SISAL HEMP. 



63 



it, and that it was a most valuable improvement over all other machines 

 in use in the colony. The new machine is entirely automatic. It grips 

 the leaves continuously as fast as the operators can supply them, holds 

 them firmly during the operation of cleaning, and delivers the fibre 

 completely and beautifully cleaned at the reverse side. No reversing of 

 the leaves or any part of the machinery is required. The operator simply 

 supplies the leaves, and the machine does all the rest. It works smoothly, 

 easily, and rapidly. Its capacity is enormous ; one of the hand machines 

 heretofore used here will clean about 3000 leaves in ten hours, extracting 



Fig. 39. Sisal hemp (fibres and yarn). 



180 Ibs. of fibre ; this automatic machine is said to be capable of clean- 

 ing 50,000 leaves per day, extracting therefrom 3000 Ibs. of fibres. 

 Skilled labour is not required to use the machine ; an engine of 8 H.P. 

 will furnish all the motive power required to run it at full speed. It 

 is not a complicated affair, nor easy to get out of order. Its weight is 

 about 6000 Ibs." 



In fig. 39, on this page, No. 22 shows the Sisal hemp fibres in the raw 

 staple just as imported in the bale. The fibres or bast material have a 

 white, straw-like appearance, rather more flat than Manila hemp, but 

 lacking the creamy lustre of the former. Sisal hemp fibres are short of 

 pliability, hence sisal ropes do not bend so readily. 



