SISAL HEMP. 



61 



Fig. 37 shows a plant of Agave rigida var. Sisalina, or Sisal hemp, grow- 

 ing in the Succulent House at the Royal Gardens, Kew. This photograph 

 was taken by kind permission of the director, Sir William T. T. Dyer. 



Fig. 38 shows the long fibres of sisal when untwisted from the strand 

 of a small rope. Such strands have recently been put to an educational 

 and have been introduced into the infant departments of public 



use 



Fig. 38. Sisal rope strand. 



schools. The strands of sisal rope are untwisted and cut into lengths of 

 5 or 6 inches; these are made into fans or balls. The clear white 

 colour of the rope strand of fibres is an attractive feature when used for 

 infant exercises and drills in the kindergarten system of infant training 

 in day schools under the department (Board of Education). 



Sisal hemp fibres often have too little flexibility in rope strands. 



