SISAL. 



FLUENCES. 



QlSAL Hemp is a fibre of considerable industrial origin. 



importance, and is derived from the leaves of the 

 Agave Rigida and, probably, also from a few other 

 species. The name Sisal was applied to the fibre 

 since it was originally exported from the town of that 

 name, which is near Merida, the capital of the State, 

 and the great centre of the Yucatan Fibre market. 



It is usually supposed that Sisal thrives on poor soil. 

 and rocky land, but experience shows that while it 

 will grow almost anywhere, poor soil is not congenial 

 to the growth of a large full-sized plant, while sisal 

 grown on good land has a longer and more flexible 

 fibre. 



The plant is not adversely affected by hot seasons, clujatic in- 

 in fact it appears to benefit by a humid heat. Long 

 drought, although delaying the plant, cannot stop its 

 growth. Rainy seasons do not injure it, nor is it 

 seriously affected by cold : in fact it seems to grow 

 anywhere except in standing water. 



So far, no disease or beetle has been known to 

 attack the plant in East Africa, though I understand 

 there is a beetle in Mexico that injures it. 



Sisal can be propagated either by bulbils, which I'ROPAGAtion. 

 are the flower of the plant, or by suckers. The 

 suckers sprout from under the parent plant, and are 

 the most commonly adopted means of planting out 

 sisal, as the plants mature at least six months earlier 

 than those grown from bulbils. 



The leaves are ready to cut three years from the 

 date of planting, and one cutting can be obtained each 

 year until the plant is six years old, when it poles and 

 dies. 



Sisal is planted out in squares, about i,ooo plants 

 to the acre, and as between 175 and 200 leaves may 

 safely be expected from each plant, and each leaf 

 should average .05 lbs. of fibre, 3^^ to 4 tons of fibre 

 to the acre may be reckoned on. 



The cultivation of Sisal was started in the High- history of 

 lands of British East Africa by Messrs. Swift and planting in 

 Rutherford of Punda Milia, who obtained bulbils from b.e.A. 



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