibilities of the extension of the industry 

 are discussed and estimates given as to costs of making regular 

 plantations. There are large areas of land which are well 

 suited for plantations of fibre, and with wider plantings 

 centralization of factory working may be possible. 



Yield of Fibre and Value of Exports. The yield of fibre 

 is discussed in detail, and the results of laboratory analyses 

 recorded" The expenses are itemized and the average value 

 of the fibre given. 



The exports are sent to the United Kingdom; from there 

 they are reshipped mainly to Germany. During the past two 

 years, however, there has been a demand for Furcraea fibre in 

 the United States of America, arid a large percentage of the 

 exports of Mauritius have found their way to that country. 



EISULTATI DELL'ACCLIMATAZIONE IN SICILIA DELL' 

 AGAVE RIGID A VAR. SISALANA, ENGELM. 



Per Professore CALCEDONIO TROPEA. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



Accertato che I' A gave rigida var. sisalana vegeta bene 

 nella Sicilia, su terreni aridi e pietrosi, 1'autore ha raccolto dati 

 economic! in rapporto alle norme colturali. In base a questi 

 egli conclude che : 



(i) Lo sviluppo cui giungono le piante, chiede una distanza 

 minima di due metri. 



(2) Ogni pianta produce almeno 30 foglie 1'anno. 



(3) Per estrarre tin chilo de fibre occorrono circa 73 foglie. 



(4) II prodotto medio di fibre per Ea. e di quintali 10, che 

 al prezzo minimo di L.8o danno un introito lordo di L.Soo. 

 Dalle quali prelevando le spese di coltura e sfibratura, pressa, 

 imballaggio, ammortamento macchine e capitale fondiario, 

 resta un introito netto di almeno 150 lire per Ea. II prezzo 

 e calcolato sulle fibre piu corte (m. 1*10). 



(5) La " sisalana " quindi puo utilizzare terreni aridi clella 

 Sicilia, disadatti a qualsiasi altra coltura. 



[TRANSLATION.] 



RESULTS OF THE ACCLIMATIZATION IN SICILY OF 

 AGAVE RIGIDA VAR. SISALANA, ENGELM. 



As it has been ascertained that Agave rigida var. sisalana 

 does well in Sicily on arid stony soil, the writer has collected 

 economic data with respect to the methods of cultivation 

 On the basis of these data he arrives at the following con- 

 clusions : 



