550 . FIBRES 



Number of leaves per packet : 8 to 18. Average, 12*6. 



Weight per packet: 6'i to 8*4 kilos. Average 7*8 

 kilos. 



Green fibre produced per packet: 0^89 to i'2 kilo. 

 Average, 0*98 kilo. 



Dry fibre produced per packet: 0*16 to O'i8 kilo. 

 Average, 0*175 kilo. 



The leaves vary greatly in size, and no attempt is made 

 to grade leaves either in regard to maturity or to size. 

 At the time of cutting the central shoot and three to five 

 unfolded leaves are left, but instances occur where all 

 leaves are cut with the exception of the central shoot. 

 The wild aloes are usually so close together and over- 

 grown with acacia and shrubby weeds that it is not 

 possible only to cut mature leaves such as could be 

 practised on clean plantations. The packets of leaves 

 are transported to the roads of the estates and placed in 

 heaps. They are then transported by ox-cart to the 

 factory. 



Re-cutting of aloes takes place usually two years after 

 the previous cutting, though sometimes the intervening 

 period is shorter. As a rule, however, two wet seasons 

 occur between one cutting and the next. The number 

 of leaves taken off at each cutting varies greatly with the 

 district and with the age of the plants. 



Yield oj Fibre. 



From figures collected at various factories in the 

 Colony, it appears that an average of 65,000 leaves of 

 Creole aloes will produce I ton of dry fibre. This gives 

 an average fibre recovery of nearly 2*3 per cent, on the 

 weight of the leaves. It is difficult, however, to give 

 definite figures, as the fibre content varies considerably 

 with the district and with the season of the year. In the 

 higher altitudes the moisture content of the leaves is 

 higher and the percentage of fibre lower than in the 

 lower altitudes, and in the wet season the moisture 

 content of leaves is considerably higher than in the dry 

 season. Actual tests made at three factories in the 



