APPENDIX III. 

 THE CORDAGE FIBRES OF QUEENSLAND. 



THE Agricultural Blue Book published by the Queens- 

 land Government gives a great deal of interesting information 

 about the fibre plants of the Colony. The native fibre plants 

 for the most part carry the fibre in their bark ; examples of 

 this being the wild hibiscus and the Moreton Bay fig. The 

 aerial roots of the pandanus, the native bread-fruit tree, also 

 contain excellent fibre. This tree grows freely in the poorest 

 soil, and flourishes without moisture. The leaves and rough 

 rind of. the pine-apple are also fibre-bearing, the former con- 

 taining a fine silky fibre which would be a valuable textile 

 material if suitable extracting machinery were available. 

 Sisal and Mauritius hemp are being largely planted in many 

 parts of Queensland. In the Burnett districts especially 

 plantations are in full swing, and the plants are ready for 

 cutting on many plantations ; one of the larger types of 

 scutching machines is being introduced by a Queensland 

 planter. The true Sisal agave and the Fourcroya or Mauri- 

 tius hemp plant thrive luxuriantly on all the suitable coast 

 lands of Queensland, so that there is every indication that 

 Queensland will become an important centre for the produc- 

 tion of Sisal fibre. 



The Colony of Queensland has become a nursery for the 

 production of Sisal hemp. The Agricultural Department 

 and private planters have supplied about 500,000 plants to. 



